Agenda - 02-28-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

PAGE 4 Proposal #1 is described below: (put forth by the Watershed Work Group and coincides with the CDM Report) WHERE LOT SIZE IS: IMPERVIOUS SURFACE MAY NOT EXCEED: 5.0 acres or above 4% 2.0 to 4.9 acres 6% Less than 2.0 acres 12% Proposal #2 is described below: (put forth by the County Planning Staff) 5.0 acres 6% 4.5 acres 7% 4.0 acres 8% 3.5 acres 9% 3.0 acres 10% 2.5 acres 11% 2.0 acres 12% Collins stated that looking at different lot configurations, dwelling types, setbacks of the house from the road, and different road classifications indicated a need for higher impervious limits. Another major element is Stream Buffers. The County already has stream buffer requirements but CDM recommended a different basis for calculating stream buffers than is currently in the Orange County ordinance. Stream buffers accomplish several things: (1) prevent development from encroaching on streams, (2) minimize stream channel erosion and (3) spread rainfall runoff in a "sheetflow" pattern and encourages infiltration into the soil. CDM's recommended buffer standards are based on several factors: (1) slope of the land, and (2) type of ground cover, wooded or grass, within the land adjacent to the tributary present. He illustrated this by showing the University Lake Watershed, the Watershed overlay and the proposed district. In summary, Collins showed on a map all the watersheds in Orange County. He showed on the map the protected watershed area, and the water quality critical area. With reference to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan, it is proposed that the categories of protected watershed and water quality critical area be deleted and that a designation called "University Lake Watershed District" he established. Everyone would be placed into a rural buffer zoning district. The overlay district would sit on top of the basic zoning. There are two separate overlay zoning districts in the University Lake Watershed. They would be removed and a new zoning district "University Lake Watershed District" would be put in its place which is also an overlay district. Coupled with that would be the development standards adopted by the Board of Commissioners which relate to the specific options discussed earlier. In terms of the Joint Planning Agreement, there are two options: (1) 5-acre scenarios, and (2) 2-acre zoning with the wetwater detention ponds. The Planning Directors of Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro recommend incorporating in the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan the recommended 5-acre zoning scenario. Both options are identified in the specific provisions. In terms of the Joint Planning Agreement, they are recommending a small change in that the term "water quality critical area" would be replaced by "University Lake Watershed District". Collins recommendation to the County Board of Commissioners is (1) the application of the University Lake Watershed overlay district, (2) the 5-acre zoning provision, (3) the higher impervious surface limits -- 6% for the 5-acre lots with a sliding scale down to 12% for a 2-acre lot. One other provision addresses utility services and the use of alternative systems. The ordinance provisions as worded now would permit onsite septic disposal systems and that would include low pressure systems for an individual lot. Community alternative systems, whether they are spray irrigation, package plants or low pressure systems would not be permitted until April, 1991. During that interim period, the Orange County Health