Agenda - 09-04-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�s— F:aAt' 1 2,-i 1 b. Section III -D Approval Procedures - Major Subdivisions 2 C. Section IV -B -2 -e Resource Protection 3 d. Section IV -B -5 -d Flag Lots - 4 e. Section IV -B -8 Landscaping & Buffers 5 f. Section IV -B -10 Cluster Developments 6 g. Section V -D Final Plat Specifications 7 These presentations were made by Mary Scearbo. In summary these items 8 were presented to receive public comment on a proposed Environmental Impact Ordinance 9 (EIO) and related amendments to the Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance. The 10 North Carolina General Statutes give local governments authority to require the 11 preparation of documents disclosing the environmental impact of a major development 12 project. An Environmental Impact Ordinance (EIO) has been developed to implement 13 these provisions, allowing Orange County to require preparation of an (EA) or 14 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for certain projects. The EIO would require 15 preparation of an EA or an EIS for non - residential development projects which meet 16 specific applicability criteria. The proposed amendments to the Subdivision 17 Regulations involve the protection of resources identified in the "Inventory of Sites 18 of Cultural, Historic, Recreational, Biological, & Geological Significance in the 19 Unincorporated Portions of Orange County ", and the "Orange County Inventory of Natural 20 Areas." Zoning Ordinance amendments pertain to review procedures for Site Plans and 21 Special Use Permits. 22 23 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OR THE PLANNING BOARD 24 25 Betty Eidenier indicated that this ordinance is in response to a request from the 26 State for local governments to take control of the environmental impact in their own 27 area. She stated support for adoption of this ordinance. 28 29. Commissioner Hartwell indicated that he had received a letter from Neil Littman. 30 Mr. Littman raised questions concerning Sections 2.3.5 and 3.1.5. Commissioner 31 Hartwell suggested changing the wording as Mr. Littman requested. A copy of this 32 letter is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. He indicated in the 33 letter that this ordinance will give some assurances to Orange County citizens 34 concerning the industrial and commercial enterprises which are coming to Orange 35 County. Commissioner Hartwell stated that the difficulty with this ordinance as it is 36 now written is with non - commercial and non - industrial projects that bear little threat 37 to Orange County citizens. An example of this type of project is the pond which he is 38 putting on his land. Along with obviously needed information, certain information 39 such as Deed Book and Page number, were requested. In addition to this stumbling 40 block he pointed out that if his pond had been one square foot larger than 2 acres, 41 the steepness of the slopes on the whole property and what percentage of the whole 42 property is affected by the slope steepness would have had to be provided The cost 43 for such a topographic survey would be thousands of dollars. This would cover the 44 cost of the assessment only, not the impact, statement itself. These type of 45 regulations could make it impossible for citizens to build ponds. These type of 46 regulations need to be addressed before this ordinance is approved. He suggested that 47 requesting the application of the slope criteria should be applied only within a 48 certain proximity of the area to be disturbed. 49 50 Larry Reid asked if this ordinance would be applicable to municipalities where 1 51 larger than 40,000 were being cleared. Scearbo indicated that it is not applicable 52 the municipalities.