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2.1 <br />r <br />benefits such as enhancing entrances or streetscapes <br />off an adjoining public road, saving trees, providing <br />large lots, reducing disturbance, and "fitting" lots <br />better into their natural surroundings, the County <br />Staff, Planning Board and Commissioners have permitted <br />the use of private roads. <br />The County has also been concerned about the logical <br />and safe extension of public roads throughout the <br />County, noting that private roads cannot be served by <br />school buses and sometimes not by rescue squads and <br />fire trucks. Private roads are also affordable to <br />Orange County citizens - $50 /linear foot for a public <br />road versus $15 /linear foot for a private road. Thus, <br />efforts were made to find ways of continuing to allow <br />private roads where the "benefits" outweigh the <br />negative aspects. <br />The Planning Board first considered these items on <br />July 10. The Planning Director raised concerns about <br />requirements that private.roads must adjoin public <br />roads and that a professional engineer or surveyor be <br />required to inspect and certify private roads. He <br />stressed the potential for creating unintended <br />hardships, and the issue was tabled until further <br />discussions were held by the Planning Board and TAS. <br />On August 1, a joint meeting of the Planning Board and <br />TAS was held. The Planning Director reviewed his <br />concerns, but no action was taken. The concerns were <br />forwarded to the TAS for recommendation. <br />On August 15, the TAS considered a memorandum from the <br />Planning Director identifying specific concerns and <br />offering recommendations for addressing them. The TAS <br />recommended approval of the changes proposed by the <br />Planning Director with minor revisions. One provision <br />involving the extension of roads to serve adjoining <br />property was eliminated from consideration pending <br />further discussion by the TAS and Ordinance Review <br />Committee. The TAS also discussed a proposed Private <br />.Roads Preamble and recommended approval subject to the <br />minor wording changes. <br />At its September 17 meeting, the Planning Board <br />considered the recommendations of the TAS and <br />recommended approval of the proposed amendments with <br />minor changes. The proposed amendments as presented at <br />the May 16 public hearing are attached, including <br />revisions as recommended by the TAS and Planning <br />Board. <br />RRCOMIENDATION: The Administration recommends approval of the proposed <br />amendments to the Orange County Subdivision <br />Regulations and Private Road Standards as per the <br />Planning Board recommendation, but with the addition <br />