Agenda - 10-16-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS Purpose In orange County, the preference is to serve subdivisions with State - maintained (NCDOT) public streets or municipal streets. The County recognizes, however, that private roads may be beneficial in some cases where the developer provides significantly larger lots, and where a private road graded to a narrower cross - section saves valuable vistas, trees, or natural resources, and reduces cut - and -fill and overall land disturbance. Where the developer clearly provides benefits such as enhancing entrances or streetscapes off an adjoining public road, saving trees, providing large lots, reducing disturbance, and "fitting" lots better into their natural surroundings, the County Staff, Planning Board and Commissioners may permit the use of private roads. The County is concerned about the logical and safe extension of public roads throughout the County and also notes that private roads cannot be served by school buses and sometimes not by rescue squads and fire trucks. Therefore, the County will only approve private roads where the "benefits" outweigh the negative aspects. Private roads will never be approved simply to save money. Private roads are a privilege, and not a right, and must be justified by the particular lot arrangement and benefits provided by each development. It is hoped that the following regulations and standards convey the sense that private roads can be used, but only where they clearly meet the spirit as well as the letter of the criteria contained herein. (The addition of a preamble is intended to give a clear sense of Orange County's position relative to the approval, construction, and maintenance of private roads.) General Requirements Private Roads serve lots within subdivisions that do not have access to State - maintained roads. Furthermore, Private Roads insure that all lots have documented legal right -of --way and provide adequate access for residents and emergency vehicles. Private Roads may be allowed in a subdivision where, in the judgment of the Planning Board and with the approval of the Board of Commissioners, it is found that the nature and location of the subdivision are such that a private road is justified. In determining whether to permit Private Roads in subdivisions, the design features contained in Article IV -B- 3-d of the Subdivision Regulations will be considered. Note that it is the responsibility of the applicant for underline = proposed text retained bold = TAS /PB revision