Orange County NC Website
14 <br />flexibility to existing lots affected by the coverage <br />requirements of the University Lake Watershed ordinance. <br />This limit can reach 15% for smaller lots (for example, <br />1/2 acre) but is only 4% for large -lot development. <br />The Board requests that the County Commissioners consider <br />asking the EMC to utilize a sliding scale for surfaces, <br />and further consider categorizing impervious surfaces <br />into two classes: completely impervious - asphalt, <br />concrete, etc. where the level of imperviousness is 95% <br />plus; and quasi-impervious - gravel or dirt roads which <br />are approximately 65% impervious. <br />• Equity Considerations: Should watershed protectors <br />(individual or jurisdictional) be compensated for <br />providing a unique service as a public benefit? Methods <br />of compensation could include monetary, in -kind, water <br />service extensions, et al. Orange County is the headwater <br />jurisdiction for 11 water supplies, most of which are <br />utilized by other entities. <br />• Inter - Regional Cooperation/ Disputes: Along the same lines <br />as equity consideration, is it possible to create a <br />mechanism to resolve disputes caused by differing goals <br />of jurisdictions which share watersheds? Inter - regional <br />meetings might be a helpful forum, and inter - <br />jurisdictional allocation of permitted non - residential <br />development might be a potential tool. <br />• Critical Area Definition: The new critical area under new <br />state rules for reservoirs /river intakes would extend <br />beyond current Orange County Water Quality Critical Areas <br />(WQCA) and necessitate revisions to the zoning ordinance. <br />Presently, the County definition of a critical area uses <br />"the portions of the water supply watersheds which drain <br />directly to water supply impoundments and which drain <br />directly to the main channels of trunk streams which feed <br />these impoundments." Several members of the Planning <br />Board support the current definition of critical areas. <br />• <br />Commercial/ Industrial Activity Nodes: The Board proposes <br />that the Haw Creek and South Hyco Creek Watersheds be <br />classified WS -IV for several reasons, including existing <br />Commercial/ Industrial or Rural Industrial activity nodes <br />in Cheeks and Cedar Grove Townships. The Haw Creek <br />watershed in particular contains substantial industrial <br />base in the Mebane area. In accordance with the Upper Eno <br />concerns listed above, the possibility of a future <br />transit corridor along 1--85 would also impact the Seven - <br />Mile Creek basin. <br />