Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
72 <br /> is that the project is not guaranteed utility services by the Town of Hillsborough. With respect to utilities, the applicant <br /> must comply with the provisions in the UDO. The developer proposes that the project be served by public water and <br /> sewer and Staff agrees. Utility provision must meet UDO and Town standards. Mr. Harvey said that extension of <br /> utility services to District 2 shall have to be reviewed and approved by the Town of Hillsborough prior to its <br /> development. The County is working on a detailed agreement with Hillsborough but the County has already <br /> committed to extend water and sewer under the interstate, which could be used to serve District 1. The extension of <br /> utility services to District 2 would have to go through a similar process by the Town amending its agreement to allow <br /> for water and sewer to serve District 2. <br /> Lydia Wegman asked if the County would do the extension. <br /> Michael Harvey replied that it would be on the developer or successor to secure this extension; it is up to the <br /> individual(s) proposing the project. Mr. Harvey said that the project must go through site plan review per the UDO <br /> and that per the developer's recommendation, all submittals will be subject to an environmental and transportation <br /> impact analyses. He reviewed that an environmental assessment(or Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)) looks <br /> into potential negative impacts on environmental features on the property (namely water bodies, floodplain, <br /> wetlands), soil composition, best location for a road, and weighs environmental constraints on the property. Staffs <br /> site plan review takes into consideration this assessment to ensure that environmental conditions are not <br /> exacerbated. The Transportation Improvement Assessment (TIA) is designed to identify internal and external <br /> roadway improvements required. Typically, these are only required once certain thresholds are met, but the <br /> developer suggested that TIAs be mandatory for every site plan review. These reviews ensure that the data that the <br /> developer submitted as part of the master plan application is viable as conditions change over time, and can <br /> implemented to reach individual site plan approval. Mr. Harvey pointed the Board to the existing TIA included in the <br /> proposal that gives a broad picture of what traffic improvements will be required for this project. The additional <br /> submittals of TIAs with site plan review provides Staff with any information on changes, that improvements are <br /> necessary and consistent, and that the TIA is approved in concert with the site plan so that it is installed by the same <br /> developer. <br /> Tony Blake asked when the Department of Transportation (NCDOT)gets involved. <br /> Michael Harvey said that NCDOT has been reviewing the existing TIA since March 2017. While Staff has not heard <br /> back from them with feedback, he hopes to hear from them soon. Since NCDOT is on an advisory committee that <br /> reviews site plans, they will be reviewing all documents along the way. Applicants are also required to document <br /> everyday water and sewer needs for a cumulative track record. The Town of Hillsborough will provide courtesy <br /> review on this project and will benefit from data on utility needs as well. Landscape plans will detail how vegetation <br /> will be cared for. <br /> Lydia Wegman asked for a review of the impervious surface area requirements. <br /> Michael Harvey said that the developer is required to document existing and proposed impervious surface area as <br /> well as building-to-open-space ratios. Since there are mandatory restrictions on total building area for each district <br /> and requirements for percentage of open space (based on the building to open space balance), the developer will <br /> continue to update Staff on where they are in meeting those thresholds. He noted land use buffers for the project. <br /> District 1 will maintain a 100 foot land use buffer along the western and southern property lines, roughly up to the <br /> economic development zoning line. There is a 50 foot buffer proposed along Old NC 86. There is a request to allow <br /> for thinning in this area to accommodate potential access, parking and stormwater features, along with replanting <br /> requirements.As proposed, Staff does not have an issue with the thinning of vegetation within the 50 foot buffer. The <br /> Major Transportation Overlay (MTO)will also be maintained along the interstate and has a required 100 foot buffer. <br /> The applicant is also proposing for thinning in this buffer, which Staff also finds reasonable since the UDO allows for <br /> breaks in the buffer to create visibility, especially since the developer is providing a replanting plan and describes in <br /> detail how the area would be disturbed, setting-up reviews in the site plan approval process. The developer provided <br /> illustrations of buffers for proposed parking lots in front of buildings (see narrative section). Standards for allowable <br /> architectural materials have been met. Transportation impact plans comply with the regulations outlined in 6.10 of the <br />