Orange County NC Website
W. <br />111 through the federal government. <br />112 <br />113 Michael Harvey showed an image provided by the applicant that indicates where the100 -foot buffer is to be located. He <br />114 reviewed that the applicant is proposing no breaks in the buffer for District 1. He noted that District 3 had been removed from <br />115 the proposal completely. In District 2, the applicant is allowed to create visual breaks in the MTC buffer. The developers plan <br />116 to stick to the 50 percent breaks. The image indicated where the intermittent breaks would be located. <br />117 <br />118 Patricia Roberts asked whether 50 percent breaks is an Orange County law. Michael Harvey answered yes. <br />119 <br />120 Kim Piracci noted the breaks are 50 percent of width (along the border of the property) and not in depth. Michael Harvey <br />121 affirmed that. He said the Orange County Board of Commissioners has expressed some concern that the applicant is also <br />122 proposing to do some selective clearing within the MTC buffer for utility infrastructure and roadway networks. This will be <br />123 discussed more in this review. <br />124 <br />125 Paul Guthrie asked whether there is any knowledge of long -term expansion of 1 -40 in that area. Michael Harvey said <br />126 expanding has to occur in the 300 -foot right of way unless the federal government procures more land. There is talk of <br />127 expanding 1 -40 into three lanes as it is in Durham. He believes that can be accommodated with the existing right of way. <br />128 <br />129 Michael Harvey said on Page 13, the first condition up for discussion is Condition 6, contained in Attachment 7, granting <br />130 Orange Rural Fire Department denial authority. The applicant has indicated they don't mind the fire department being a review <br />131 party but they don't think the fire department should have power to deny the application. Instead, the applicant suggests the <br />132 power to deny the application be left to the fire marshals from the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County. The Orange <br />133 County Board of Commissioners has requested this board's opinion on whether Orange Rural Fire Department should have <br />134 denial authority. Typically, fire departments review such applications but do not have authority to deny them, Michael Harvey <br />135 said. <br />136 <br />137 Tony Blake said the intent was they be included in the review but not have approval or denial. The main thing is they be <br />138 involved. Michael Harvey asked for a show of consensus to modify the condition to allow Orange Rural Fire Department to <br />139 have review but not denial authority. <br />140 <br />141 MOTION by Randy Marshall that Orange Rural Fire Department have a review but not action to approve or deny the <br />142 application. Seconded by Hunter Spitzer. <br />143 VOTE: Unanimous <br />144 <br />145 Michael Harvey continued with the presentation. He reviewed the next condition to be discussed involves the MTC <br />146 buffer. The applicant does not propose any disturbance breaks in District 1, which is the industrial district. The <br />147 applicant had asked for clearing 60 percent of the buffer instead of 50 percent in District 2. The Orange County Board <br />148 of Commissioners expressed reservation about allowing the additional clearing. The applicant has since submitted to <br />149 staff that they will abide by the ordinance allowing clearance of 50 percent of the buffer. They have delineated a <br />150 clearing limited to 50 percent. They are not limited due to the clearing associated with the utility easement. Regarding <br />151 additional allowances for modifications to the MTC buffer, the applicant has shown a 100 -foot buffer going up to the <br />152 utility easement and then the applicant is asking for a variable width MTC buffer instead of 100 feet. Based on the <br />153 narrative reviewed at the Oct. 4, 2017, Planning Board meeting and the public hearing, the MTC buffer would be <br />154 cleared for accesses and stormwater feature construction. The Planning Board is asked to give feedback on the <br />155 proposed variable width of the MTC buffer, proposed to be 50 feet instead of 100 feet in some places. <br />156 <br />157 Kim Piracci asked for clarification because she is unclear why it's sometimes 50 feet and sometimes 100 feet. <br />158 Michael Harvey answered the variable width would be to accommodate an access road, parking and a stormwater <br />159 feature. <br />160 <br />161 Paul Guthrie asked if the buffer is intended to be a sound buffer and a visual buffer. Michael Harvey answered right <br />162 now it serves as both but it borders a major highway and there are already significant breaks in the buffer, including <br />163 the interchange, which allows sound to travel. While the Orange County Board of Commissioners realized allowing <br />164 50 percent breaks in the buffer would have a sound impact, they also understood that it allowed marketing of the site. <br />165 <br />