Orange County NC Website
E <br />the development prior to the expiration of the original approval. These issues have since been <br />resolved, and the applicant has resubmitted the project for consideration. <br />CADENCE OF REVIEW: The review of a SUP is as follows: <br />• STEP ONE — NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION MEETING (NIM): The first step in the <br />review of an SUP application is a holding of a NIM to allow the applicant to meet with <br />local property owners to review the project. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The required NIM was held on December 13, 2017, from <br />6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in accordance with the UDO. Please refer to Attachment 6 <br />for additional information. <br />• STEP TWO — PLANNING BOARD REVIEW: The Planning Board reviews the request <br />and makes a recommendation to the BOCC on the project's compliance with specific <br />development standards (Section 5.9.6 (C)) and the general standards (Section 5.3.2 <br />Special Uses) of the UDO. Staff prepares a script to aid the Board in making a <br />recommendation. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The Planning Board reviewed this item at its January 10, <br />2018 regular meeting and unanimously recommended approval. Please refer to <br />Attachment 8 for additional information. Attachment 4 contains the findings of fact <br />for the project as recommended by the Planning Board and staff. <br />• STEP THREE — PUBLIC HEARING: The BOCC holds a public hearing to allow the <br />applicant and other parties with legal standing to provide sworn testimony related to the <br />proposal. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The required public hearing will be held at the February 6, <br />2018 BOCC regular meeting. Please refer to Attachments 7 and 10 for a copy of <br />the public hearing notice and the mailing certification. <br />• STEP FOUR — DECISION: The BOCC will review the Planning Board recommendation <br />as well as any other evidence presented at the hearing, deliberate as necessary, certify <br />the record, close the public hearing, and then render a final decision. <br />The applicant is proposing to develop a solar facility on a +/ -27.3 acre leased portion of the 52.1 acre <br />subject property with the remaining 24.8 acres being undeveloped. Please refer to Attachments 1 <br />and 2 for additional information. <br />Proposed individual arrays shall be approximately 7 to 9 feet in height, with approximately 2 to 3 feet <br />of ground clearance, and approximately 50 feet in length. A gated 6 foot high chain link security <br />fence, topped with 3 feet of strand barbed wire, shall enclose the perimeter of the array to prevent <br />access. This fenced area shall be further surrounded by a Type D 50 foot wide landscaped buffer. <br />There shall be no business or other occupied office located on the property. Vehicular access is <br />proposed via a 30 to 50 foot wide access easement through Orange County PIN 9835 -10 -3858 to <br />an existing driveway onto US Highway 70. This parcel is also owned by the family leasing the <br />subject areas to Oakwood Solar Farm LLC / ESA Renewables. <br />The site contains floodplain, numerous stream buffers, and connected water body features in the <br />northeastern and eastern portions of the subject parcel. With the exception of installing allowed <br />public and /or private utilities (e.g. water and sewer), these areas will remain undisturbed and provide <br />the required 65 and 80 foot wide stream buffers along the floodplain and top of bank. The area in the <br />