CFE minutes 101016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

3 Mallett and McCook showed illustrations that demonstrated how the Flexible Development would help to cluster home sites, thus allowing for more common open space, less infrastructure, and lower costs of construction. They presented a table that showed that as lot sizes decrease, the required amount of open space increases within the subdivision. For instance, 30 percent open space is required for a subdivision with 40,000-square-foot lots; 40 percent open space is required for 30,000-sq.-ft. lots; 50 percent open space is required for 20,000-sq.-ft. lots. Off-site septic would be allowed, but each lot would have its own dedicated off-lot septic area. Hintz made suggestions on the need to clarify language in Section 7 and Section 3. Bouma asked what may occur in the common open space. Mallet said there could be recreational amenities, such as trails, playground, garden, gazebo, and picnic shelter— as long as it is approved and maintained by the homeowners association. Bouma asked if the common area could be used for a community solar energy array or community garden. Mallett said it could as long as it stayed out of sensitive resource areas. Each project is considered on a case-by-case basis. Gronback thanked Mallett and McCook and asked if the Planning Department wanted comments from the CFE. Shaw will prepare a draft letter of support of the proposed amendments to the UDO for CFE consideration at the November meeting. VI. Potential SolSmart Community Designation – Bouma briefed the CFE on the County’s application for designation as a SolSmart community [http://www.gosparc.org/]. He said a new Pew Research Center survey shows nearly nine-in-ten adults in the U.S. favor expanding the use of solar power to meet our energy needs. Through the SolSmart program from the US Department of Energy, the County hopes to access technical assistance that will help us make Orange County an even better place for solar energy generation. The program aims to reduce the uncertainties, delays, and unidentified barriers that contribute to higher solar installation costs. Bouma said the County hopes to access a higher level of technical support through working with a SolSmart Advisor. This Advisor would split their time with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the County for up to six months, starting in 2017. VII. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan 2016-17 – Shaw reminded CFE members that each year the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) asks its advisory boards to prepare a report of their activities, accomplishments, new issues, and concerns. Shaw referenced the copy of the 2015-16 report, and noted that the back side of each CFE agenda contains key information from the report. Shaw said a draft 2016-17 report will be provided for CFE consideration at next meeting. The final report is due December 16. VIII. Updates and Information Items – Information on the following subjects was provided in the meeting materials: a) Orange County study to justify stream buffers, b) Oakwood solar farm approved near Mebane, c) Duke Forest deer management, d) OWASA approves conditions for Mtns-to-Sea Trail (MST), e) new MST bridge over the Eno River in Hillsborough, f) Triangle ozone deaths can be prevented, g) Carolina water managers brace for future, i) North Carolina’s invasive plants, j) windfarm planned off the NC coast, k) Americans polarized view of climate change, and l) Dutch adapting to sea-level rise. IV. Adjournment – Gronback adjourned the meeting at 9:30 pm. Summary by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff