Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Article 6: Development Standards <br />Section 6.13: Stream Buffers <br />maps, <br />(2) Shown as water feature in the Orange County Soil Survey, or <br />(3) A water feature identified by a field determination of County staff trained in <br />surface water identification through the North Carolina Division of Water Quality <br />(NCDWQ). <br />(B) Steam buffers shall extend around the perimeter of all water features if any portion of the <br />stream buffer of a stream touches the water feature. Disputes pertaining to water feature <br />decisions by County staff shall be filed directly to the NCDWQ. <br />6.13.3 Calculating Width of Stream Buffer <br />(A) Special Flood Hazard Area Zoning Overlay Districts & FEMA Floodplains <br />(1) Those streams identified by FEMA as having floodplains shall have stream <br />buffers calculated from the outside edges of the 100 -year floodplain. <br />(B) Calculating Slope Value <br />(1) Draw 250' length perpendicular lines, at 200 -foot horizontal intervals along the <br />entire length of the outside edges of the stream, or the outer edge of the FEMA <br />floodplain, whichever is greater. <br />(2) Determine the elevation at either the stream bank or the outer edge of the FEMA <br />floodplain, whichever is highest (Elevation 1), and at the point 250' from the <br />stream or FEMA floodplain, whichever is applicable, along the perpendicular line <br />(Elevation 2). <br />(3) Subtract Elevation 1 from Elevation 2 for the Difference. <br />(4) Divide the Difference by 250 for the Mean. <br />(5) Multiply the Mean by 100 to determine the "Slope Value ". <br />(6) Perform this calculation for both sides of the stream or floodplain. <br />Figure 6.13.13.B: Stream Buffer Slope Value Calculation <br />Elevation at Stream Bank <br />Stream <br />0 Elevation at FEMA Floodplain Edge <br />250' fl <br />fl 250' c_ <br />CL <br />Y <br />1 LL <br />t <br />a <br />0 <br />2 <br />200' a <br />� <br />o 200' 2 <br />< <br />¢ <br />v <br />-o <br />Q Q <br />Stream -Q <br />250' <br />2.50' a <br />4 <br />ii <br />L <br />w <br />Slope Value = <br />— M x 100 <br />250 <br />(C) Method A — Stream Buffer Based on Slope and Groundcover <br />(1) The width of the buffer shall be a minimum of 50 feet from each edge of the <br />floodplain or stream bank. <br />Orange County, North Carolina — Unified Development Ordinance Page 6 -96 <br />