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Article 7: Subdivisions <br /> Section 7.6: General Design Standards <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 7-8 <br /> <br />providing for the distribution of population and traffic, safe and coordinated street systems, approved <br />water supply and sewage disposal systems, usable lots and conformance to plans for Orange County as <br />recommended by the Planning Board and adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The following <br />general requirements and principles of land subdivision shall be observed: <br />7.6.1 Minimum Lot Size <br />(A) All lots shall contain the minimum lot area required by Article 3 of this Ordinance and <br />shall comply with all applicable development standards. <br />(B) Any lot which provides an easement for individual septic disposal for use by a separate <br />lot shall contain an additional 20,000 square feet to accommodate the septic easement. <br />7.6.2 Residential Density <br />The allowable density on a given parcel of property proposed for subdivision shall comply with the <br />residential maximum density requirements in Section 4.2.4. <br />7.6.3 Land Suitability <br />(A) In reviewing subdivision proposals, the Planning Department and Planning Board shall <br />consider the overall design of the subdivision with the suitability of the land for <br />development to insure that the platting and development of the subdivision will not create <br />a danger to the health, safety, and welfare of Orange County residents. <br />(B) Land suitability shall be determined by an investigation of conditions including but not <br />limited to flood prone areas, soil drainage, drainage patterns, slope, historic sites, <br />maximum anticipated levels of land disturbance for the project and all proposed individual <br />lots, and unique natural areas. The investigations shall be carried out by the Planning <br />Board, the Planning Department, or other agencies or individuals having the appropriate <br />technical expertise. <br />(C) Special Flood Hazard Areas shall be considered during the review process. <br />(D) Soils shall be evaluated for suitability or provisional suitability for septic tanks according <br />to guidelines established in the Laws and Rules for Ground Absorption Sewage Disposal <br />Systems, incorporated herein by reference. <br />(1) Each lot that does not contain a suitable building site shall be designated on the <br />plat as being of restricted development potential and by instrument recorded in <br />the Orange County registry as specifically prescribed by Section 7.14.3(E)(1) of <br />this Ordinance. <br />(E) Drainage <br />(1) Soil suitability, including slope and drainage, shall also be evaluated according to <br />soil characteristics indicated by the Orange County Soil Survey and topography <br />indicated by the U.S. Geological Topographic Maps. <br />(2) Each lot shall contain a suitable building area safe from inundation and erosion. <br />(3) Sanitary sewer systems, septic tank drainfields, water systems, wells, and <br />adjacent properties shall be protected from inundation by surface water. <br />(4) Roads, driveways and utilities shall be protected from damage caused by <br />improper stormwater management. <br />(5) Mechanical devices, drainage easements, natural buffers, large lots, and/or other <br />technical means may be used to achieve these drainage objectives. Natural <br />drainageways are a preferred means of stormwater run-off removal. The <br />characteristics (including capacity) of natural drainageways shall be protected. <br />(6) Runoff levels from the 25-year storm after the site is developed shall not be <br />greater than the rate of runoff on the same site in its natural state. <br />30