Orange County NC Website
Comments Made at the November Quarterly Public Hearing <br /> <br />Planning Board Comments BOCC Comments Planning Staff Response/Comments <br /> Minor home occupation regulations should <br />incorporate existing standards without any <br />modifications. All proposed revisions allowing for <br />an increase in employees, square footage <br />allowances, and size of accessory structures shall <br />be through the major home occupation process <br />requiring a Special Use Permit. <br />Planning staff recommends the Planning Board to <br />review and discuss this item. <br /> Concerns with existing standards requiring <br />landscaping and buffering of accessory structures <br />used in the home occupation. <br />Existing standards contained within the UDO may <br />be reviewed and revised to address this item. For <br />example, proposed revisions may provide <br />language not requiring landscaping and buffering <br />when the accessory structure is located 100 feet <br />or more from the property line (or a distance to <br />be determined). <br /> Concerns with existing standards regarding the <br />appearance of a residential accessory structure. <br />Existing standards contained within the UDO <br />require accessory structures to be constructed <br />with suitable residential construction materials in <br />order to avoid commercially designed structures <br />to be located in residential zoning districts. <br />Accessory structures are not required to take on <br />the exact appearance of the residential structure. <br /> Concerns regarding proposed standards being <br />too restrictive and creating a financial burden on <br />business owners. <br />Proposed revisions to existing standards are more <br />lenient and less restrictive allowing for more <br />employees, visitors, daily trips, deliveries, and <br />increase in the overall size of home occupations. <br />Existing and proposed standards may result in <br />financial constraints on a business owner which <br />are typically incurred with the opening of any <br />new business. <br />Concerns with trade uses, including <br />plumbing, electrical, and building <br />contracting, not being permitted as a <br />home occupation. <br /> Existing standards should be revised to be more <br />clear that an office for these uses is an acceptable <br />home occupation use. The Board may wish to <br />discuss whether the actual day-to-day operation <br />of these types of businesses should be allowed <br />from a residential property. <br />Attachment 2 <br />34