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regulations in place. However, those cases that are not able to meet standards or are exceeding home <br />occupation regulations may apply for a conditional use permit or variance request or relocate to a <br />commercial zoning district located in the county. <br /> <br />Benefits <br />The existing and proposed standards contained within the UDO and text amendment provide for a <br />number of benefits. As previously stated, the introduction of new uses previously not permitted as <br />home occupations and the expansion of larger scale home occupations will create the opportunity for <br />greater impacts to neighborhoods and residential districts than currently experienced in the county. <br />Maintaining screening requirements and increased setback standards for accessory structures will allow <br />for potential impacts to be mitigated and reduce negative effects to adjacent property owners from <br />noise, light, odor, or visual impacts. These standards will help to address conflicts that may arise from <br />the permitting of an incidental or secondary nonresidential use to operate in an accessory structure in a <br />district primarily intended for residential purposes. With the County’s role in allowing new uses and <br />expansion of home base business operations in residential districts, it is necessary to create standards <br />that will not result in negative impacts, create conflicts, or loss of residential character. <br /> <br />The existing and proposed standards ease regulations to provide for an expansion of home occupations <br />to support home based businesses in the county, but also provide a safeguard system protecting the <br />residential character of neighborhoods. In the end, planning staff believes that the existing and <br />proposed standards successfully create a reasonable balance between supporting home based <br />businesses and protecting the character and enjoyment of residential neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />The existing language contained within the UDO and the proposed standards relating to accessory <br />structure setbacks and screening are an essential component to the proposed home occupation text <br />amendment in order to reduce negative impacts and protect the residential character of neighborhoods. <br />By revising the existing and proposed standards, the County may create greater impacts to residential <br />districts and conflicting land uses within a district primarily designed for residential purposes. These <br />impacts can result in increased conflict of uses and enforcement issues dependent on the effects the <br />new permitted uses and larger scale home occupations may have on adjacent properties. Proposed <br />standards are providing greater opportunities for home based businesses by allowing for larger <br />accessory structures and new uses that were previously not permitted as home occupations such as <br />plumbing, electrical, and building contracting. In order to facilitate the original goal of balance, <br />regulations contained within the UDO and the proposed amendment, addressing setbacks and screening <br />of accessory structures utilized in a home occupation, are necessary to keep these uses in check and <br />mitigate any negative effects resulting from expanded home occupation operations. As a result, <br />planning staff supports the need to remain consistent with existing standards contained in the UDO <br />regarding screening and proposed setback regulations contained in the text amendment recommended <br />for approval by the Planning Board. <br /> <br /> <br />162