Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> <br /> Commissioner Price said she was wondering if it could be lessened in the UDO, 1 <br />before the need for a variance. 2 <br /> Ashley Moncado said this could be done. 3 <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she does not understand why vegetation is 4 <br />required around accessory structures when the accessory structure is already required 5 <br />to be built of materials similar to a residence. She said this seems to mean that it must 6 <br />be shielded just because it is used as a business, even if it looks like a house. 7 <br /> Ashley Moncado said this was meant to reduce the visual impact of introducing 8 <br />a secondary usage on to a piece of property. She said this may also reduce noise 9 <br />impacts. 10 <br /> Commissioner Rich noted that the planning board passed the recommendation 11 <br />7-1. She asked if the person who voted against it had a strong objection to anything in 12 <br />particular. 13 <br /> Ashley Moncado said this person had concerns regarding the application fee, 14 <br />enforcement, and the standards limiting economic development in Orange County. 15 <br /> Commissioner Gordon said there is a balance between allowing expansion in 16 <br />home occupations and maintaining the existing residential character of the area. She 17 <br />said some businesses could create noises and other impacts, and the required 18 <br />setbacks are not that large. She said the balance is between allowing some non-19 <br />residential use without disturbing the people already there. She said she is concerned 20 <br />about the noise and other impacts of some of the construction businesses. 21 <br /> Commissioner McKee said he agreed with Commissioner Gordon because it is 22 <br />a balancing act. He noted that the 40 foot setback is the size of the current meeting 23 <br />room. He said the goal is to improve the availability of the activity without throwing out 24 <br />all the rules. 25 <br /> Commissioner Price said if you consider some of the benign businesses that are 26 <br />located in offices made of the same material as your house, she does not understand 27 <br />why the expense of a fence or shield plants is necessary. She is thinking of the 28 <br />residents in clustered areas or cul-de-sacs that don’t allow a lot of room. She said 29 <br />many of the businesses will make less noise than the kids in the neighborhood. She 30 <br />feels a lot of hardship is being put on these businesses by requiring the screens. 31 <br /> 32 <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner McKee 33 <br />to close the public hearing. 34 <br /> 35 <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS 36 <br /> 37 <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said the more traditional zoning distinguishes between 38 <br />types of uses. He suggested that this ordinance might also have more specifically 39 <br />tailored home occupations and would account for variances in impact, such as less 40 <br />noise, or less light. He said the home occupation could be matched with the 41 <br />requirements. 42 <br /> Commissioner Rich agreed with this. She said it is important to know what a 43 <br />business is before applying standards like sheltering. 44 <br /> Perdita Holtz said the Planning Department is trying to make the standards fit for 45 <br />all different types of home occupation uses. She said historically, zoning ordinances in 46 <br />178