Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
The Planning Board pledges to the residents of Orange County its respect. The Board 53 <br />asks its residents to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner, both with the 54 <br />Board and with fellow residents. At any time, should any member of the Board or any 55 <br />resident fail to observe this public charge, the Chair will ask the offending member to 56 <br />leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should decorum rail to be 57 <br />restored, the Chair will recess the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to 58 <br />this public charge is observed. 59 <br /> 60 AGENDA ITEM 6: CHAIR COMMENTS 61 <br /> 62 <br />None. 63 <br /> 64 AGENDA ITEM 7: UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (UDO) TEXT AMENDMENT - To make a 65 <br />recommendation to the BOCC on government-initiated amendments to the text of the 66 <br />UDO regarding sign regulations. This item is scheduled for the May 23, 2016 quarterly 67 <br />public hearing and was most recently discussed by the Planning Board at its March 68 <br />meeting. 69 <br /> 70 Presenter: Michael Harvey, Current Planning Supervisor 71 <br /> 72 <br />Michael Harvey reviewed the abstract. 73 <br /> 74 <br />Paul Guthrie: Just to show everybody what these guys are talking about. This is the Supreme Court ruling that all of 75 <br />this started. About 5 different justices taking a different take at it and they came together for a decision so that’s 76 <br />where it starts. And then tied after North Carolina law and whether it comes anywhere close to this or provides 77 <br />municipalities of Counties with the ability to react to this is the swimming pool these guys are working in right now. 78 <br /> 79 <br />Michael Harvey continued presentation. 80 <br /> 81 <br />James Lea: When you say eliminate, what do you mean? Those churches now have to take those signs down? 82 <br /> 83 <br />Michael Harvey: I believe you are talking about the proposal to eliminate the allowance for off-site directional signage 84 <br />for churches. The answer is no, those churches that already have signs up will be allowed to keep them consistent 85 <br />with the non-conforming section of the UDO. What this means if a car happens to mow it down it cannot be replaced. 86 <br />If the sign falls into disrepair to a certain dollar amount or is destroyed a certain percentage it can’t be replaced. But, 87 <br />they can continue to have them up until such time. And yes, there are going to be institutions that have enjoyed some 88 <br />flexibility that are losing it now. Those churches without this signage will also be unable to erect them. 89 <br /> 90 <br />Lydia Wegman: So there will be no off site advertising prohibit? 91 <br /> 92 <br />Michael Harvey: Well right now, there’s no off site advertising technically allowed period. Churches are losing their 93 <br />exemption. Outdoor advertising, specifically billboards, is a totally different animal actually regulated by the state. 94 <br /> 95 <br />Michael Harvey continued presentation. 96 <br /> 97 <br />James Lea: Is that an issue just in North Carolina? 98 <br /> 99 <br />Michael Harvey: No, but communities are allowed to deal with sign regulations differently. For example, Alamance 100 <br />County doesn’t have some of the same standards we have with respect to setback and size of signs whereas Chapel 101 <br />Hill, in certain circumstances, is more restrictive than we are currently. 102 <br /> 103 <br />James Lea: So it’s a county issue? 104 <br /> 105 <br /> 10