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Article 7: Subdivisions <br /> Section 7.12: Flexible Developments <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 7-49 <br /> <br />(4) Ownership by individual property owners, of estate lots only, where specific <br />development restrictions and maintenance requirements are included as part of <br />restrictive covenants and/or permanent conservation easements applicable to <br />such lots. <br />(F) Maintenance of Common Open Space <br />(1) Natural features shall be maintained in their natural condition, but may be <br />modified to improve their appearance, function or overall condition, as <br />recommended by experts in the particular area being modified. Permitted <br />modifications may include the following: <br />(a) Reforestation; <br />(b) Woodland management; <br />(c) Pasture or cropland management; <br />(d) Buffer area landscaping; <br />(e) Stream bank protection; and/or <br />(f) Wetlands management <br />(2) Unless accepted for dedication or otherwise agreed to by the County, another <br />unit of local government, the state or a private nonprofit land conservancy, the <br />cost and responsibility of maintaining open space and any facilities located <br />thereon shall be borne by the property owner and/or homeowner's association. <br />7.13.47.12.5 Development Standards <br />Plats for Major Subdivisions utilizing the Flexible Development subdivision platsOption shall be <br />prepared in accordance with one or more of the following development options: Estate Lot <br />Option; Conservation-Cluster Option; Village Option. <br />(A) Estate Lot Option <br />For lots created as part of an estate lot development, the following standards apply: <br />(1) Each estate lot shall have a lot size of at least four acres. <br />(2) For each estate lot, a building envelope (buildable area) shall be defined of <br />sufficient size to accommodate a single-family detached dwelling and customary <br />accessory uses, including, but not limited to, storage buildings and garages, <br />patios and decks, lawns, and driveways, septic systems including repair areas <br />and well sites. <br />(3) The building envelope of an estate lot may not exceed 50% of the total lot area <br />and shall not include designated Primary and/or Secondary Conservation Open <br />Space Areas. <br />(4) Only the area outside of the building envelope of an estate lot may be counted <br />toward meeting the minimum open space requirement. To the highest degree <br />possible, the open space area shall be contiguous to open space designated on <br />the adjacent lot(s) and shall not include required front yard and side yard <br />setbacks unless the front or side yard contains significant primary or secondary <br />conservation areasPrimary or Secondary Open Space Areas. <br />(5) A septic system repair area and/or well can be located within the secondary <br />conservationSecondary Open Space Area area provided the land designated for <br />the septic system and/or well is not more than one quarter of the secondary <br />conservationSecondary Open Space Area area of the lot. No septic system, <br />repair area and/or well can be located in the primary conservation areaPrimary <br />Open Space Area of a lot. <br />(6) Each building envelope on an estate lot shall adhere to the following spacing <br />standards: <br /> 200