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Approved 1/10/2018 reviewed that the applicant is proposing no breaks in the buffer for District 1. He noted that District 3 had been removed from 110 the proposal completely. In District 2, the applicant is allowed to create visual breaks in the MTC buffer. The developers plan 111 to stick to the 50 percent breaks. The image indicated where the intermittent breaks would be located. 112 113 Patricia Roberts asked whether 50 percent breaks is an Orange County law. Michael Harvey answered yes. 114 115 Kim Piracci noted the breaks are 50 percent of width (along the border of the property) and not in depth. Michael Harvey 116 affirmed that. He said the Orange County Board of Commissioners has expressed some concern that the applicant is also 117 proposing to do some selective clearing within the MTC buffer for utility infrastructure and roadway networks. This will be 118 discussed more in this review. 119 120 Paul Guthrie asked whether there is any knowledge of long-term expansion of I-40 in that area. Michael Harvey said 121 expanding has to occur in the 300-foot right of way unless the federal government procures more land. There is talk of 122 expanding I-40 into three lanes as it is in Durham. He believes that can be accommodated with the existing right of way. 123 124 Michael Harvey said on Page 13, the first condition up for discussion is Condition 6, contained in Attachment 7, granting 125 Orange Rural Fire Department denial authority. The applicant has indicated they don’t mind the fire department being a review 126 party but they don’t think the fire department should have power to deny the application. Instead, the applicant suggests the 127 power to deny the application be left to the fire marshals from the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County. The Orange 128 County Board of Commissioners has requested this board’s opinion on whether Orange Rural Fire Department should have 129 denial authority. Typically, fire departments review such applications but do not have authority to deny them, Michael Harvey 130 said. 131 132 Tony Blake said the intent was they be included in the review but not have approval or denial. The main thing is they be 133 involved. Michael Harvey asked for a show of consensus to modify the condition to allow Orange Rural Fire Department to 134 have review but not denial authority. 135 136 MOTION by Randy Marshall that Orange Rural Fire Department have a review but not action to approve or deny the 137 application. Seconded by Hunter Spitzer. 138 VOTE: Unanimous 139 140 Michael Harvey continued with the presentation. He reviewed the next condition to be discussed involves the MTC 141 buffer. The applicant does not propose any disturbance breaks in District 1, which is the industrial district. The 142 applicant had asked for clearing 60 percent of the buffer instead of 50 percent in District 2. The Orange County Board 143 of Commissioners expressed reservation about allowing the additional clearing. The applicant has since submitted to 144 staff that they will abide by the ordinance allowing clearance of 50 percent of the buffer. They have delineated a 145 clearing limited to 50 percent. They are not limited due to the clearing associated with the utility easement. Regarding 146 additional allowances for modifications to the MTC buffer, the applicant has shown a 100-foot buffer going up to the 147 utility easement and then the applicant is asking for a variable width MTC buffer instead of 100 feet. Based on the 148 narrative reviewed at the Oct. 4, 2017, Planning Board meeting and the public hearing, the MTC buffer would be 149 cleared for accesses and stormwater feature construction. The Planning Board is asked to give feedback on the 150 proposed variable width of the MTC buffer, proposed to be 50 feet instead of 100 feet in some places. 151 152 Kim Piracci asked for clarification because she is unclear why it’s sometimes 50 feet and sometimes 100 feet. 153 Michael Harvey answered the variable width would be to accommodate an access road, parking and a stormwater 154 feature. 155 156 Paul Guthrie asked if the buffer is intended to be a sound buffer and a visual buffer. Michael Harvey answered right 157 now it serves as both but it borders a major highway and there are already significant breaks in the buffer, including 158 the interchange, which allows sound to travel. While the Orange County Board of Commissioners realized allowing 159 50 percent breaks in the buffer would have a sound impact, they also understood that it allowed marketing of the site. 160 161 David Blankfard asked for clarification about the parcel to the north. Michael Harvey answered that the applicant is 162 choosing to propose a solid buffer for District 1. 163 164