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2 <br /> <br />In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 Zoning Atlas and Unified <br />Development Ordinance Amendments of the UDO, the Planning Director has <br />initiated a text amendment to require that a neighborhood information meeting be <br />held prior to any action authorizing the development of a governmental land use <br />within the County’s planning jurisdiction. <br />The anticipated development of a fire department substation off of Neville Road has <br />caused local residents to voice concern over a lack of notification or participation in the <br />process to develop the aforementioned facility. <br />A volunteer fire department falls within the Governmental Use land use category, as <br />detailed within Section 5.2 Table of Permitted Uses of the UDO, and is considered to be <br />a permitted use of property. Permitted uses are handled administratively (i.e. staff <br />review) with no public outreach required by the UDO. <br />In order to address a concern over a lack of public involvement with ‘governmental uses’ <br />the Planning Director proposes to modify the UDO to require a neighborhood information <br />meeting to allow the general public to be made aware of such applications and offer <br />comment. <br /> <br /> <br />2. Analysis <br />As required under Section 2.8.5 of the Orange County Unified Development <br />Ordinance, the Planning Director is required to: ‘cause an analysis to be made of the <br />application and, based upon that analysis, prepare a recommendation for <br />consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of County Commissioners’. <br />The proposed amendment is designed to address a concern over a lack of notification <br />and involvement of the general public with respect to the development of governmental <br />uses throughout the County’s planning jurisdiction. <br />If approved, the amendment will require a neighborhood information meeting prior to <br />formal submittal of a site plan to the Planning Department in the hopes the applicant can <br />address any local property owner concerns. <br />It should be noted this amendment, if approved, will likely extend the development review <br />period for such projects by several weeks. <br /> <br />3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives) <br /> <br />Objective LU-6-1: Undertake a comprehensive effort to inform and involve the <br />citizens of Orange County in the land use planning process. <br /> <br /> <br />4. New Statutes and Rules <br />N/A <br /> <br /> <br />C. PROCESS <br />4