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2 relating to the regulation of home occupations within the county. At the January 9, 2013 Planning Board meeting, Board members discussed areas of interest for planning staff to address for the next year. One item, which was highlighted in the UDO Implementation Bridge report prepared when the UDO was adopted in 2011, included the need to review existing home occupation standards for a potential revision. At that time, Board members expressed concern with the existing standards limiting home occupations by being too restrictive with the required square footage allowances and number of permitted nonresidential employees. As a result, the Board requested staff to proceed with reviewing existing standards. To address the Planning Board’s request, staff presented information at the July 10, 2013 Planning Board meeting, including a summary of current standards contained in the UDO, a comparison with other local jurisdictions’ standards, and items of consideration to facilitate and promote the use of home occupations. Following review and discussion, the Board asked staff to proceed with an amendment to the UDO addressing their comments and areas of interest relating to the UDO Implementation Bridge report. At the September 2 Planning Board meeting, staff presented draft language based on Planning Board comments received at the previous meeting for review. Additionally, at this time, staff presented Section 419, Live/work Units, from the 2012 North Carolina Building Code regarding the review and permitting of home occupations that are classified as live/work units. Although planning staff considers this Section of the building code, adopted in 2012, to be restrictive, local governments cannot amend laws, codes and/or rules adopted by the State. Staff anticipated that this Section of the building code will result in prospective hom e occupation applicants deciding to locate their home occupation in an accessory structure if the home occupation comprises of more than ten percent of their home’s square footage. A copy of Section 419 is included at the end of this form. Staff followed up with Board comments at the October 2 Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) meeting, presenting proposed amendment language. Based on recommendations received from the ORC, staff organized a meeting with the Planning Board Chair on October 16 to discuss concerns from Board member’s recommendations including number of employees and visitors per day. Following this meeting, revisions were made to the proposed standards for Planning Board review and comment at the November 6 ORC meeting. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to develop standards that accommodate and encourage the use of larger scale home occupation while protecting the character and enjoyment of residential neighborhoods and meeting standards of the North Carolina Building Code in order to incorporate recommendations of the Implementation Bridge into the Unified Development Ordinance. Uses such as artist studios often are considered home occupations and the updated standar ds will apply to artist studios. This is a topic that was raised at the February 2013 BOCC retreat 5