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Article 5: Uses Section 5.7: Standards for Recreational Uses Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-62 from adjacent residentially zoned property. (4) The site shall be located on a major road, as classified in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, unless permitted as an ASE-CZ. (5) Parking shall not be located in the front yard space. (6) Application materials shall include a comprehensive groundwater study, for facilities expected to use more groundwater on an annual basis than an average single family residence (which uses 240 gallons of water per day) built at the highest density the existing zoning district would allow. For example, if the existing zoning district allows a residential density of 1 unit for 2 acres and the proposed use is on a six acre parcel (which could yield 3 residences), the proposed use(s) may use three times the water used by an average single family residence (or 720 gallons per day, on an annualized basis) before a comprehensive groundwater study is required. The water usage rates of any existing use subject to zoning regulations located on the same lot shall be taken into account when determining if a comprehensive groundwater study is required. Said study shall detail: (a) The amount of water anticipated to be used on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis by regulated uses located on the parcel (e.g., water usage by bona fide farm uses is not required to be included); (b) An analysis of the amount of groundwater withdrawal considered to be safe and sustainable in the immediate vicinity; and (c) An analysis of whether other wells in the vicinity of the proposed use are expected to be affected by withdrawals made by the proposed use. SECTION 5.7: STANDARDS FOR RECREATIONAL USES 5.7.1 Recreational Uses for Residential Land Uses 2 (A) General Standards (1) Recreational uses shall be treated as a customary accessory use to residential land uses and shall adhere to all applicable development standards for the district in which they are located unless otherwise specified herein. (2) Recreational uses shall not be open to the public, designed to accommodate public access or use, used in connection with established recreation leagues or organizations, or in any way serve as a recreation amenity for adjacent property owners.3 (3) Amenities, equipment, and/or facilities such as athletic field lighting, bleachers, or public address systems shall not be permitted.4 (B) Specific Standards 2 Staff has always interpreted a recreational use (i.e. pool, basketball court, etc.) to be an customary accessory use to a residence. There have been issues in the past with property owners allowing for the use of recreation amenities on their property to serve others. To address this issue staff is recommending the imposition of various standards to ensure this use does not become some form of commercial operation. 3 Staff is not trying to say a property owner cannot have friends over who use a pool or basketball court. What we are attempting to avoid is the defacto expansion of an accessory use on 1 property to serve others recreation needs. 4 Staff has received concerns from various property owners over the years with respect to a private land owners ability to erect amenities, primary athletic field lights, to expand the use of their accessory recreation use. Staff is recommending language that would prohibit the installation/use of equipment allowing for the expanded use of a recreation amenity beyond what is considered customary for a residential setting. 12