Orange County NC Website
Article 5: Uses <br /> Section 5.8: Standards for Adult and Child care & Educational Facilities <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-86 <br /> <br />(9)(8) Fencing, a minimum 3 feet in height,37 is toshall be provided around the outdoor <br />play space. All gates shall be self-closing and/or self-latching.38, which ensures <br />the protection of the children receiving child care and protects adjacent <br />residentially developed properties from trespass. <br />(10) All gates shall be self-closing and self-latching. <br />5.8.25.8.3 Child Care Facilities <br />(A) Standards in Commercial and Industrial Districts <br />(1) At leastA minimum of 100 square feet of outdoor play space per child shall be <br />provided. <br />(2) Outdoor play space shall not be located in a required buffer, shall not include <br />driveways or parking areas, and shall not be located in an area used or reserved <br />for use as a sewage disposal nitrification field39 <br />(3) Fencing, a minimum of 3 feet in height, shall be provided around the outdoor play <br />space. All gates shall be self-closing and/or self-latching. Outdoor play space <br />shall be fenced or otherwise enclosed on all sides and shall not include <br />driveways, parking area or land unsuited by other usage or natural features for <br />children's play space. All required fences shall comply with the regulations of this <br />Ordinance. The minimum height in any case shall be three feet. <br />(4) A Type B land use buffer, as detailed in Section 6.8.6 of this Ordinance, shall be <br />erected around the perimeter of outdoor play areas.40 <br />(4)(5) The minimum lot area for the first eight children shall be 10,000 square feet. The <br />minimum additional area for multiples of eight children shall be 2,000 square feet. <br />(B) Standards for Class B Special Use Permit <br />(1) Submittal Requirements <br />In addition to the information required by Section 2.7, the following shall be <br />submitted as part of the application: <br />(a) Evidence that the minimum requirements to qualify for a State of North <br />Carolina child care facility license have been satisfied. <br />(b) A floor plan of the proposed child care facility, showing the use and <br />dimensions of each room and the location of entrances and exits. <br />(2) Standards of Evaluation <br />(a) The child care facility is to be located in an area which is free from <br />conditions dangerous to the physical and moral welfare of the children.41 <br />(b)(a) The minimum requirements to qualify for a State of North Carolina child <br />care facility license are satisfied. <br />(c)(b) There is direct frontage and access on a public State-maintained road. <br /> <br />37 Currently there is no height standard specified in this section.  There are references to a fence height limit in  <br />Section 5.8.2 for Child Care Facilities.  Staff is including this specific minimum height requirement to avoid  <br />inconsistent enforcement.  <br />38 Staff is adding langue concerning the development of the play area with respect to the fence and access gates to  <br />a central provision.  <br />39 This language is being moved and modified to ensure consistency for all ‘child care facilities’ developed in the  <br />County.  <br />40 Staff is recommending a land use buffer be installed around the outdoor play area for a child care facility.  <br />41 Staff is recommending this language be deleted.  We are concerned there is no definitive way for the Board of  <br />Adjustment to make this determination and is uncertain how language could be included providing  <br />guidance/standards on how same could be accomplished.  <br /> 145