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ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 7, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No.  <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments – Enforcement of <br />Nutrient Standards within the Jordan Lake Watershed <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Draft UDO Amendment(s) <br />2. Watershed Map <br />Michael D. Harvey, Planner III (919) 245-2597 <br />Craig Benedict, Director (919) 245-2575 <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To review and comment upon Planning Director initiated Unified Development <br />Ordinance (UDO) text amendments eliminating existing regulations associated with the <br />enforcement of nutrient/water quality regulations within the Jordan Lake Watershed as well as <br />updating existing references to State agencies and regulations consistent with State law. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: Orange County’s UDO currently regulates erosion & sedimentation control for <br />non-farm land disturbing activities, as well as stormwater runoff, from new development under <br />the general oversight of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). <br /> <br />Part of these regulations include the enforcement of what is commonly referred to as the ‘Jordan <br />Lake Rules’, which are nutrient reduction strategies designed to address/restore water quality in <br />Jordan Lake by reducing the amount of pollution (nutrients) entering upstream. These rules <br />became effective on August 11, 2009. Orange County adopted amendments into the UDO in <br />2012 incorporating said standards consistent with applicable State timelines. <br /> <br />In 2017 the State chose to delay the implementation/enforcement of nutrient/water quality <br />regulations for parcels within the Jordan Lake Watershed to allow for additional study. This <br />proposed text amendment seeks to bring the County’s UDO into alignment with current DEQ <br />regulatory requirements related to the Jordan Lake Rules as we no longer have the authority to <br />enforce the proposed, yet delayed, higher standard(s). <br /> <br />Attachment 1 contains the draft UDO text amendment intended to address this matter. <br />Attachment 2 contains a map denoting the watershed areas in the County. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Consideration and approval will not create the need for additional funding <br />for the provision of County services. Existing staff, included in the Departmental staffing budget, <br />will accomplish the work required to process this amendment. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Planning Director recommends the Planning Board receive the <br />amendment package and provide feedback on the proposed amendment(s). <br /> 2