Orange County NC Website
13 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> PLANNING BOARD ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 2, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8 <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments — Enforcement of <br /> Nutrient Standards within the Jordan Lake Watershed <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Statement of Consistency Michael D. Harvey, Planner III (919) 245-2597 <br /> 2. UDO Amendment(s) Craig Benedict, Director (919) 245-2575 <br /> 3. Watershed Map <br /> PURPOSE: To review and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners <br /> (BOCC) on a Planning Director initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment <br /> eliminating existing regulations associated with the enforcement of nutrient/water quality <br /> regulations within the Jordan Lake Watershed as well as updating references to State agencies <br /> and regulations consistent with recent changes in State law. <br /> BACKGROUND: Orange County's UDO currently regulates erosion & sedimentation control for <br /> non-farmland 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 /> 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 /> 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 /> Attachment 2 contains the draft UDO text amendment intended to address this matter. <br /> Attachment 3 contains a map denoting the watershed areas in the County. <br /> These amendments are expected to be on the BOCC's public hearing agenda on March 7, <br /> 2019. <br /> Analysis: As required under Section 2.8.5 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to: `... <br /> cause an analysis to be made of the application and, based upon that analysis, prepare a <br />