Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Article 5: Uses 180 <br /> Section 5.9: Standards for Utilities <br /> (iv) Where natural planting is used as screening, a strip of land at <br /> least ten feet in width shall be reserved for this purpose. The <br /> planting strip shall be composed of an arrangement of shrubs <br /> and trees. The shrubs shall be evergreen and shall be arranged <br /> in two rows as minimum and planted at an initial height of at <br /> least three feet, with distance between shrubs being not more <br /> than five feet. The shrubs shall be of such variety that an <br /> average height of at least six feet could be expected as normal <br /> growth within no more than two years from the time of planting. <br /> Trees, which may be eight evergreen or deciduous, shall <br /> augment the arrangement of shrubs so that there will be a <br /> screening effect of opacity to materially screen the use within the <br /> subject property from the view of adjacent properties. <br /> (4) The minimum required lot area for such uses shall be 5,000 square feet. The <br /> facility shall be located on a parcel or easement across the parcel, (whether <br /> owned or leased by the utility) which has been recorded with the Orange County <br /> Register of Deeds. <br /> (5) Access easements extending from an approved public or private road to the <br /> facility shall be a minimum width of 30 feet. <br /> 5.9.2 Electrical Substations, Switching and Metering Stations, and Associated Transmission <br /> Lines, Where Incoming Voltage Does Not Exceed 100 Kilovolts (kv) <br /> (A) General StandardsStandards of Evaluation <br /> (1) Perimeter fencing and setbacks for the utility structure shall be provided in <br /> accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code. <br /> (2) The components of the facility, including but not limited to towers, transformers, <br /> circuit breakers, metering devices, and supporting latticework, shall be contained <br /> within a geometric area not to exceed 12,000 square feet. <br /> (3) The facility shall be located on a parcel or easement across the parcel, (whether <br /> owned or leased by the utility) which has been recorded with the Orange County <br /> Register of Deeds. <br /> (4) Access easements extending from an approved public or private road to the <br /> facility shall be a minimum width of 30 feet. <br /> (5) A Type E Land Use Buffer shall be provided along any portion of the perimeter of <br /> the parcel, easement, or leasehold located adjacent to property zoned for <br /> residential use, except where such property is owned, leased or consists of other <br /> utility easements currently used for electrical distribution or transmission <br /> purposes or no other purposes. <br /> (6) Existing vegetation within an easement, leasehold or parcel of a public utility may <br /> be used to satisfy the landscaping requirements. <br /> (7) Modification to or replacement of existing facilities shall be subject to the <br /> requirements set forth in this Section. Pre existing facilities may remain during <br /> construction of replacement facilities, but shall be dismantled after the <br /> replacement facility is in operation. <br /> (8) The parcel or easement across the parcel, (whether owned or leased by the <br /> utility) on which the facility is located shall contain a minimum area of 5000 <br /> square feet. <br /> (9) The applicant shall submit proof of liability insurance covering bodily injury and <br /> property damage demonstrating a minimum coverage limit of$500,000.00 per <br /> occurrence. <br /> Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-106 <br />