Orange County NC Website
D R A F T <br />of the existing regulatory requirements that would grant the ability for someone to be considered conforming that did a 223 <br />permit in the 60s or 70s.224 <br />225 <br />Randy Marshall asked if conforming meant they would they have to change to be the New Hope Retreat Center. Mr. 226 <br />Harvey replied, no.227 <br />228 <br />Michael Harvey continued to the next change and guided the board to page 57. He spoke on the references to 229 <br />dormitories, fraternities, and sororities and explained that those reference were being deleted because they are either 230 <br />a rooming house or a multi-family land use. He stated they were already covered under the code so there would be no 231 <br />reason to repeat it. Additionally, he explained that dormitories, fraternities, and sororities are also connected to 232 <br />university operations which are required to get Special Use Permits under the code. He stated that there are none in 233 <br />Orange County, so it was being deleted. Mr. Harvey informed that board that he had met with a few commissioners 234 <br />the in the previous week and brought the concerns of airports to their attention. He mentioned that the commissioners 235 <br />liked the notion of deleting the airports from the residential districts but did not find it appropriate to move them into an 236 <br />industrial as recommended. He stated they liked the idea of doing further study to find better ways to handle airports 237 <br />than what’s currently in the code. He brought an additional concern the board and asked them to consider what to do 238 <br />with someone who has a heliport or an airfield as an accessary use on their property. 239 <br />240 <br />Craig Benedict commented that these airports are allowed as accessory use to residential if it is for a private party.241 <br />242 <br />Michael Harvey remarked, yes, and stated that the commissioners he had met with addressed that there needs to be 243 <br />some thought about adopting some minimal standards for those types of activities. 244 <br />245 <br />Michael Harvey moved to page 61 and reminded the board that this was a topic they had touched on. He explained 246 <br />that there used to be two categories wholesale trade durable and wholesale trade nondurable goods which were both 247 <br />permitted in the same zoning districts and added that they are now being combined into one group, wholesale trade. 248 <br />249 <br />Michael Harvey explained the changes to assembly uses and stated that the recommendation is to eliminate the 250 <br />overall category and splitting it out per use. He defined assembly use as a gathering of people for a purpose and then 251 <br />explained the differences between various assemblies, such as places of worship, clubs, lodges, community centers, 252 <br />theaters and retreat centers. Mr. Harvey informed the board that the changes were made to clarify the distinction 253 <br />between the various types of assemblies. He stated that the changes addressed some of the loop hole issues, but it 254 <br />was decided that they needed to rid of the over-arching category and splitting it per use. He addressed the changes to 255 <br />special events as defined in the ordinance and asked the board to note the definition on the table that had been 256 <br />provided. Mr. Harvey pointed out a regulatory standard which had been added into the definition of a special event 257 <br />and informed everyone it had been moved to the appropriate section in the UDO. 258 <br />259 <br />Randy Marshall voiced his concern that anyone could say they were gathering to worship. Mr. Harvey asked him to 260 <br />remember that determinations would be performed on a case-by-case basis, and he then reiterated the definition of a 261 <br />place of worship. He explained that if a person is proposing a land use, the first task would be to determine whether or 262 <br />not that person meets the requirements for what constitutes a place of worship. 263 <br />264 <br />Randy Marshall stated that he could argue that the categories that were just listed are exclusionary as opposed to 265 <br />inclusive. He voiced that the felt this was a loophole being left open. 266 <br />267 <br />Michael Harvey asserted that it would be the totality of all the definitions, standards and framework that would establish 268 <br />the County with the authority to say they are a place of worship and reiterated it would have to be done on a case-by-269 <br />case basis.270 <br />271 <br />Randy Marshall asked whether the Rams club would be considered a place of worship. Mr. Harvey stated that for 272 <br />some people, yes, but it would be considered a club with respect to the construction of the UDO. Randy stated that 273 <br />that was his pointed and commented that it was in the mind of the beholder. Mr. Harvey replied that he understood but 274 <br />stated that it would be a club based on the current definition.275 <br />276 <br />Alexander Gregory remarked that he thought there to enough logic there in the case-by- case basis. 277 <br />278 <br />9