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ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date:November 6, 2019 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No.2 <br />SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments – Modification of <br />Erosion Control Standards <br />DEPARTMENT:Planning and Inspections <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Draft UDO Amendment(s) – Section(s) <br />2.18 and 2.19 <br />2. Erosion Control Permit Factsheet <br />Michael D. Harvey, Planner III (919) 245-2597 <br />Craig Benedict, Director (919) 245-2575 <br />PURPOSE:To begin review of Planning Director initiated Unified Development Ordinance <br />(UDO) text amendments revising existing standards governing the review of erosion control <br />projects. Specifically the amendment seeks to streamline existing language, eliminate <br />contradictory standards, and establish a realistic expiration on erosion control plan approvals. <br />BACKGROUND: The UDO establishes a 2-tiered approach to the review/action on erosion <br />control project(s), namely: <br />1. Submittal, review, and approval of an erosion control plan (Section 2.19); <br />2. Issuance of a land disturbance permit (LDP) authorizing the commencement of land <br />disturbing activities consistent with an approved erosion control plan (Section 2.18). <br />Submittal of erosion control plans is based on proposed land disturbance activities for a given <br />project, as detailed in Section 6.15 of the UDO, and is based on the river basin in which a <br />property is located. Attachment 2 contains a fact sheet developed by staff outlining these <br />thresholds for residential and non-residential projects. Erosion Control/Stormwater <br />Management Division staff is responsible for the administration and enforcement of applicable <br />State erosion and sedimentation control standards for the entire county, including projects within <br />local municipalities (i.e. Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Mebane). <br />Per the UDO there is no expiration for an approved erosion control plan. <br />A LDP, which allows for land disturbance activities to commence consistent with this approved <br />plan, expires 2 years from the start of development activity. Per Section 2.18.5 the LDP can be <br />renewed, for no more than 1 year, for: ‘one half the original fee’paid for the project. For <br />example a project disturbing 50 acres that has a LDP fee of $50,000.00 will have to pay an <br />additional $25,000.00 to be renewed. <br />2