Minutes 09-10-2020 Virtual Work Session

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5 John Roberts referred to map 3, which has one or more units per 1.25 acres, and a final map shows one or more dwelling units per 2 acres. John Roberts said the next map is every subdivision in the County and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) areas with at least 10 lots in the subdivision. He said staff also looked at 3-lot subdivisions, which lead to most areas of the County being covered in yellow. John Roberts said map 6 is the Churton Grove area in Hillsborough, which shows the largest suburban type density. He said there are several hundred houses; with the north side of the development surrounded by farms, any of which could potentially host hunting. John Roberts said map 7 is the Hunts Preserve subdivision south of Chapel Hill, which is not considered suburban density. Commissioner Price asked if the information about Durham pertained to Durham City, County, or both. John Roberts said that was Durham County's ordinance. Commissioner Price asked if the ordinance has any jurisdiction in the City of Durham. John Roberts said no. Chair Rich said one cannot fire a gun in the city of Durham. John Roberts said cities have additional legislative authority that counties do not. Commissioner Dorosin asked if municipalities have the same authority in their ETJs. John Roberts said no. He said the municipalities can enforce land ordinances in the ETJ, but any police power would have to come from the County. Commissioner Dorosin referred to map number 2 and compared it to map number 5, and asked if the difference between the two could be clarified. John Roberts said the subdivision map has lots that are not developed, and many of them will have lots that are larger than the 1/3-1 acre. He said map 2 has more densely packed subdivisions, but also may be roads along a street and not an actual subdivision. Commissioner Dorosin said the yellow subdivisions have 10 or more lots, and the lots per acre are between zero and 1. He asked if this is different than one house per acre. John Roberts said some of the lots will not be developed. Commissioner Marcoplos referred to one of the subdivisions, which is where he lives. He said they are 10.01-acre lots, and a lot of the yellow ones are one house per 10 acres like where he lives. John Roberts said that suggests the key is not accurate. Commissioner Dorosin said the map says if it is yellow, there is zero to one lot per acre. Commissioner Marcoplos said zero lots per acre would mean there are no lots at all, and with 10-acre lots, there are 0.1 lots per acre. He said the key is accurate, but a bit obtuse. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the County was able to regulate firearms in public parks. John Roberts said no, that right was taken away about 5 or 6 years ago. He said people can carry firearms onto playgrounds. Commissioner Dorosin asked if cities could regulate firearms in their parks. Commissioner Greene said no county or municipality can regulate firearms. Commissioner Marcoplos said he thinks the Durham ordinance may work well in Orange County. He said even on a 10-acre lot, if people are shooting it is really loud and if one is not aware of who it is, it can be a problem. He asked if there is a reason why the Board is tiptoeing around this distancing. He said 450 feet of no hunting from public buildings is still very close. He said it does not make a lot of sense. He said it just seems there is a lot of room to put some serious distances in, and still not violate people's rights. Chair Rich asked if the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) takes Commissioner Marcoplos' recommendation to impose a 900 feet boundary, would shooting ranges built prior to 2016 be exempt? John Roberts said anything in existence today would not be subject to this amendment.