Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
31 <br /> Michael Birch said offices are on the same main floor. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if there is a plan in place for buildings that have a front door <br /> on an internal street. <br /> Michael Birch said the intent of the wording is for the buildings that are closest to Davis <br /> Road, not so much that the building's front faces Davis Road. <br /> Commissioner Price said she is concerned about the height of the building, depending <br /> on how the land is graded. <br /> Michael Birch said the Applicant had the same concern, and attempted to mitigate this <br /> with language about heights near Davis Road. He said the building will be sitting in a hole <br /> relative to Davis Road. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if this will be a warehouse or a suburban office building. <br /> Michael Birch said he does not anticipate this being a multistory office building. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if the facility would be more of a warehouse <br /> Michael Birch said there are architectural examples in the Applicant's materials. He said <br /> it will not look like a typical warehouse, nor will it look like a standard, storied office building. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the Applicant could explain how it arrived at the particular <br /> language related to the height section, as he finds it to be a way to get past the 40-foot height <br /> requirement. <br /> Michael Birch said the wording was developed based on the Applicant's interpretation of <br /> the Board's comments. He said the Applicant worked with staff to focus on the views that will <br /> be seen from Davis Road. He said the Applicant capped the height at 40 feet at Davis Road, <br /> because buildings behind it will not be visible, as the land is lower there. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he brought up the concern of seeing a 60-foot structure from <br /> Davis Road. He asked if the Applicant is purporting that one will see the top 40 feet of the <br /> building from Davis Road, but not the bottom 20 feet as the elevation is lower. <br /> Michael Birch said there is 100 feet from the right of way of Davis Road that is vegetated <br /> into the site. He said this will largely screen the building. He said the Applicant may have <br /> misunderstood, and is now proposing that the cap be 40 feet, and not be relative to Davis Road. <br /> Commissioner McKee said this convoluted language was off putting. He said the <br /> accommodation was made by changing the language to 40 feet, and would have been simpler <br /> to just make this change in the first place. He said a 100 foot buffer is not as effective as one <br /> may hope. <br /> Michael Birch said the Applicant was not trying to be tricky, and was seeking to focus on <br /> the view from Davis Road. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the Developer has an opinion on a 30-foot height cap on <br /> Davis Road. <br /> Michael Birch said a 30-foot building is functionally incompatible with the demands of the <br /> market place for these types of uses. <br /> Michael Harvey said he can type in modifications as they come up, or staff can simply <br /> take direction. He said he needs specifics on which to work with the Applicant. <br /> Chair Rich asked for an example of an existing 40-foot building locally. <br /> Michael Harvey said the UNC hospital in Hillsborough is about 60 feet. He said the <br /> Applicant is willing to amend the language to say buildings on Davis Road will have a max <br /> height of 40 feet from floor to rooftop. <br /> Michael Birch said the proposed language is 40 feet from finished floor to roof deck. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said he is glad for the clarification about the height <br /> requirement, and feels this is in line with the Board's wishes. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked if there is an appreciable difference between the roof deck <br /> and rooftop. <br /> Michael Birch said with a flat roof there is the roof deck and then a parapet that is a few <br /> feet higher. <br />