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36 <br /> buffer. He said this is necessary due to the immutable boundaries on numerous sides of the <br /> property, bisecting north, south, east and west. He said for buildings to be functional to the <br /> marketplace, there are certain dimensions that must be available. He said bay depths mean <br /> something, and these buffers are what the Developer can offer given the physical needs of the <br /> buildings. <br /> Commissioner Price said the Developer could reduce the number of buildings to allow <br /> for more buffer. <br /> Frank Csapo said reducing the number of buildings would make the project unviable <br /> economically, due to the amount of investment that must be made up front to develop the site. <br /> Chair Rich asked if Michael Harvey could state the requirements of the County's UDO. <br /> Michael Harvey said if this parcel were zoned economic development— Hillsborough, <br /> there would be a 100-foot perimeter buffer. He said this is required for the edge of the <br /> economic development districts. He said the BOCC required a more restrictive buffer of 125 <br /> feet along the southern and western borders for Settlers Point. He said the Applicant is <br /> proposing a 50-foot land use buffer along the southern and western property lines, and a 100- <br /> foot building setback. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said 50 feet from one's property to a road is not very much, <br /> and he wondered if there could be a 65-foot buffer with dense vegetative plantings. <br /> Frank Csapo said the dimensional request will be hard to accommodate, but dense <br /> plantings are achievable. He said within the 50 feet, the Developer can increase the amount of <br /> vegetative buffer. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said he is uncomfortable with that proposal. <br /> Chair Rich agreed. She said she remembers this discussion with Settler's Point, where <br /> dense plantings were encouraged, but the larger buffer also existed. <br /> Commissioner Greene also agreed. <br /> Commissioner Price said the buffer issue goes along with open space, which the <br /> Developer is reducing to 25% from the required 30%. <br /> Frank Csapo said there is 32% open space on the plan. <br /> Michael Harvey said all documents he has reviewed have shown 25%. <br /> Frank Csapo said 30% open space can be accommodated. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked if the open space includes storm water basins, as she <br /> would hope not. <br /> Frank Csapo said under the UDO it is included. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked if this is where the discrepancy is occurring between the <br /> Applicant and County staff. <br /> Frank Csapo said no, the paperwork that staff has seen says at least 25%, but the actual <br /> plan that the Developer is working with is 32%. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked if there can be any assurance that the storm water basins <br /> will look like ponds, or actual open space. <br /> Frank Csapo said he is unsure of any standard to apply there, but will work with staff to <br /> alleviate BOCC concerns. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if that will be a retention pond or a draining pond. <br /> Frank Csapo said wet ponds. <br /> Chair Rich said there is no agreement on the buffers. <br /> Craig Benedict said the Applicant has agreed to put what is typically in 150 feet into 100 <br /> feet in a denser manner and linear fashion. He said the UDO has a 75-foot buffer requirement, <br /> with specifics about trees. He said this could be compressed to a 50-foot buffer with dense, <br /> evergreen plantings. <br /> Frank Csapo said this would be acceptable. <br /> Chair Rich asked if this falls in line with the UDO. <br />