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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 1, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~_ <br />SUBJECT: Amendment to the Subdivision Regulations Regarding Street Access for Major <br />Subdivisions <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Ordinance Amending Orange County Craig Benedict, ext. 2592 <br />Subdivision Regulations (Planning Board revision) Karen Lincoln, ext. 2594 <br />2. Ordinance Amending Orange County TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Subdivision Regulations (from Public Hearing) Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />3. May 27, 2003 Joint Public Hearing Minutes Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />4. August 6, 2003 Planning Board Minutes Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane (336)227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To oonsidera proposed amendmenttothe Orange CountySubdmsion Regulations, Section IV- <br />B-3-b. <br />BACKGROUND: Staff, at the May 27, 2003 Quarterly Public Hearing, presented a proposed <br />change to the Orange County Subdivision Regulations to require that major subdivisions access <br />paved public roads. The proposed amendment was then referred to the Planning Board for a <br />recommendation to be returned to the Board of County Commissioners no sooner August 19, 2003. <br />The Planning Board voted 5 to 3 to approve a revised amendment. The revision requires major <br />subdivisions of 13 or more lots to access a paved public road, and exempts major subdivisions of 6 <br />to 12 lots that meet justification standards to provide private roads. Private roads are permitted in <br />subdivisions having 12 or fewer lots provided the application meets private road justification <br />requirements. <br />The three Planning Board members voting against the revised amendment cited ease of <br />understanding/interpreting the ordinance as their reason for opposition. <br />Currently, subdivision regulations require that "All subdivisions shall have at least one street which <br />intersects with or joins a public, municipal street, or a public, State maintained street." Not all State <br />maintained roads are currently paved. <br />A major consideration in reviewing subdivision proposals is land suitability. The road providing <br />access for the subdivision should be considered as part of the suitability of a parcel for subdivision <br />since moderate to large developments can have a significant impact on the public transportation <br />infrastructure. Orange County Subdivision Regulations (Appendix A) require paved public roads in <br />subdivisions having more than 12 lots. To ensure a safe and coordinated street system, the road <br />