Orange County NC Website
16 <br /> 1 STAFF COMMENT.• Proposed land uses, excluding the Travel Center, are currently <br /> 2 permitted within the existing O/RM general use zoning district. Development of these <br /> 3 uses would be `permitted by right' (i.e. staff administrative review of site plan without <br /> 4 advisory board/elected official review/comment). The applicant has elected to go <br /> 5 through the MPD-CZ process for the following reasons: <br /> 6 • Development of the Property `as a whole' rather than subdividing land into <br /> 7 separate parcels for independent development (i.e. separate access points, <br /> 8 parking, stormwater facilities, grading/land disturbance, access drives, etc.); <br /> 9 • Employment/use of comprehensive traffic access management strategies; <br /> 10 • Maximize preservation of open space; <br /> 11 • Provide for comprehensive stormwater management/treatment; <br /> 12 • Minimize the overall land disturbance/grading activities associated with the <br /> 13 Project; and <br /> 14 . Seek approval for the proposed Travel Center land use. <br /> 15 Staff has heard concerns from residents the MPD-CZ designation allows for more <br /> 16 intensive development activity than currently permitted. This is not necessarily correct. <br /> 17 If approved, the Project would result in more open space area and less overall <br /> 18 constructed building area than what is permitted by-right with the existing zoning <br /> 19 designation. The main difference between the existing O/RM district and the MPD-CZ <br /> 20 is the potential development of the proposed travel center as detailed herein. <br /> 21 Staff has also heard concerns approval of the MPD-CZ will eliminate existing Planning <br /> 22 Board and BOCC involvement with the review and approval of site plans. <br /> 23 As staff has detailed in numerous meetings, and herein, the majority of proposed land <br /> 24 uses are currently permitted `by right'. This means the Planning Board and BOCC <br /> 25 already have no involvement with site plan review or approval. <br /> 26 For example, a 120 room hotel could be developed on the property today without <br /> 27 public notice/review/comment or review/action by Planning Board/BOCC members. <br /> 28 Staff would review/take action on a site plan submitted in accordance with Section 2.5 <br /> 29 of the I LIDO. <br /> 30 The MPD-CZ process is providing an opportunity for more public review/comment than <br /> 31 would currently be allowed under the current general use zoning designation. <br /> 32 Access: The Project is proposing phased access improvements, namely: <br /> 33 i. Two right-in/right-out driveways off Interstate 85/40 on/off ramp, developed in Phase 1 <br /> 34 (initial development) as shown below: <br /> 7 1 <br /> Access drive—app.600 ft. <br /> =` , ai►7a " �t':t'•.^ - west of the US Highway 70/1- <br /> _ Aa ,r •' '*' tl � 7 - 85 Connector Road <br /> t:�.*. <br /> :.-y •i,4. <br /> • 5".r.i.i,T.,,. i i� <br /> ,. �r, ,:«..:�e..... °. ..�,....•,,.,a.,... � ''�!,ice <br /> - Access drive—app. <br /> 600 ft.east of Mt. interstate 85/40 <br /> Willing Road - <br /> 35 <br />