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5 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> PLANNING BOARD <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 5, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4 <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment — Efficiency Apartment <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Proposed UDO Text Amendment Tyler Sliger, Planner II (919) 245-2586 <br /> Cy Stober, Director (919) 245-2592 <br /> PURPOSE: To review and comment on County-initiated amendments to the Unified <br /> Development Ordinance (UDO) regarding proposed revisions to the current standards <br /> for efficiency apartments. <br /> BACKGROUND: An efficiency apartment is an accessory dwelling to the primary <br /> dwelling on an individual property. The salient current use standards for efficiency <br /> apartments in Section 5.5.3 of the UDO are: <br /> • Maximum gross square footage of 1,000 ft. ( maximum of 800 sq. ft. can be <br /> heated/cooled), <br /> • Cannot be a mobile home, and <br /> • The efficiency unit shall remain in the same ownership as the primary <br /> residence. <br /> An efficiency apartment can give a property owner the ability to increase their property <br /> use. The current size limitation of 1,000 sq. ft. for an efficiency unit can result in some <br /> property owners having to subdivide their property in order to construct a larger unit and <br /> this can affect affordability of such units. To help address housing affordability and <br /> equity issues, Orange County is proposing to increase the allowable size to 50% of the <br /> primary dwelling or 1,500 sq. ft. whichever is greater and allowing mobile homes to be <br /> efficiencies. Additionally, the terminology for such units is proposed to be modernized to <br /> be "accessory dwelling unit" (ADU). <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no costs associated with this project other than the <br /> use of staff time and the required legal advertisement. County staff has and will <br /> continue to accomplish the necessary tasks associated with amending the UDO and <br /> the legal advertisement will be paid from budgeted funds for this purpose. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Planning Director recommends the ORC review the <br /> proposed amendment and provide any feedback to staff. <br />