Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
164 <br /> within the county should occur in a pattern, location, and density that is sustainable <br /> over the long-term. <br /> The proposed ASE-CD zoning district for an arborist and tree-processing center is <br /> consistent with the Rural Buffer Rural Land Use Classification (Appendix F, <br /> Relationships Between Land Use Classifications and Zoning Districts). The activity <br /> and impact of this use will be limited to the property, generating low volumes of traffic <br /> and not negatively impacting surrounding properties by its use. It is immediately <br /> outside the Town of Chapel Hill's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), emphasizing its <br /> proximity to both municipal and county residents that can utilize this commercial <br /> service while not generating large vehicle miles traveled. Its proximity to municipal <br /> centers while being separated from the residential and commercial uses of those <br /> areas serves the mutual needs of the region without negatively affecting the <br /> surrounding properties. The proposed Agricultural Services Uses is permitted in the <br /> ASE-CD zoning district, complies with the UDO standards except as noted, and <br /> meets the standards of evaluations as reviewed by the Planning Board. <br /> ■ Planning Principle 3A. Encouragement of Energy Efficiency, Lower Energy <br /> Consumption, and the Use of Non-Polluting Renewable Energy Resource: <br /> Decreasing the use of non-renewable resources and lowering energy consumption <br /> are encouraged in both public and private activities. The county's transportation <br /> system should be enhanced to promote more energy efficient modes of travel and <br /> improve air quality. <br /> The applicant will introduce a wood processing and reuse facility within close <br /> proximity to municipal centers where arborist services and tree processing are most <br /> needed. The other options are to otherwise rely upon vendors who travel farther <br /> distances, redistribute by-products to non-local markets, and extract these resources <br /> from Orange County while only contributing immediate services and a higher carbon <br /> footprint. The proposed use supports a local enterprise that can immediately <br /> contribute to the reuse of the related materials and reduce traveled miles to support <br /> the business. <br /> ■ Planning Principle 4. Natural Area Resource Protection: Protection of the County's <br /> natural areas, including forests, wildlife habitat, and other important open spaces <br /> should be a priority. The County should work with regional and local organizations, <br /> the towns, and private landowners to promote and achieve preservation of the <br /> County's important natural resources. <br /> The applicant provided an Environmental Assessment as part of the application <br /> package. Staff has reviewed and determined no significant environmental impact is <br /> expected from this project based on existing conditions. The project site plan protects <br /> the existing stream on site with provided stream buffering and strives to maintain <br /> existing trees as part of the landscape buffer. <br /> ■ Planning Principle 5. Preservation of Rural Land Use Pattern: The County's rural <br />