Orange County NC Website
The applicant has submitted a condition to reflect this variance from the ordinance standard <br /> established in UDO Section 6.4.10. <br /> 3. Staff review of the application included considerations for how the request relates to the Orange <br /> County 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The following analysis outlines elements of the Plan which staff <br /> identified as application and relevant to the consideration of this request. <br /> Chapter 2— Planning Principles <br /> 1. Efficient and Fiscally Responsible Provision of Public Facilities and Services: Orange <br /> County's public facilities and services should be delivered in a manner that efficiently uses <br /> existing capacity. Expansions of facilities and services should be made only after careful <br /> consideration of the costs and benefits of expansion. <br /> Staff Comment: Not applicable <br /> 2. Sustainable Growth and Development: Growth and development within the county should <br /> occur in a pattern, location, and density that is sustainable over the long-term. <br /> Staff Comment: The proposed ASE-CD zoning district for an arborist and tree- <br /> processing center is consistent with the Rural Buffer Rural Land Use Classification <br /> (Appendix F, Relationships Between Land Use Classifications and Zoning Districts). The <br /> activity and impact of this use will be limited to the property, generating low volumes of <br /> traffic and not negatively impacting surrounding properties by its use. It is immediately <br /> outside the Town of Chapel Hill's ETJ, emphasizing its proximity to both municipal and <br /> county residents that can utilize this commercial service while not generating large <br /> vehicle miles traveled. Its proximity to municipal centers while being separated from the <br /> residential and commercial uses of those areas serves the mutual needs of the region <br /> without negatively affecting the surrounding properties. The proposed Agricultural <br /> Services Uses is permitted in the ASE-CD zoning district, complies with the UDO <br /> standards except as noted, and meets the standards of evaluations as reviewed by the <br /> Board of County Commissioners. <br /> 3.A. Encouragement of Energy Efficiency, Lower Energy Consumption and Use of Nonpolluting <br /> Renewable Energy Resources <br /> 3.B. Promotion of Both Air Quality Protection and the Development of an Effective <br /> Transportation System: Decreasing the use of non-renewable resources and lowering energy <br /> consumption 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 improve air <br /> quality. <br /> Staff Comment: The applicant will introduce a wood processing and reuse facility within <br /> close proximity to municipal centers where arborist services and tree processing are <br /> most 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 contribute <br /> to the reuse of the related materials and reduce traveled miles to support the business. <br /> 4. Natural Area Resource Preservation: Protection of the County's natural areas, including <br /> forests, wildlife habitat, and other important open spaces should be a priority. The County <br /> should work with regional and local organizations, the towns, and private landowners to <br /> promote and achieve preservation of the County's important natural resources. <br /> 10 <br />