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h. Land Use Objective LU-1.1: Coordinate the location of higher intensity / high density <br />residential and non-residential development with existing or planned locations of public <br />transportation, commercial and community services, and adequate supporting infrastructure <br />(i.e., water and sewer, high-speed internet access, streets, and sidewalks), while avoiding <br />areas with protected natural and cultural resources. This could be achieved by increasing <br />allowable densities and creating new mixed-use zoning districts where adequate public <br />services are available. <br /> <br />Staff Comment: The Efland Village Zoning Overlay District, which is defined in the UDO <br />as “…an urban village style of development in an area of the county served, or intended to <br />be served, by public water and sewer systems.” The rezoning of these properties will <br />enable their redevelopment for commercial purposes, which is how they have been <br />historically used, so that they may better serve the needs of the Efland community. <br />Redevelopment of existing impervious area will result in no new impacts to the watershed <br />or receiving waters, should the redevelopment occur within this existing impervious area. <br />Development exceeding that developed area would be subject to regulation under the <br />County’s stormwater and water supply watershed regulations; the properties are located in <br />the Upper Eno Protected Watershed. Due to the availability of City of Mebane sewer <br />access, no septic treatment will be required, further reducing potential impacts to the <br />surrounding waters. While these properties have no direct access to transit services, the <br />properties are immediately adjacent to the Orange-Durham Connector (ODX) fixed-route <br />transit service line and accessibility could be explored in the future, if warranted by <br />analysis. All development standards required by the UDO will be applied to any <br />applications for construction on these properties, serving many of the stated objective <br />purposes. <br /> <br />i. Land Use Goal 2: Land uses that are appropriate to on-site environmental conditions and <br />features, and that protect natural resources, cultural resources, and community character. <br /> <br />Staff Comment: The rezoning of these properties will enable their redevelopment for <br />commercial purposes, which is how they have been historically used, so that they may better <br />serve the needs of the Efland community. Redevelopment of existing impervious area will <br />result in no new impacts to the watershed or receiving waters, should the redevelopment <br />occur within this existing impervious area. Development exceeding that developed area <br />would be subject to regulation under the County’s stormwater and water supply watershed <br />regulations; the properties are located in the Upper Eno Protected Watershed. Due to the <br />availability of City of Mebane sewer access, no septic treatment will be required, further <br />reducing potential impacts to the surrounding waters. <br /> <br />By supporting the rezoning and redevelopment of these properties in Efland, the owners can <br />provide for goods and services in an area designated to do so, filling a market need without <br />encroaching into rural areas. It will also have the indirect impacts of likely reducing vehicle <br />miles traveled and carbon emissions, by providing for such services in a locale that is closer <br />to the homes of Efland community residents so that they do not have to travel to municipal <br />locations, as currently required due to the lack of commercial businesses. <br /> <br />j. Land Use Goal 3: A variety of land uses that are coordinated within a program and pattern <br />that limits sprawl, preserves community and rural character, minimizes land use conflicts, <br />supported by an efficient and balanced transportation system. <br /> <br />Staff Comment: The properties are located in the CITAN on the FLUM, and is defined in <br />the 2030 Comprehensive Plan as “[l]and focused on designated road intersections within <br />either a 10-year or 20-year transition area that is appropriate for retail and other commercial <br />61