12.11.24 BOA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County Planning & Inspections Department Special Use Permit Application Applicant: Triangle Land Conservancy (“TLC”) Property: Brumley Forest Nature Preserve; PIN 9883304125 Exhibit B Narrative of Proposed Use Background TLC is a non-profit land trust that has conserved over 25,000 acres in the Triangle region and operates 7 nature preserves that are free and open to the public. TLC owns the Brumley Forest Nature Preserve (“Brumley”), which has 17 miles of trails for hikers and bikers. Since 2018, Schoolhouse of Wonder, a non-profit camp for kids (“Schoolhouse”), has operated camps at the Brumley property. Schoolhouse of Wonder creates kind, curious, and confident kids through nature-based outdoor adventures and embraces the motto that kids will go home “dirty, tired, and happy.” Currently they offer summer camps, as well as fall and spring track-out camps, and several weekend day camps. TLC sees Schoolhouse as an ideal partner who introduces young people to the outdoors , increasing TLC’s reach and helping us fulfill a core part of our mission: connecting people with nature. Prior to opening Brumley to the public in 2017, TLC consulted with the Orange County Planning staff, who determined that Brumley was permitted of right as a park. At that time, TCL provided the Planning staff a copy of TLC’s Comprehensive Management Plan for Brumley Forest Nature Preserve, which specifically made reference to Schoolhouse of Wonder. For this reason and upon advice of their attorney, TLC believed that it could allow Schoolhouse to lawfully operate without any further zoning approvals. In early 2024, however, the County Planning staff informed TLC that Schoolhouse of Wonder and any similar camp program would require a special use permit to operate as a “Camp,” which is regulated by Orange County Unified Development Ordinance (“UDO”) Sec. 5.7.5. For this reason and to provide certainty for future programming at Brumley, TLC respectfully submits this special use permit application. Although the application is being submitted to address Schoolhouse in particular, TLC is seeking general authorizatio n to operate (or to allow others to operate) day camps like those provided by Schoolhouse. Operations Schoolhouse of Wonder operates day camps, with pick up and drop off windows in the morning and evening, respectively. Schoolhouse uses an old cul-de-sac on the Brumley property (at PIN 9983304125; 3223 New Hope Church Road) for pick-up and drop off. Currently, this is their only exclusive use of the property. This arrangement allows parents to drop off and pick up kids off of New Hope Church Road using existing paved access. A portable toilet is provided for campers, and water is brought in from off site. During camp, Schoolhouse programs are allowed full use of the entire Brumley property for camp programming. However, all camp-related equipment and infrastructure is located at the cul-de-sac at 3223 New Hope Church Rd. 62