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2 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> PLANNING BOARD <br /> ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: July 9, 2025 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 2 <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendment— Impervious Surfaces, <br /> Watershed Protection Overlay Districts, and Stream Buffers <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Proposed Amendments (23 pages) Christopher Sandt, County Engineer <br /> (919) 245-2583 <br /> Cy Stober, Planning Director <br /> (919) 245-2592 <br /> PURPOSE: To review and comment upon a proposed government-initiated Unified <br /> Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment regarding Impervious Surfaces, Watershed <br /> Protection Overlay Districts, and Stream Buffers. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Orange County Planning Department has initiated an amendment to UDO <br /> Sections 2.20, 2.21, 4.2, 6.13, and 6.18. The proposed amendments are multi-faceted in <br /> purpose and are intended to be comprehensive in addressing overly complex text/tables, and to <br /> improve interpretation and application for both staff and applicants. <br /> Specifically, this amendment addresses: 1) refinements and reading clarity improvements <br /> related to impervious surface area limits and existing development definition timelines for the <br /> County's 13 Watershed Protection Overlay Districts; 2) the integration of additional impervious <br /> surface area allowances for qualified Low to Moderate Income Households; and 3) refinement <br /> of minimum reservoir buffer widths for the Upper Eno Critical Watershed Protection Overlay <br /> District to better accommodate known non-conforming lots located around the shoreline of Lake <br /> Orange and help decrease staff time related to repetitive setback variance requests. <br /> In compliance with the Orange County-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Joint Planning Land Use Plan and <br /> Agreement, the proposed amendments will be sent to both towns for comment. Proposed text <br /> amendment language can be found in Attachment 1 within a "track changes" format. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: Consideration and approval will not create the need for additional funding <br /> for the provision of County services. Existing staff, included in the Departmental staffing budget, <br /> will accomplish the work required to process this amendment. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): Planning staff recommends the Ordinance Review Committee review <br /> and comment upon the proposed amendments to the UDO. <br />