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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 4, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. - 61 <br />SUBJECT: Legal Advertisement for February 24, 2003 Quarterly Public Hearing <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Legal Advertisement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, ext 2592 <br />Robert P. Davis, Planner III, ext 2580 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive authorization to submit the Quarterly Public Hearing Legal <br />Advertisement for publication for the February 24, 2003 quarterly public hearing. <br />BACKGROUND: The next regular quarterly public hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2003. <br />A summary of each item proposed for public hearing is provided. Staff is available to research <br />and answer questions prior to the public hearing. <br />A. ORANGE COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS <br />1. Amend Article 6 to establish Outdoor Lighting Standards that preserve, protect, and <br />enhance the use of public and private property through the use of appropriate lighting <br />practices. <br />2. Amend Article 6.23.7 Stream Buffers and Article 22 Definitions to broaden the methods for <br />identification of streams that require buffers. Stream buffers are presently required only <br />along streams identified on United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps. A <br />shortcoming of USGS maps is that they are based on aerial photography without <br />accompanying field verification. The proposed ordinance change will also allow the use of <br />maps in the Soil Survey of Orange County which are based on actual fieldwork. Mapping <br />studies by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) indicate the combined use of USGS and <br />Soil Survey maps accurately depict the presence of streams approximately 95% of the time. <br />Additionally, the amendment will allow County staff who have received Surface Water <br />Identification Training and Certification from DWQ to make a field determination of streams <br />subject to stream buffers. <br />3. Amend Article 23 (Enforcement) to revise enforcement procedures and define in greater <br />detail how zoning violations are to be cited and carried through the enforcement process.