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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />DECISION ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 17, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-~ <br />SUBJECT: Major Subdivision and Rural Buffer Notification and Flexible Development <br />Amendments ___ <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Ordinance Amendment p 3 <br />Minutes Nov. 25, 2002 Public Hearing p 6 <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, ext. 2592 <br />Robert P. Davis, Planner III, ext. 2580 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To make a decision on a Subdivision Regulations amendment to: 1) allow flexible <br />development guidelines to be applied in the Rural Buffer Zoning District, 2) enhance the <br />notification procedures by requiring an informational sign to be placed on major subdivision <br />proposals in the County planning jurisdiction prior to Neighborhood Information Meetings, and <br />3) increase, at concept stage, the percentage of lots that requires a soil analysis by a soil <br />scientist. <br />BACKGROUND: During a recent subdivision approval for a tract in the Rural Buffer, citizens <br />adjacent to the development proposal questioned why there were no resident notifications for <br />major subdivision proposals in the Rural Buffer similar to those required in other zoning districts. <br />There was also a question concerning why there is not an open space component required in <br />Rural Buffer developments. After a discussion of the review standards in the other zoning <br />districts, it was decided that an amendment to subdivision regulations was needed in order to <br />create consistent procedures in both the development and the public notification process for <br />major subdivisions within County-regulated zoning districts. The Subdivision Regulations <br />presently require that only Conventional Development apply to major subdivisions in the Rural <br />Buffer. The property owner notification of a Neighborhood Information Meeting (NIM) and <br />mandatory open space provisions are components of the Flexible Development guidelines of <br />the Subdivision Regulations. Flexible Development is not allowed in the Rural Buffer. <br />Therefore, there is no NIM and developments have tended toward projects that had either no <br />open space or an amount less than 33%. These amendments, if approved, will mandate <br />application of the Flexible Development standards in the Rural Buffer, provided that proposals <br />are in accordance with the Joint Planning Area agreement and rules. For major subdivisions in <br />the Rural Buffer, two-acre lot minimums and at least 33% open space will be required for all <br />Flexible Development proposals. The Conventional Development Plan option will still be <br />optional as it is now in non-Rural Buffer districts. In summary, this amendment means that <br />