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34
<br /> 1539 They were built before these rules existed. So,those folks that have come in and tried to do
<br /> 1540 renovations can't do it because of our reservoir setback, so then they have to go through an
<br /> 1541 amendment process, a zoning amendment, and go through our Board of Adjustment. So that's
<br /> 1542 happened four times in the last year or so, and I believe the Board of Adjustment has approved all
<br /> 1543 four of them. Yes,you have the right to fix up your house. Sorry, this law is not really matched up
<br /> 1544 with your situation here. So that we are changing a setback number,which sounds scary;we're
<br /> 1545 making it go from 150 to 75, but we have found that, No. 1,we're already over the state
<br /> 1546 minimums. No. 2,our Upper Eno Critical Watershed,which is one of those 13 watersheds, that's
<br /> 1547 that blue that I showed you. We have thousands of acres more than state minimum requires, so
<br /> 1548 we are,the county can be proud of our buffers there. The fact that all the homes around Lake
<br /> 1549 Orange are already built, they were built before these rules were here. We're trying to make it
<br /> 1550 less burdensome for staff and our constituents that want to come in and renovate a house that's in
<br /> 1551 a location that's not jiving with law. So that's it. It's specific to Lake Orange. The buffers around
<br /> 1552 the buffer would obviously hold, and there are no other reservoirs in that watershed. It's just Lake
<br /> 1553 Orange and WEFR. So, it's specific to Lake Orange, but it's something that we as staff have been
<br /> 1554 talking about for a while, and we're going to see these trends continuing. So,the goal is to take
<br /> 1555 that reservoir buffer setback, change it from 150 foot to 75 feet, and then those folks don't have to
<br /> 1556 go through the time-consuming and somewhat can be expensive rezoning process.
<br /> 1557
<br /> 1558 Chris Johnston: Yeah, quick question. Are all the lots developed around Lake Orange, or would this potentially
<br /> 1559 open up newer ones?
<br /> 1560
<br /> 1561 Christopher Sandt: From memory, and I've got it almost memorized,there's about 130 plotted lots,and I think 95 or
<br /> 1562 so have homes on them. So, it's tough when folks come in. They want to build, and we say
<br /> 1563 you're subject to a 150-foot reservoir setback. Well,what about these other 90 houses that are
<br /> 1564 here. So, it's a grandfather-type subdivision we look at. This lessened reservoir buffer would
<br /> 1565 apply to new development because we're allowing existing lots to do it.
<br /> 1566
<br /> 1567 Cy Stober: Chris, how many of those existing homes would,you've done the evaluation, how many of those
<br /> 1568 existing homes are in the 150-foot reservoir buffer already?
<br /> 1569
<br /> 1570 Christopher Sandt: Oh yeah, so I'd mentioned about almost 70.Almost 70 homes are already within that.
<br /> 1571
<br /> 1572 Chris Johnston: I just didn't know if by doing this,we're opening it up. You know,the 150, is that what we want?
<br /> 1573 And then does this open up those additional lots to then developing in that 75-foot zone where
<br /> 1574 maybe we don't want them? It sounds like we're already above and beyond, even with the 75,
<br /> 1575 though, so is it a consideration, concern, anything along those lines?
<br /> 1576
<br /> 1577 Cy Stober: I don't want to speak for Chris, but yes,we've reviewed this thoroughly. There are nearly 80
<br /> 1578 homes, so 70 and some change,that were built prior to Chris or myself being here. They were
<br /> 1579 constructed within this 150-foot buffer. We don't have an explanation for that, but they're there.
<br /> 1580 And this is a water supply reservoir, but it's an unusual water supply reservoir in that there's no
<br /> 1581 intake directly on the reservoir. It's not like University Lake. The intake is downstream, but we
<br /> 1582 protect the water quality on the reservoir for that downstream water quality. We have not noted,
<br /> 1583 nor has Hillsborough noted any decline in water quality over the years. And the variances that
<br /> 1584 have been presented to the Board of Adjustment have not found opposition nor any findings by
<br /> 1585 the BOA have determined that there are any safety or welfare risks to the public from allowing
<br /> 1586 encroachment into the 150-foot buffer. Chris, in his professional opinion as county engineer, and
<br /> 1587 Victoria Hudson,as the director of environmental health, have agreed that a 75-foot buffer is more
<br /> 1588 protective than the state and, in their professional opinion, is a buffer that is comfortable for
<br /> 1589 protecting the public and environmental health of Lake Orange and the downstream communities.
<br /> 1590
<br /> 1591 Chris Johnston: Thank you.
<br /> 1592
<br /> 1593 Lamar Proctor: Thank you, Cy.
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