Orange County NC Website
18 <br /> 1 Slide #3 <br /> Why Are We Here? <br /> • October 10, 2023 — Regulatory Updates <br /> — North Carolina House Bill 600(HB 600 C SL 2023-137). <br /> — HB 600 provides clarification regarding what is considered <br /> existing built upon area(i.e.,pre-existing development)- <br /> - Any built upon area in existence prior to the effective date of the <br /> local water supply watershed program(i.e.,WPOO s)is <br /> considered pre-existing development and cannot be counted from <br /> a regulatory perspective(i.e.,stormwater management needs)- <br /> - The pre-existing date is generally defined as January 1. 1994,but <br /> some WPODs have different dates. <br /> — UDO text amendment approved by BOCC on June 4.2024,that <br /> integrated key requirements of HB 600. <br /> — We are now providing additional clarifications. <br /> ORANGECOUNTY <br /> 3(W I I I CAROLINA <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Chris Sandt said most of the proposed amendments are just clarifications for constituents. <br /> 4 He said these cutoff dates were in the UDO, but very difficult to find, even for staff. So the purpose <br /> 5 of the proposed amendments is to make the UDO more understandable and ensure conformance <br /> 6 with current state law. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 Slide #4 <br /> Why Are We Here? <br /> • Reservoir Setbacks for Lake Orange <br /> — Upper Eno Critical WPOD <br /> — Non-conforming lots around Lake Orange,can't meet 150-ft setback <br /> — Multiple variance requests; substantial staff timeleffort <br /> — Reduce reservoir setback(Lake Orange only)to 75-ft <br /> • Reviewed with Ordinance Review Committee <br /> (ORC) on July 9, 2025; and Planning Board <br /> meeting September 3, 2025. <br /> — Impervious bonus for affordable housing no longer included in this <br /> proposed text amendment; may be reapproached in near future <br /> — Have added an Article 10 definition refinement for"Water Feature" <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> NORTH i;AROLIN t <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Commissioner McKee asked what hoops people are having to jump through for the <br /> 11 variance requests. <br /> 12 Christopher Sandt said it is a straightforward process, but it is not a quick process. He <br /> 13 said four have been processed in the last couple of years. <br /> 14 Cy Stober said a Board of Adjustment variance requires an application, a several-hundred- <br /> 15 dollar application fee, and it takes at least three months for staff review, scheduling of the <br /> 16 evidentiary hearing, proper notice of the hearing, and then to hold the hearing. He explained that <br />