ORC Agenda Packet - February 2026

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Article 3: Base Zoning Distriq$4 Section 3.4: Conventional Commercial Districts DIMENSIONALEC-5 . RATIO STANDARDS EXISTING Lot Size, min. (square 40,000[1] COMMERCIAL feet) PURPOSE Lot Width, min. (feet) R[1] 180 NR 75 The purpose of the Existing Commercial-5(EC 5) District is to provide a Front Setback from R 40 district to be used only during the application of zoning to ROW, min. (feet) previously unzoned townships to accommodate existing NR 35 commercial uses or in zoned townships to previously zoned commercial property which is not located in areas designated as Activity Nodes by the adopted Comprehensive Plan. R 20 Side Setback, min. (feet) NR None[2] This district shall be applied to: Rear Setback, min. R 20 1. Existing commercial uses in previously unzoned townships. (feet) NR None[2] 2. Previously zoned commercial property located in areas not designated as Activity Nodes in the adopted Comprehensive R 25[3] Plan. Height, max. (feet) This designation shall only be applied to property used for NR 45[3] existing commercial at the time of application of this Ordinance. DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS NOTES: Floor Area Ratio, max. NR .492 [1] R= residential, NR= non-residential. [2] Required side and rear setbacks adjacent to residentially Required Open Space zoned land shall be equal to the required side or rear setback of Ratio, min. NR .71 the adjacent residential district. [3]Two feet of additional height shall be allowed for one foot Required increase of the required front and side setbacks. Pedestrian/Landscape NR .178 Ratio, min. DEVELOPMENTEC-5 DISTRICT SPECIFIC STANDARDS 1. Uses shall be restricted to those indicated for the EC-5 District in Section 5.2, unless a Conditional District is approved (see Section 3.8). Additionally, non-residential uses are restricted based on the Watershed Protection Overlay District in which the property is located. Refer to Section 4.2.3 for land use restrictions. 2. Development within the zoning district shall be subject to all applicable use standards detailed in Article 5 and all applicable development standards detailed in Article 6 of this Ordinance. See Sections 6.2.5 and 6.2.6 if more than one principal use or principal structure is proposed on a non-residential zoning lot. 3. The residential density permitted on a given parcel is based on the Watershed Protection Overlay District in which the property is located. Refer to Section 4.2.4 for a breakdown of the allowable density(i.e., the number of individual dwellings that can be developed on a parcel of property). 4. Allowable impervious surface area is based on the Watershed Protection Overlay District in which the property is located. Refer to Sections 4.2.5 and 4.2.6 for a breakdown of the allowable impervious surface area. Additionally, Section 4.2.6 may require a larger lot size for non-residential uses than is contained in the Dimensional and Ratio Standards Table. 5. For lots outside of a Watershed Protection Overlay District(see Section 4.2), the minimum usable lot area for lots that utilize ground absorption wastewater systems shall be 30,000 square feet for parcels between 40,000 square feet and 1.99 acres in size;zoning lots two acres and greater in size shall have a minimum usable lot area of at least 40,000 square feet. 6. Proposed subdivisions are subject to all applicable subdivision standards detailed in Article 7. Note that Article 7 provides for different dimensional requirements than those shown in the Dimensional and Ratio Standards table depending upon the type of subdivision proposed and the percentage of open space provided. Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 3-28