Orange County NC Website
16 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD <br />APRIL 2, 2003 <br />ORDINANCE REVIEW 6:00-7:30 P.M. <br />ORDINANCE REVIEW MEMBERS PRESENT : Nicole Gooding-Ray, Chapel Hill at Large; Hunter <br />Schofield, Cedar Grove Representative <br />PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Jay Bryan, Chapel Hill at Large; Craufurd Goodwin, <br />Hillsborough Representative; Dr. Barry Katz, Chapel Hill at Large; Rachel Preston, Eno <br />Representative; Noah Ranells, Bingham at Large; Theodore Triebel, Little River Representative <br />STAFF PRESENT (ORDINANCE REVIEW): Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director; <br />Robert Davis, Current Planning Supervisor, Planner III; Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning <br />Supervisor, Planner III; David Lentzer, Planner II; Carla Thames, Planner I; Tom King, Planner II <br />AGENDA ITEM #1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br />a. December 18, 2002 -Ordinance Review <br />MOTION was made by Hunter Schofield to accept the minutes. Seconded by Nicole Gooding- <br />Ray. <br />VOTE: Consensus <br />AGENDA ITEM #2: ITEMS HEARD AT THE FEBRUARY 24, 2003 PUBLIC HEARING <br />a. Outdoor Lighting Standards Text Amendments <br />Presenter: Carla Thames <br />PURPOSE: To provide a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding <br />Outdoor Lighting Standards. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Presently, the Orange County Zoning Ordinance does not have any oul:door lighting standards for <br />new or existing development. Generally, the lighting information that the County reviews has <br />been submitted as part of the site plan approval, limiting oversight to those projects requesting a <br />construction authorization. As development and population numbers increase in the County an <br />effective lighting standards ordinance that reflects community values c;an be an important <br />component in helping to maintain a high quality of life. <br />On occasion, the Planning Department receives complaints that specific lights exceed the <br />brightness necessary to accomplish a particular task. Without clear standards, enforcement <br />action is limited. In these cases, persuasion is the chief enforcement tool and generally has a low <br />rate of success. <br />More recently, there have been concerns about the general loss of darkness during the nighttime <br />hours. `Light Pollution', the common term for sky glow, adversely affects astronomical <br />