PB Agenda Packet 5-6-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 6, 2026 Action Agenda Item No. 9 SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendment — Subdivision Administration DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Draft Ordinance, Including Proposed Cy Stober, Planning Director (g19) 245-2595 UDO Amendments (96 pages) 2. Statement of Approval and Consistency PURPOSE: To review and comment upon a proposed government-initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment to the administrative requirements and review processes for subdivisions prepared in response to petition and direction from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). BACKGROUND: The Orange County Planning Department initiated amendments to UDO Sections 2.1, 2.9, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 7.1 — 7.6, 7.12, 7.13, and relevant definitions in Article 10 in response to both a response to Commissioner Salley Greene on March 7, 2024, and further direction from the BOCC at subsequent meetings to simplify the county's administrative processes for by-right subdivisions and further encourage "Flexible Development" subdivisions. The proposed amendments are multi-faceted in purpose and serve two primary purposes: 1) clarify the subdivision classifications of the UDO and the review processes associated with each; and 2) respond to the direction from the BOCC to make all by-right subdivision reviews administrative in nature, rather than requiring actions by the Planning Board and BOCC, and remove obstacles from applicants interested in pursuing Flexible Development subdivisions. State law requires the county to approve submitted plats that meet all local subdivision criteria: they must be permitted as a property ownership right (aka "by-right"). Currently, Orange County's Major Subdivision administrative process requires applicants to present a Concept Plan, Preliminary Plat, and Final Plat to the Planning Board for review, and both plats to the BOCC for approval. Feedback from applicants, the public, and the BOCC is that this administrative process is a deterrent to major subdivisions in Orange County and thereby in conflict with multiple elements of both the adopted Strategic Plan and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan as they relate to Housing and Economic Development. Similarly, Orange County's Minor Subdivision administrative process is cumbersome to applicants with minimal benefit to Orange County and its residents, and adds unnecessary costs to the minor subdivision of property that can provide more housing options to Orange County residents, future and present. From application to recordation, there is need for refinement to Orange County's administrative processes to better align the subdivision of land with the county's established objectives and goals, as well as to reduce unnecessary expenses in staff time and resources.