HomeMy WebLinkAboutNS Ord-1998-001 Planning - Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Article 6.23 and Article 22 - 01-20-1998-8g1
ORANGECOUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 20, 1998
Action Agenda
11-4— SUBJECT: ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT Item
Article 6.23 Extra Requirements for Watershed Protection Overlay Districts
Article 22 Definitions
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING _X—Yes No
BUDGET AMENDMENT Yes X No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Amendments
Correspondence from Division of Water Quality
Draft 11/24/97 Public Hearing Minutes
Draft 1/7/98 Planning Board Minutes
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Cameron
Extension 2580
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732 -8181
Durham
688 -7331
Mebane
227 -2031
Chapel Hill
967 -9251
PURPOSE: To consider a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to achieve full
compliance with State- mandated watershed protection regulations.
BACKGROUND: Zoning Ordinance amendments which were adopted by the Board of
Commissioners on January 1, 1994 were soon thereafter submitted for review and
approval by the Environmental Management Commission.
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ), responsible for reviewing the ordinances
for all NC counties and municipalities within water supply watersheds, returned
its comments in the attached letter to the County Manager dated August 1, 1997.
The following revisions are required in order to obtain full compliance with the
State mandate:
• Change the word "sludge" to "residual ";
• Change references from "Division of Environmental Management" to
"Division of Water Quality "; and
• Clarify definitions for Major Variance, Minor Variance, and Discharging
Landfill .
The proposed amendment was presented for public hearing on November 24,
1997. There were no citizen or Board comments.
2
,•
The Planning Board considered the proposed amendment on January 7, 1998 and
recommended approval. The vote was unanimous.
RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends that the Board of Commissioners close the
public hearing and approve the proposed amendment.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE: ZONING ORDINANCE
REFERENCE: ARTICLE 6.23 Watershed Protection Overlay Districts
ARTICLE 22 Definitions
ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: Staff Planning Board
BOCC Public
X Other: NC Division of Water Quality
STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: _X_ High Middle Low
Comment:
PUBLIC HEARING DATE: November 24, 1997
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT: To amend Orange County watershed protection regulations in response to
comments from the NC Division of Water Quality on compliance with the
State mandate.
IMPACTS/ISSUES: Zoning Ordinance amendments which were adopted by the Board of
Commissioners on January 1, 1994 were soon thereafter submitted for review and
approval by the Environmental Management Commission.
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ), responsible for reviewing the ordinances
for all NC counties and municipalities within water supply watersheds, returned
its comments in the attached letter to the County Manager dated August 1, 1997.
The following revisions are required in order to obtain full compliance with the
State mandate:
• Change the word "sludge" to "residual ";
• Change references from "Division of Environmental Management" to
"Division of Water Quality "; and
• Clarify definitions for Major Variance, Minor Variance, and Discharging
Landfill .
One of the revisions in the attached letter (item 4.b - definition of Non-
Conforming Lot of Record) is not necessary. The Zoning Ordinance already
contains a definition of Non - Conforming Lot which satisfies the state
requirement. DWQ staff was not aware of this definition when their letter was
written, and indicated during a phone conversation with Planning Staff on
October 3, 1997 that revision to the current definition was not necessary.
Likewise, DWQ staff was unaware that the Zoning Ordinance already defines
Discharging Landfill. The existing definition needs to be revised only to state that
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discharging landfills require a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)permit.
The August 1, 1997 letter from DWQ specified that revisions to the must be
adopted by the Board and submitted to DWQ by November 28, 1997. That
deadline was extended to March 27, 1998 in order to allow sufficient time to
complete the ordinance amendment review and approval process.
5
EXISTING/PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROVISIONS:
6.23 EXTRA REQUIREMENTS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICTS
6.23.1 LAND USE RESTRICTIONS
All uses and activities allowed in the underlying zoning district are permitted with the following
exceptions:
DISTRICT
LAND USE RESTRICTIONS
UNIV -CA
No new landfills are permitted.
UNIV -PW
No commercial or industrial uses are permitted.
CANE -CA
No new golf courses are permitted.
U- ENO -CA
UNIV -CA
No siodge residual (sludge) application is permitted.
CANE -CA
U- ENO -CA
CANE -PW
No discharging landfills are permitted.
U- ENO -PW
Industrial use is limited to non - hazardous light industrial uses characterized by
HYCO -PW
low water use (less than 10, 000 gpc, excluding domestic water (25 gpd per
LITTLE -PW
employee) and water used for heating and air conditioning).
BACK -PW
FLAT -PW
HAW -PW
L- ENO -PW
JORDAN -PW
6.23.4 Operation and Maintenance of Structural BMWs (Detention Ponds)
5. Annual Inspection Required
a. All stormwater structures shall be inspected by Orange County at least on an annual
basis to determine whether the controls are performing as designed and intended.
Records of inspections shall be maintained on forms approved or supplied by the
North Carolina Division of N4anagem@fft Water Quality. Annual
inspections shall begin within one (1) year of the filing date of the deed for the
stormwater control structure.
6.23.11 ADMINISTRATION
a) Appeals
Decisions of the Zoning Officer in the implementation of this Article may be
r'-1
appealed to the Orange County Board of Adjustment in accordance with Article 2.3.7 of this
Ordinance.
b) Variances
Minor variances for dimensional requirements may be approved by the Board of Adjustment in
accordance with Article 2.3.6 of this Ordinance. The Board of Adjustment may also approve
variance requests to allow the use of off -site septic easements for lots created after January 1,
1994.
A Minor Variance is defined as a variance from the minimum statewide water supply watershed
protection rules that results in a relaxation by a factor of up to ten (10) percent of any
management requirement under the low density requirement
A Maior Variance is defined as a variance from the statewide water supply watershed
regulations that results in the relaxation by a factor of greater than ten (10) percent of any
management requirement under the low density option or the relaxation of any management
requirement that applies to a development project requiring construction of a BMP
A description of each project receiving a variance and the reason for granting the variance shall
be submitted for each calendar year to the Geamiiission en an afmoal basis.—Division of Water
Quality on or before January 1 st of the following year.
All other local governments having jurisdiction within the watershed area and the entity using
the water supply for consumption shall be notified of the proposed exemption.
ARTICLE 22 - DEFINITIONS
Landfill, Discharging - A landfill facility with liner, monitoring equipment and other measures to
detect and/or prevent leachate from entering the environment and in which the leachate is treated on
site and discharged to a receiving stream. Discharging landfills require a National Pollution System
(NPDES) Permit from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
August 1, 1997
Mr. John Link
County Manager
Orange County
200 South Cameron Street.
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Re: Water Supply Watershed Protection Ordinance
Dear Mr. Link:
00.9;w�
�EHNR
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the status of the water supply
watershed protection ordinance for Orange,County. As you are aware, the Environmental
Management Commission (EMC) revised the Water Supply Watershed Protection Rules in 1995
in order to clarify certain provisions and add flexibility for local governments administering
their water supply watershed protection programs. Staff of the Division of Water Quality
reviewed the ordinance for compliance under both the 1992 and 1995 versions of the Rules. The
corrections recommended under the 1995 version of the rules are optional, and are noted as such
in this letter. The other corrections listed below are not optional. Once the ordinance is
amended and submitted to the Division of Water Quality, we will recommend approval of the
ordinance by the Environmental Management Commission. In accordance with the Water
Supply Watershed Protection Act (NCGS 143 - 214.5), the County has 120 days to correct ancP
submit the ordinance to the Division of Water Quality. The deadline for submission is Friday.
November 28.1997, The additional changes that are necessary in order for the ordinance to
meet the minimum statewide requirements are as follows:
1. In Section 6.23.1, change the word "sludge" to the word "residual" consistent with
statewide terminology. All other references to the word "sludge" in the ordinance
should be corrected.
2. In Section 6.23.11, correct the following:
" A description of each project receiving a variance and the reasons for granting the
variance shall be submitted for each calendar year to the Genurdsaien Division of
Water Quality on or before J nay 1st of the folio - 'ng
In July 1996, the Division of Environmental Management became the Division of Water
Quality. Please amend all references in your ordinance to the Division of
Environmental Management to reflect this change.
3. Modify the definitions of major and minor variance in Section 6.23.11, based on the 1995
Rules revisions:
Major Variance. A variance From the minimum statewide water c++vnT
watershed protection rules that results in
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626 -0535 Telephone 919 - 733 -5083 FAX 919 -733 -9919
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post- consumer paper
N.
Mr. John Link
August 1, 1997
Page Two
management reqttiremen _ the relaxation, by a factor of greater than ten (10)
percent, of any management requirement that takes the form of a numerical
standard ...
-- 9 011 ! III it! I t _ii • - - • • • - • t - Ir
ill-Ii I
in a relaxation. by • of • to percent, of ! -
reQuirement under the low • - i sity option.
4. Add or amend the following definitions to the ordinance, consistent with the 1995
revisions to the State Rules:
a) Discharging Landfill. t lP-tdWIM=tV-='targgs treated leachate and
which requires a National Pollution Discharge Eliminatign System
N !li
recorded 12rior to the effective date of this ordirtanie (or its amendMents) that
does not meet the n-tinimum, lot size or other develol2ment =Quir=ents of thij
ordinance,
All other aspects of your ordinance are acceptable and we anticipate an expeditious
final approval from the Environmental Management Commission once the above noted
corrections are made and the ordinance is resubmitted. Although you are not required to update
your ordinance to meet the 1995 revisions to the Water Supply Watershed Protection Rules, you
may wish to consider these new rules when amending your ordinances to incorporate the
required changes listed above. If you have any questions regarding the Water Supply
Watershed Protection Program, please contact Lisa Martin at (919) 733 -5083, ext. 565 at your
convenience. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of the Water Supply
Watershed Protection Program.
Sincerely,
df---4- Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc Lisa Martin
Judy Garrett, RRO DWQ
Marianne Frederick, ARO DCA
DWQ Central Files
Mary Willis, Orange County Planner
11/24/97 Public Hearing Minutes
1 Mr. Morrison indicated that he owns a lot next to this property and is building a home on the lot. He asked for
Z information regarding what would actually be done with this parcel.
Mary Wills Indicated that the possible uses are listed in the packet on pages 50 and S1. Some of those uses
are light industrial. Tight manufacturing and a number of commercial uses.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, to refer this item to the
Planting Board for a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no sooner than February 3
1998.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
3. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
a) Garden Center
This item was presented by Planner Emily Cameron for the purpose of receiving citizen comment on
proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to create a new land use Category called 'Garden Center with
appropriate standards as Included in Article 6 and a definition of the use In Article 22. On September 30, the
Planning Department received a citizen's request to amend the Zoning Ordinance to create a new land use category
called 'garden center.' Garden center is a type of retail use providing landscaping supplies primarily for home use.
The definition proposed for Article 22 Inckrdua a list of typical products to be sold. The proposed amendment to the
Permitted Use Table indicates garden center as a permitted use in all commercial zoning districts as well as In the
Agricultural Service District. Therefore. the use woad be subject to Planning Department review and approval of a
site plan before zoning and building permits may be issued. standards for operations are proposed for Article 6.16
which list additional requirements for certain permitted uses. The suggested standards specify that outdoor storage
and display of goods are permitted and limit the area allowed for outdoor storage of bulk materials such as sand.
topsoil, mulch, etc.
Mr. Greg Shepherd, of Philip Post R Associates, indicated that he represents a client who wants to put a
garden renter at this location. Upon examination of the Zoning Ordinance he discovered that the two closest use
retegories ware either greenhaise or retail sales. He found that a Garden Center does not fit either category. They
then I P 11 to present this proposal to be considered countywide. They created this proposal themselves with help
from the Planning staff. He mentioned that outside storage would be allowed and would be located to the rear or side
of the building and would be screened by an 8' foot fence. The amount of square footage for the outdoor storage
would also be limited to 15.000 square feet per acre.
QUESTIONS ANWOR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
None.
QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS
None.
42UESTIONB ANDIOR COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS
Harold Newton stated that he owns a Garden Center in this general area and would like to move a portion of
his business to this new location. He wants to display plants. topsoil, firewood and pumpkins. This property Is
curer" zoned Local Commensal (LC) which does not allow outside products to be displayed_
A motion was mule by Commissioner Carey, SeCOrMed by Commission Iialjotis, to refer this Item to the
Planning Board fbr a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissionoers no sooner than February 3.
1998.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
0 b) 11Wbers wd Protection Overlay Districts
This item was presented by Planner Mary Wiffis for the purpose of receiving citizen comment on a
proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance amendinenfs which were adopted by the
Board of Conmtieeloners on January 1, 191W were soon thereafter submitted for review and approval by the
Ermvhrornnentad Management Commission. The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) who is responsible for reviewing the
'names for ad NC counties and municipalities widen water supply watersheds, returned its conrrents in a letter to
the County Manager dated August 1, 1997. The following revisions are required In *onder to obtain tuft compliance
with the Stab mandate:
• Change the wad 'skrdge' to 'reeiduar,
4
Change references from 'Division of Environmental Management' to 'Division of Water Quality'; and
2 . Clarify definitions for Major Variance. Minor Variance, and Discharging Landfill.
3
4 QUESTIONS ANWOR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
5 None.
6
7 QUESTIONS ANWOR COMMENTS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS
8 None.
9
0 QUESTIONS ANDIOR COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS
1 None.
2
3 A motion was made by Commissioner Carey. second by Commissioner Halkivtis, to refer this item to the
4 Planning Boat for a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no sooner than January 20,
5 1m.
6 VOTE. UNANIMOUS
7
8 4. Comprehensive Plan Amendment
9 Zoning Ordinmes Text Amendment
1 Subdivision Regulations Text Amendment
4 Fum*onal Road Class n
2 This item was presented by Planner Slade McCalip in order to receive comment on the draft
3 ordinance and Comprehensive Plan Amendments for the update to the Functional Road Classifications of the
4 Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. On June 4.1997 staff presented to the Planning Board a
5 process and schedule for updating the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan including an update to
6 the read functional classifications, An amendment to update the functional classifications is necessary because the
7 maps in the Transportation Element to the Comprehensive Plan depict planned roads that are no longer planned.
8 Some of the current functional classifications are not referenced by other adopted plans and ordinances and the
9 existing classifications have been applied to every road in the county's land use planning Jurisdiction outside the
0 thoroughfare planning jurisdictions for the municipalities. This has made it difficult to clearly and quickly identify the
1 most important roads and also apply urban road classifications to the roads in 45% of the county's land use planning
2 area. As a part of the Functional Road Classification System update, the planned major thoroughfares adopted by
3 Orange County municipalities which are outside of a municipality's land use planning jurisdiction will be presented for
4 consideration and adoption by Orange County. In this way Orange County can classify the proposed thoroughfares
5 and then protect the rights-of-way for those thoroughfares that are consistent with the County's Comprehensive Plan.
6
7 QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
8 Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification about how the roads inside the municipal jurisdiction and the
9 roads in Orange County compare on the colored map. She asked if they were using the same definition. She asked
0 for clarification about tow they would be used together with the municipal plan.
1
2 Slade McCalip indicated that they were not using the some definitions. Chapel Hill and Catrboro use the
3 definitions In the existing plan and Hillsborough is using the States functional clasfiation. DOT was respornible for
4 doing the clasaificsUons, some of which are based on maintenance. A lot of the DOT roads in urban areas were
5 classifled as major ttor oughfaros which relate to arterial roads out in the County. He agreed that there was a change
6 at the Town bo nndadw but it is coordinated In this plait. He fait that using this designation would simplify
7 identification so that the same classification would be used throughout the county. This would not be a
8 Transportation Plan. it would help in the consideration and design when the traffic projects are identified next year.
9
0 Commbsiow Gordon asked what Chapel H11's classification was for Old Lystra Road. Slade indicated that
1 he would have to look at Chapel Hill's classification for that information.
2
3 Thera was further discussion about specific roads. Slade McCalip stated that this plan was not intended to
4 dimd traffic but rather to indicate how roads are actually being used.
5
6 Commis doper Gordon pointed out Drat if the system called for certain roads to be upgraded then that would
7 encourage traffic. She mentioned that if the assumption was that Old Lystra. 15-501 and Smith Level are all at least
8 eolfecim. dW in order to get around laterally you would have to classify Damascus Church Road . She requested
9 that addirional consideration be given to Dama=z Church Road and Old Greensboro out to White Cross.
4
10
I 4
MOTION:
VOTE:
MOTION:
VOTE:
7/ o � P � nn' Minutes
Trd
The proposed amendments were presented at the public hearing on
November 24, 1997. The Planning Board and Board of Commissioners had
no questions or comments at the hearing. The applicant spoke in favor of
the proposed changes which were referred to the Planning Board for a
recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no sooner
than February 3, 1998. Provided that the Planning Board and the Board of
Commissioners find in the affirmative, the Zoning Officer recommends
approval of the proposed text amendments.
Strayhom moved approval as recommended by the Zoning Officer.
Seconded by Selkirk.
Unanimous.
(2) Watershed Protection Overlay Districts
Presentation by Emily Cameron.
This item is to consider a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to
achieve full compliance with State - mandated watershed protection
regulations.
Zoning Ordinance amendments which were adopted by the Board of
Commissioners on January 1, 1994 were soon thereafter submitted for
review and approval by the Environmental Management Commission.
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ), responsible for reviewing the
ordinances for all NC counties and municipalities within water supply
watershed, returned its comment to the County Manager in a letter dated
August 1, 1997. A copy of this letter is an attachment to these minutes on
page
The following revisions are required in order to obtain full compliance with
the State mandate:
Change the word "sludge" to "residual';
Change references from "Division of Environmental Management" to
"Division of Water Quality"; and
Clarify definitions for Major Variance, Minor Variance, and
Discharging Landfill.
The proposed amendment was presented for public hearing on November
24, 1997. There were no citizen or Board comments. A copy of the
proposed amendment is an attachment to these minutes on pages
The Planning Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendment.
Selkirk moved approval as recommended by the Planning Staff. Seconded by
Allison.
Unanimous.
d. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
Subdivision Regulations Text Amendments
cS R � • 1 `tg ?- ad 1 / • moo - R �
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS S
8. ITEMS FOR DECISION - CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve those
items as listed below:
A. Appointments
The Board made appointments to the Master Recreation & Parks Plan Work Group; Economic
Development Commission; Commission for Women; and, Bicycle Planning Task Force as listed below:
Master Recreation and Parks Plan Work Group
Kevin Foy, representing Chapel Hill
Lee Pavao, representing Chapel Hill as an alternate
Bill Strom, representing OWASA
Economic Development Commission
Alois Callemyn, representing Hillsborough for an unexpired term ending June 30, 1998
Commission for Women
Kit Gruelle, At-Large representative for an unexpired term ending June 30, 1998
Lorraine Hoyt, representing Chapel Hill Township for an unexpired term ending June 30, 1999
Ruth Ledesma, representing Chapel Hill Township for an unexpired term ending June 30, 2000
Debbie Taylor, representing Hillsborough Township for an unexpired term ending June 30,
1998
Melissa Mcgill, representing non Chapel Hill/ Hillsborough for an unexpired term ending June
30, 1999
Chapel Hill Bicycle Planning Task Force
Slade McCalip, representing Orange County
b. Professional Services Contract- UNC School of Dentistry
The Board approved and authorized the Chair to sign a contract with the UNC School of Dentistry
to provide a dental director for the Health Department dental program.
C. Housing Rehabilitation Contract Award
This item was moved to the end of the Consent Agenda for separate consideration.
d. Contract with Town of Chapel Hill for Senior Recreation Services and Establishment of New
Position
The Board approved and authorized the Chair to sign a contract with the Town of Chapel Hill to
transfer the New Generation senior recreation program to the County and provide a new full-time County
position, senior citizen program coordinator, Salary Grade 64 ($24,106-38,327) to administer the program. The
total contract amount is $44,017.
e. Resolution to Apply and Enter into Agreement with N.C. Department of Transportation for
Community Transportation Program (CTP) Grant Funds
The Board approved an annual resolution to apply for Community Transportation Program funds
and entering into an agreement with NCDOT for FY 98-99 for capital and administrative funding totaling
$232,278 ($94,951 federal, $107,317 state and $30,010 local matching funds).
f. Petition for Addition -Gemena Road and Habitat Circle, Bingham Township
The Board approved a petition from NCDOT adding Gemena Road and Habitat Circle in Bingham
Township to the state-mandated Secondary Road System.
g_ Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment-Watershed Protection Districts
The Board approved an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance intended to achieve full compliance
with state-mandated watershed protection regulations.
h. Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Garden Center
This item was moved to the end of the Consent Agenda for separate consideration.
1. Change in Regular Meeting Schedule
This item was moved to the end of the Consent Agenda for separate consideration.