HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2012-039 Ordinance Amending the Zoning Atlas - Rezoning and Class A Special Use Permit Modification – Spence Dickinson Ordinance #: 2012-039
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
THE ORANGE COUNTY ZONING ATLAS
WHEREAS, Spence Dickinson has initiated an amendment to the Orange County Zoning
Atlas, as established in Section 1.2 of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO), to rezone a parcel of undeveloped real property, approximately 4 acres in area, located
north of intersection of Blackwood Mountain Road (SR 2258) and Pathway Court:
From: Rural Buffer(RB) and Planned Development Housing Rural Residential (PD-H-R1)
To: Rural Buffer(RB)
and,
WHEREAS, the parcels are further identified through the following legal description:
BEGINNING:
at an iron pipe, the north west corner of the Common Land, Heartwood at
Blackwood Mtn., Phase I as recorded in Plat Book 58 Page 151, Orange County
Registry, said point being also in the center line of Pathway Court, a 50' private
road right-of-way as recorded in Plat Book 53 Page 172, OCR; thence with the
center line of Pathway Court, a curve to the left with a radius of 192.00', a length
of 132.14' to an iron pipe; thence a curve to the left with a radius of 125.00', a
length of 71.99' to a point; thence North 74 degrees, 01 minutes, 56 seconds
West 53.29' to an iron pipe in the center line of Pathway Court and in the center
line of a 20' septic easement as shown on a plat recorded in Plat Book 90 Page
181, OCR; thence with the center line of said easement, North 08 degrees, 38
minutes, 57 seconds East 147.30' to an iron pipe; thence North 23 degrees, 01
minutes, 18 seconds West 107.40' to an iron pipe; thence North 78 degrees, 01
minutes, 27 seconds East 219.70' to an iron pipe; thence North 78 degrees, 00
minutes, 32 seconds West 89.00' to an iron pipe in the east right-of-way of the
aforementioned Pathway Court; thence North 06 degrees, 48 minutes, 34
seconds East 160.00' to an iron pipe; thence South 78 degrees, 00 minutes, 56
seconds East 157.88' to an iron pipe; thence North 06 degrees, 48 minutes, 34
seconds East 241.88' to an iron pipe in the line of the Waldorf Educational
Association of North Carolina; thence with the Waldorf property South 83
degrees, 11 minutes, 31 seconds East 200.00' to an iron pipe; thence with
Waldorf property South 06 degrees, 48 minutes, 34 seconds West 419.97' to an
iron pipe; thence South 83 degrees, 11 minutes, 26 seconds East 116.40' to an
iron pipe; thence North 69 degrees 38 minutes 10 seconds East 102.48' to an
iron pipe in the Waldorf line, the north west corner of the Spence Dickinson
property as recorded in Plat Book 61 Page 123, OCR; thence with the Dickinson
property South 05 degrees, 02 minutes, 44 seconds West 440.11' to an iron pipe
in the north line of the aforementioned Common Land, Heartwood at Blackwood
Mtn., Phase I; thence North 78 degrees, 11 minutes, 22 seconds West 44.45' to
the point and place of beginning and being all of Lot 31, Heartwood at Blackwood
Mtn., Phase II as recorded in Plat Book 90 Page 181, and containing 4.003
Acres, more or less.
and
WHEREAS, the requirements of Section 2.8 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)
have been deemed complete, and
WHEREAS, the Board has found the proposed zoning atlas amendment to be reasonably
necessary to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commissioners of Orange County that the Orange County
Zoning Atlas is hereby amended to rezone the aforementioned parcel to Rural Buffer (RB)
consistent with the applicant's request.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED THAT this ordinance be placed in the book of published
ordinances and that this ordinance is effective upon its adoption.
Upon motion of mi oner seconded by
Com issioner the foregoing ordinance was adopted this
day of , 2012.
I, Donna S. Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for Orange County, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY that the fo going is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said
Board at a meeting held on , 2012 as relates in any way to the
adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of the said
Board.
WITN e nd and the seal of said County, this day of VJWU�,.,
201
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S
° Clerk to a Board of Commissioners
9. /F--/ z
6. Public Hearings
a. Rezoning and Class A Special Use Permit Modification — Spence
Dickinson
The Board received the Planning Board recommendation, closed the public hearing, and
considered a decision on a request submitted by Mr. Spence Dickinson to rezone a 4.003 acre
parcel of property to Rural Buffer and modify an existing Class A Special Use Permit (hereafter
'SUP') for the Heartwood at Blackwood Mountain Planned Development by removing the
subject property from its provisions.
Chair Pelissier explained the purpose of the item is to receive the Planning Board
recommendation for Spence Dickinson.
Michael Harvey: Good evening. Tonight's request is to receive the Planning Board
recommendation, close the public hearing, make a decision on the request submitted by Mr.
Spence Dickinson to rezone an approximately four-acre parcel of property; to rezone the parcel
of property from Rural Buffer to Planned Development Housing and remove this parcel from the
confines of the existing Class A Special Use Permit for the Parkwood at Blackwood Mountain
subdivision. As part of the attachments for the siting, you have the July 11, 2012 Planning
Board abstract, the excerpt from the approved May 290' Quarterly Public Hearing notes; an
excerpt from the approved July 11, 2012 Planning Board regular minutes; responses from the
applicant regarding conditions associated with this project. In Attachment 5, the Planning
Board recommended the Findings of Fact. Attachment 6 is an Ordinance Amending the
Orange County Zoning Atlas. Attachment 7 is an Ordinance Denying an Amendment to the
Orange County Zoning Atlas. Attachment 8 is a Resolution of Consistency for the 2030
Comprehensive Plan. Attachment 9 is a Resolution of Inconsistency for the 2030
Comprehensive Plan.
Chair Pelissier declared the public hearing re-convened and asked staff to make their
presentation.
Michael Harvey: You also have a script that was produced by staff, providing you with an
outline of the actions that staff will be taking this evening and to aid you in making your
motions. Please remember that this is a two-sphered process. You're going to be taking action
of modification to a Class A Special Use Permit, specifically removing this lot as shown on the
overhead projector from the confines of an existing Class A Special Use Permit. The second
action you're going to take this evening is a legislative action to rezone the subject property to
Rural Buffer. As you will remember from meetings past, we have had a new procedure that we
had to follow as a result of the State Supreme Court decision on rezoning. Previously, we had
combined Statements of Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan for the Ordinance
Amending the Zoning Atlas. According to a recent State Supreme Court case, we can no
longer do that, which is why you now have two attachments. In this case, I am referring to
Attachment 6 and Attachment 8. Attachment 8 states that you are adopting outlining how this
project is consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Please remember that previous to
this, or previous to the last meeting when we looked at the Eno Economic Development District,
we put this information in one central resolution. We now have to split it out. The cadence for
adoption is also specified by the State Supreme Court and that you must adopt an ordinance
amending the Orange County Zoning Atlas first, and then adopt a Statement of Consistency to
the Comprehensive Plan.
Having said that, what I would like to do this evening is briefly review with you the
actions of the Planning Board. As you will note from Attachment 5 of your abstract packet, the
Planning Board went through the Findings of Fact and determined that the applicant had met
his burden with respect to compliance with the individual requirements of the Orange County
Unified Development Ordinance for the approval of this request. They also made specific
Findings of Fact on the compliance with Section 5.3.2 (8) 2 a, b, and c, with respect to this
project's compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, with respect to this proposed amendment
would not have a negative impact on adjacent property, and last but not least, the applicant had
met his burden of proof that the proposal was consistent with surrounding land use. The
Planning Board is recommending unanimous approval of this process and of the proposed
rezoning. The applicant specifically in Attachment 4 has indicated his support for the conditions
with one exception —the applicant requests that that the Board not impose a condition about
the wooded access from this lot of the Pathway Court. As you will recall from the Quarterly
Public Hearing, and this is detailed within Attachment 2 of your abstract packet, concerns were
expressed by adjacent property owners about the potential for a road or a drive access from
this property and ultimately the existing camp property to the east operated by Mr. Dickinson
onto Pathway Court. Staff recommended the imposition of the condition at that time. Staff still
recommends the imposition of this condition. The applicant respectfully requested in writing
that you not impose it. Unless you have any questions, that is the end of my presentation at
this time.
Commissioner Jacobs: To the point he just made, do you feel that adequately addressed the
concerns of Mr. Lamb that are on page 33 of our packet regarding the impact on the Heartwood
development?
Michael Harvey: I feel it does and with all due respect to Mr. Dickinson, I take a different
viewpoint of why the condition was imposed. As this parcel of property is being removed from
the confines of the Heartwood at Blackwood Special Use Permit and is not subject to the
conditions of the Special Use Permit or the imposition of fees or other actions by the Heartwood
Homeowners Association that is responsible for maintaining Pathway Court, it is my considered
opinion that it would not be reasonable for us to allow there to be access onto Pathway Court by
the adjacent camp, even though the property has frontage on it and even though there are
other lots that were approved after the issuance of the Special Use Permit that have access on
Pathway as well. I would argue that the County in hindsight, should have required an
amendment to the Special Use Permit to allow for further subdivision activity to occur in the 80's
and early 90's, which it did not. We do not need to perpetuate the same mistake, as this
property has been removed from the confines and SUP and not subject to the local
homeowners control and purview, it is my considered opinion that it should not be allowed to
have access on a street that is maintained by that homeowners association.
Commissioner Jacobs: Just in reading what Mr. Lamb said, I thought he was concerned that
the parcel be restricted for use for the septic field and it says, "and no other activities or
services or hindrances along the border of the community."
Michael Harvey: As I articulated that evening and spoke with Mr. Lamb later, it is my position
that Mr. Dickinson does have the right to go back to the Orange County Board of Adjustment,
which is his plan, in seeking expansion of existing camp retreat center that this property has the
ability to utilize for other purposes than just a septic system, allowing for expansion of the
existing camp retreat center, and I don't feel it necessary at this special use permit process
hinder that ability with the imposition of additional conditions on the use of this parcel. The
Board of Adjustment is going to go through a similar public hearing process where adjacent
property owners would be notified and allowed to present the case on why that specific land
uses should not be allowed. I also don't think there's been any evidence submitted into the
record at the Quarterly Public Hearing or at the Planning Board meeting that#1, any proposed
redevelopment of this will have a negative impact on adjacent lots, and#2, even if there was it
would not germane to this request as this request is intended to solely amend the existing
Heartwood SUP to remove this lot. I don't believe it's essential for this Board to impose any
additional restrictions other than what the ordinance would impose as part of what's customary.
Chair Pelissier: As I understand it, the only other person who would speak would be Spence
Dickinson.
John Roberts: If I can address that. This portion of the hearing, the specific purpose, if you
allow Mr. Dickinson to speak, you cannot consider what he says as part of your decision
making. I recommend that he not be permitted. What his position is has been put in the record
by Mr. Harvey, but if you allow him to speak to this subject now, what you are in effect doing is
accepting additional testimony in a quasi-judicial hearing, which could open the Board's
decision up to be overturned in the event of an appeal to Superior Court.
Chair Pelissier: Are they any other questions of staff? Once we close the public hearing, we
can no longer ask any questions of staff. I just want to make sure there are no other questions.
Commissioner Gordon: I just want to make sure we understood the status of the condition
that staff recommended that Mr. Dickinson would like removed. Is it your contention and do I
understand it that we impose this condition even though he doesn't agree?
Michael Harvey: Yes ma'am. The condition is designed to address a community concern as
well as preserving the integrity of the SUP process without allowing for additional use of the
roadway that was never envisioned in the SUP as originally approved by this Board. And I'm
talking about the Heartwood Special Use Permit.
Commissioner Gordon: So he does not have to agree. There are other situations in which
the person would have to agree, but not this one.
Michael Harvey: Correct.
Commissioner Yuhasz: Do I understand this correctly that if we impose this condition we are
then creating a landlocked parcel?
Michael Harvey: No sir. As articulated and testified during the Quarterly Public Hearing, Mr.
Dickinson is going to be recombining this parcel with a parcel to the east, this camp retreat
center property, which has access on Millhouse Road. It will become one large parcel of
property designed to support and promote the continued operation of a legally permitted camp
retreat center that is operating under the current Class B Special Use Permit issued under the
Orange County Board of Adjustment.
Commissioner Yuhasz: I understand that's the intent, but that won't happen until after this
decision is made.
Michael Harvey: That is also a correct statement.
Commissioner Yuhasz: And what we are doing, just to be clear, we are imposing a condition
not on this property, but on the Special Use Permit that—essentially we are imposing a
condition on the remainder of the lots, not on this lot.
Michael Harvey: What you're essentially doing is caused the existing Special Use Permit to be
modified to remove this lot from the confines and regulatory requirement of that permit. You
are also stipulating that this particular parcel of property, as it currently exists and as it will exist
when recombined with the parcel to the east, will not be allowed to have any drive access onto
Pathway Court.
Commissioner Yuhasz: I just want to be clear on where we are imposing that condition. I
don't know whether, in a general rezoning, we are allowed to impose conditions like that.
Michael Harvey: You're not imposing as part of the general rezoning, you're imposing as part
of the special use permit line.
Commissioner Yuhasz: I just want to be clear, we're imposing it on the special use permit
that sits on the rest of the lots and not on this particular one.
Michael Harvey: Correct.
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner McKee to close
the public hearing. NOTE — once this is done staff cannot answer questions or provide
additional detail.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
The BOCC then took action on the Special Use Permit findings of fact. The findings of fact
have been organized per relevant UDO section to aid in making motions to approve or deny.
The cadence on taking action was as follows:
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Yuhasz to
affirm the recommendation of the Planning Board concerning the application's compliance with
the provisions of Section(s) 2.2 and 2.7.3 of the Orange County Unified Development
Ordinance, as detailed on pages 39 through 41 of the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner McKee to
affirm the recommendation of the Planning Board concerning the application's compliance with
the provisions of Section 2.7.5 of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance, as
detailed on page 42 of the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Yuhasz to
affirm the recommendation of the Planning Board concerning the application's compliance with
the provisions of Section(s) 3.3 and 6.3 of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance,
as detailed on pages 43 through 46 of the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to
affirm the recommendation of the Planning Board concerning the application's compliance with
the provisions of Section 5.3.2 of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance, as
detailed on pages 47 through 48 of the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger that
there is sufficient evidence in the record that complies with Section 5.3.2 (A) (2) of the
Ordinance in that the use will maintain and promote the public health, safety, and general
welfare if located where proposed in the development and operated as the plan is submitted.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner, McKee seconded by Commissioner Yuhasz finding
there is sufficient evidence in the record the project complies with Section 5.3.2 (A) (2) (a) of
the UDO in that the use will maintain and promote the public health, safety and general
welfare, if located where proposed and developed and operated according to the plan as
submitted.
This motion is based on competent material and evidence entered into
the record of these proceedings, including:
• Attachment 1, the application, of the public hearing abstract,
• Staff and applicant testimony from the Public Hearing,
• Abstracts from the May 29, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing and
July 11, 2012 Planning Board,
• Staff findings as discussed during the July 11, 2012 Planning
Board regular meeting, and
• A lack of competent material and substantial evidence in the form
of testimony, exhibits, documents, plans, or other materials
entered into the record indicating the applicant had not met their
burden in accordance with Section 5.3.2 (A) of the UDO.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Yuhasz, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger finding
there is sufficient evidence in the record that the project complies with Section 5.3.2 (A) (2) (b)
of the UDO in that the use will maintain the value of contiguous property.
This motion is based on competent material and evidence entered into
the record of these proceedings, including:
• Applicant testimony from the Public Hearing,
• Abstracts from the May 29, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing and
July 11, 2012 Planning Board, and
• A lack of competent material and substantial evidence in the form
of testimony, exhibits, documents, plans, or other materials
entered into the record indicating the applicant had not met their
burden in accordance with Section 5.3.2 (A) of the UDO.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Yuhasz, seconded by Commissioner Hernminger finding
that there is sufficient evidence in the record the project complies with Section 5.3.2 (A) (2) (c)
of the UDO in that the use is in harmony with the area in which it is to be located and the use is
in compliance with the plan for the physical development of the County as embodied in these
regulations and in the Comprehensive Plan.
This motion is based on competent material and evidence entered into
the record of these proceedings, including:
• Attachment 1, the application, of the public hearing abstract,
• Staff and applicant testimony from the Public Hearing,
• Abstracts from the May 29, 2012 Quarterly Public Hearing and
July 11, 2012 Planning Board,
• Staff findings as discussed during the July 11, 2012 Planning
Board regular meeting, and
• A lack of competent material and substantial evidence in the form
of testimony, exhibits, documents, plans, or other materials
entered into the record indicating the applicant had not met their
burden in accordance with Section 5.3.2 (A) of the UDO.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve
the Special Use Permit imposing recommended 4 conditions as detailed on page(s) 51 through
52 of the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
The Board then took action on the ordinance amending the zoning atlas (Attachment 6) and the
resolution concerning comprehensive plan consistency (Attachment 8).
As you may recall, a recent State Supreme Court decision impacted how zoning atlas
amendments are processed and acted upon. In the past, staff has produced an
Ordinance amending the zoning atlas containing a statement detailing how the
amendment is consistent with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and is
in the public interest.
Now, we are required to take 2 separate actions when dealing with a zoning atlas
amendment, specifically:
• Adoption of an Ordinance approving or rejecting the proposed atlas
amendment, and
• Adoption of a separate statement denoting the atlas amendment complies
with an adopted comprehensive plan. This statement must describe whether
the action is: `consistent with any controlling comprehensive plan and explain
why the action is reasonable and in the public interest'.
It should be noted that according to North Carolina General Statute, this statement is
not subject to judicial review.
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner McKee to adopt
the Ordinance Amending the Orange County Zoning Atlas as contained within Attachment 6 of
the abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner McKee to adopt
the Resolution of Comprehensive Plan Consistency as contained within Attachment 8 of the
abstract package.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
b. Class A Special Use Permit— Public Utility Station (Solar Array)
The Board considered receiving the Planning Board recommendation, closing the public
hearing, and making a decision on a Class A Special Use Permit (SUP) request submitted by