HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-28-2000 - C1 T ORANGE COUNTY t, t
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 28, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. Q-Z` (e)
c1
SUBJECT: ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Proposed Amendments to ORANGE COUNTY Karen Lincoln Ext. 2594
PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS Craig Benedict Ext. 2592
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501 ,
Durham 688-7331
Mebane (336)227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive citizen comment on proposed amendments to the Orange County Subdivision
Regulations,APPENDIX A ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS.
BACKGROUND:
Request Orange County Administration and Planning staff propose changes to the ORANGE
COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS to:
• reduce to 10 (from 25) the maximum number of tots allowed on a private road;
• delete the provision for a Class C Private Road; and
• require that a NC Professional Engineer approve the construction of the private
road in accordance with sound engineering practices (delete provision allowing a
Professional Surveyor to certify private road construction).
Location The amendments, if adopted, will apply to the entirety of Orange County lying outside
the municipalities and their extra-territorial jurisdictions, if any.
Existing and Proposed Conditions
Existing: . 1 to 3 lots or du allowed on a Class C Private Road (8 ft. travelway)
• 4 to 9 lots or du allowed on a Class B Private Road (12 ft. travelway)
• 10 to 25 lots or du allowed on a Class A Private Road (18 ft. travelway)
Proposed: • Class B Private Road (12 ft. travelway) required for 1 to 5 lots (Minor
Subdivisions) or dwelling units.
Class A Private Road (18 ft. travelway)required for 6 to 10 tot Major
Subdivisions (or dwelling units).
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Implications
Pros: • Long-term reduced maintenance costs for citizens;
• Better planning for long-term development of property (discourages "piece-meal"
development);
Investment in better infrastructure for future subdivision;
• Better response time for emergency access.
Cons: • Negligible increased costs for minor subdivision development;
• May encourage minimum lot sizes in >10 lot subdivisions in areas where larger
lots are desirable to maintain rural character.
Development Process, Schedule, and Action
• Public Hearing February 28, 2000: No decision is made on the proposed amendments by
either the Planning Board or the Board of County Commissioners at the public hearing.
• First Action: Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board has 75 days within
which to prepare and submit a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. Failure
of the Planning Board to submit a recommendation within the required time shall be considered
as a favorable recommendation.
ID Final Action: Board of Commissioners to consider amendments to the Orange County
Subdivision Regulations..
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
RECOMMENDATION(S) Planning Staff Recommendation: Approval of the proposed
amendments as given in the attached document.
Administration Recommendation: Refer proposed amendments to the Planning Board for
a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no sooner than May 3,
2000.
Note: Amendments to the subdivision regulations are legislative decisions (legislative
public hearing rules apply).
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ORANGE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
APPENDIX A ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS 13
PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS
(Text proposed to be deleted is printed in bold St>4keth!F8Ug# format; text proposed to
be inserted is printed in bold underlined format.)
Amend Orange County Subdivision Regulations, APPENDIX A ORANGE COUNTY
PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS as follows.
AMEND THE FOURTH AND FIFTH PARAGRAPHS IN THE General Requirements SECTION TO
READ AS FOLLOWS:
The standards and specifications for Private Roads apply to subdivisions in
Orange County and the class of road required depends.on the number of lots served by
the road. A Class G FGad seFves 1 t9 3 18tS OF dwelliRg units, a Class B road serves
—4- 1 to 9 5 lots or dwelling units, and a Class A road serves 6 to 10 to 26 lots or
dwelling units. Private roads serving more than 2,6 10 lots or dwelling units may be
permitted only if constructed to NCDOT public road standards. All Gl, ses 0 Private
Roads in a major (five or more lots) subdivision require the approval of the Board of
Commissioners. Before the final plat of the subdivision can be recorded, the Private
Road must be built and approved, or the applicant must post a security instrument with
the County in an amount that would cover the cost of constructing the road. Class C B
Private Roads intended to serve 2 lots or dwelling units are not required to be
constructed to Orange County Standards or to be inspected before recordation of the
final plat. However, Orange County recommends that these Class C B roads be built to
these standards in order to provide adequate access, especially for emergency vehicles
which require the clearances and turn areas shown on the specifications.
Private road construction must be inspected and the construction certified in
writing to the Orange County Planning Department by a North Carolina Professional
Engineer eF a North CaFellina RegisteFed Land SuFveyeF. Also, the location of the
travelway within the right-of-way must be certified to be within the platted private road
right-of-way. The road must be inspected during construction so that any changes or
improvements necessary to insure approval can be made before the stone is placed
and the shoulders and ditches are seeded and mulched. In order for this to happen, the
subdivider or representative must inform the professional making the certification prior
to the start of construction and at intervals during construction when inspections are
needed so that they can be scheduled.
AMEND ITEM 9 UNDER THE GENERAL SUBDIVISION APPROVAL AND PRIVATE ROAD
CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AS FOLLOWS:
GENERAL SUBDIVISION APPROVAL AND
PRIVATE ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE
9. Have a professional engineer OF FG&Wedl land suFveyef certify that
construction meets the required standards and that travelway is within the right-
of-way in writing to-the Planning and Inspections Department.
14
ORANGE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
APPENDIX A ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS
PROPOSED,TEXT AMENDMENTS
AMEND STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS Certification of Construction TO READ As
FOLLOWS:
STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS
The standards described herein are the minimum set forth by the County.
Orange County has not determined, .and is not responsible for determining that these
standards are adequate or appropriate for all uses by landowners. The standards also
may not meet NCDOT criteria. No road will be accepted for maintenance by NCDOT
unless or until NCDOT standards are met.
Certification of Construction
A professional engineer GF Fegs Wed land suFveyef must certify in writing to the
Planning Department that a Private Road, either existing, upgraded, or newly
constructed, meets the standards of the required class for the subdivision. The
following must be inspected and certified:
1. the travelway is within the platted right-of-way;
2. the proper material has been used in the travelway and it is built to the required
width and thickness;
3. the shoulders are the correct width and the typical cross section is in place;
4. the road is on the proper grade;
5. ditches are in place where necessary to provide adequate drainage, in
accordance with sound engineering practice;
6. needed storm pipes of proper size, materials and construction are in place and
energy dissipaters installed, in accordance with sound engineering practice,
7. all disturbed areas are properly stabilized;
8. the required road sign is in place;
9. an adequate turn-around is in place at the end of the road;
10. required vertical and horizontal clearance is provided; and
11. PF8peF sight distance and construction at the intersection with a public road has
been approved by NCDOT.
AMEND THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS Surface
Materials TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
Surface Materials
Private roads may be paved, provided that pavement design (materials and
thickness) meets NCDOT subdivision street standards. A professional engineer must
certify in writing to the Planning Department that the materials and thickness of
the pavement meet NCDOT standards.
ORANGE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
APPENDIX A ORANGE COUNTY PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS 1 5
PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS
AMEND STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS Minimum Curve Radius (SECOND
PARAGRAPH, ITEM 4) TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
A curve radius of less than 925 feet may be approved if all of the following
conditions are met:
1. The- road existed prior to the adoption of subdivision regulations or was
approved as part of an earlier subdivision;
2. Reconstruction of the existing road to meet a 125' curve radius is not
feasible due to the extent of earthwork which would be required and/or the
inability to reconfigure the existing right-of-way location due to ownership
or the location of existing structures, wells or septic systems;
3. Standards pertaining to road width and grade will be met;
4. The subdivision can be approved with a Class-C er-Class B private road;
5. Documentation is received from the Erosion Control Division that the
proposed curve radius would provide for adequate vehicular access and
circulation;
6. Documentation is received from the Department of Emergency Services
stating that the proposed curve radius would provide access for the largest
emergency vehicle which would use the road.
DELETE THE DIAGRAM SHOWING SCHEMATIC FOR CLASS "C" PRIVATE ROAD.