HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-2014 - 6g 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 6, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-g
SUBJECT: Legal Advertisement for Joint Planning Public Hearing — March 27, 2014
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proposed Legal Advertisement Perdita Holtz, Planning Systems
Coordinator, 245-2578
Craig Benedict, Planning Director,245-
2592
PURPOSE: To consider the legal advertisement for items to be presented at the Joint Planning
Area Public Hearing scheduled for March 27, 2014.
BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners reviews proposals to be considered at
public hearing for consistency with general County policy and presentation format. Two County-
initiated items are proposed for consideration at the March 27, 2014 Joint Planning Public
Hearing-
1. Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement — Revise
existing language to ensure agricultural activities are recognized as being allowed
throughout the Rural Buffer, require a minimum 2 acre density, allow for the clustering of
subdivision lots in those portions of the Rural Buffer outside of the University Lake
Watershed Area, and correct a typo associated with the minimum lot size within the
University Lake Watershed Area.
2. Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement — Revise
existing language to allow for the possibility of locating appropriate agricultural support
enterprises in the Rural Buffer land use classification.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Other than advertising costs, there are no direct financial impacts
associated with the approval of this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the proposed March
27, 2014 Joint Planning Public Hearing legal advertisement.
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NOTICE OF JOINT PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Chapel Hill Town Council
Carrboro Board of Aldermen
A public hearing will be held at the Southern Human Services Center, 2501
Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7:00
p.m. for the purpose of giving all interested citizens an opportunity to speak for or
against the following items:
1. Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement —
Revise existing language to ensure agricultural activities are recognized as being
allowed throughout the Rural Buffer, require a minimum 2 acre density and allow
for the clustering of subdivision lots in those portions of the Rural Buffer outside
of the University Lake Watershed Area, and correct a typo indicating the
minimum required lot size within the University Lake Watershed Area is 5 acres.
Existing language within the Land Use Plan (hereafter `the Plan') could be
construed as limiting locations where bona fide agricultural activities, as defined
in State statutes, can occur within the Rural Buffer. This is inconsistent with
State law and staff is proposing to correct the language.
The clustering of lots through the subdivision process is allowed throughout the
county, down to a 1 acre minimum lot size, so long as established density
restrictions are observed. Existing language within the Plan, however, prohibits
the clustering of lots down to a 1 acre lot size within the Rural Buffer outside of
the University Lake Watershed Area.
Staff is proposing to allow the clustering of lots outside of the University Lake
Watershed Area, down to 1 acre lot size, as long as a minimum 2 acre density is
maintained (i.e. 1 dwelling unit for every 2 acres of property). Because the
existing language requires a 2 acre minimum lot size, this proposal will not result
in an increase in the allowable density on a given parcel or alter existing density
limits within the University Lake Watershed Area as detailed within the Plan.
Staff is also proposing to correct an existing typographical error indicating the
minimum required lot size for property within the University Lake Watershed Area
is 5 acres. The Rural Buffer requires a minimum lot size of 2 acres while there is
a density limit within the Watershed Area limiting the number of dwelling units to
1 every 5 acres. Staff will be correcting existing text to reflect this distinction.
Purpose: To hear public comment on the proposed text amendments.
2. Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement —
Revise existing language to allow for the possibility of locating appropriate
agricultural support enterprises in the Rural Buffer land use classification.
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This proposal complements an Orange County proposal to allow for an
expansion of "agricultural support enterprises" within the County's planning
jurisdiction. If adopted, the proposal would allow for some lower-intensity
agriculturally-related uses to potentially be located in the Rural Buffer. Examples
of these uses are: Community Agricultural Processing Facility, Community
Farmers' Market, Cooperative Farm Stand, Microbrewery with Minor Events, and
Winery with Minor Events. Additionally, a proposed new conditional zoning
district, ASE-CZ (Agricultural Support Enterprises), would be allowed to be
applied in the Rural Buffer although some of the more intensive uses potentially
allowed in the ASE-CZ could not be located in the Rural Buffer.
This public hearing is not a public hearing on the specifics of the proposed
Agricultural Support Enterprises (ASE) concept. Rather, this public hearing is for
comments on the proposed language changes to the Joint Planning Land Use
Plan and Agreement that would allow the ASE concept in the Rural Buffer.
Purpose: To hear public comment on the proposed text amendments.
Substantial changes in items presented at the public hearing may be made following
the receipt of comments made at the public hearing. Accommodations for
individuals with physical disabilities can be provided if the request is made to the
Orange County Planning Director at least 48 hours prior to the Public Hearing by
calling the one of the phone numbers below. The full text of the public hearing items
may be obtained no later than March 21, 2014 at the County website
www.orangecountync.gov at the Meeting Agendas link.
Questions regarding the proposals may be directed to the Orange County Planning
Department located on the second floor of the County Office Building at 131 West
Margaret Lane, Suite 201, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Office hours are from 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may also call (919) 245-2575 or 245-
2585 and you will be directed to a staff member who will answer your questions.
PUBLISH: The Herald Sun News of Orange
March 12, 2014 March 12, 2014
March19, 2014 March 19, 2014