HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-22-2015 - 6fORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 22, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 6 -f
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SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Amendment
Outline and Schedule for Sign Regulation Amendments
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Amendment Outline for Sign
Amendments (UDO /Zoning 2015 -01)
2. Copy of Future Land Use Element Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Harvey, Planner III, (919) 245-
2597
Craig Benedict, Planning Director, (919)
245 -2585
PURPOSE: To consider and approve process components and schedule for a government
initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment for the February 2015
Quarterly Public Hearing regarding sign regulations.
BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in inquires and interest with respect to
development of large -scale commercial operations within the County. Staff is concerned
current sign regulations do not offer a suitable distinction between allowable signage for
projects developed in urbanizing areas versus rural areas and do not take into consideration the
size of the parcel being developed or the amount of road frontage the parcel has.
There is also a noticeable lack of clarity within the UDO addressing the development of large -
scale properties with multiple tenants necessitating the need for a larger, freestanding sign,
advertising local businesses and on what constitutes a blinking /flashing sign leading to
enforcement concerns.
The proposed amendment seeks to address these concerns. For more background information
please refer to Section B.1 of Attachment 1.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Consideration and approval will not create the need for additional funding
for the provision of County services. Costs for the required legal advertisement will be paid
from FY2014 -15 Departmental funds budgeted for this purpose. Existing Planning staff
included in the Departmental staffing budget will accomplish the work required to process this
amendment.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the attached
Amendment Outline form and direct staff to proceed accordingly.
Attachment 1
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN / FUTURE LAND USE MAP
AND
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (UDO)
AMENDMENT OUTLINE
UDO / Zoning- 2015 -01
UDO Text Amendment(s) clarifying the allowable sign area for projects in identified
Activity Nodes and regulations governing the use of electronic signs
A. AMENDMENT TYPE
Map Amendments
❑ Land Use Element Map:
From:
To:
❑ Zoning Map-
From -
To
❑ Other:
Text Amendments
❑ Comprehensive Plan Text-
Section(s)-
❑ UDO Text:
❑UDO General Text Changes
❑UDO Development Standards
❑UDO Development Approval Processes
on(s): 1. 6.12.6 Prohibited Signs
2. 6.12.12 Signs Permitted in Specific Zoning Districts
3. Article 10 Definitions
of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
❑ Other:
e
1. Purpose /Mission
In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 Zoning Atlas and Unified
Development Ordinance Amendments of the UDO, the Planning Director has
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initiated text amendment(s) to modify existing regulations governing allowable
signage.
There has been an increase in inquires and interest with respect to development of
large -scale commercial operations within the County, with an emphasis on property
located within the:
a. Commercial Transition,
b. Commercial - Industrial Transition, and
c. Economic Development Transition
Activity Nodes (please see Attachment 2 for a copy of the Future Land Use Map of
the Comprehensive Plan for additional detail).
Current sign regulations limit the total allowable square footage for freestanding and
wall signs to 32 square feet (8 feet by 4 feet in size) regardless of the properties
location (in or outside of an Activity Node), size of parcel, or amount of road frontage.
There is a concern that current regulations do not offer a suitable distinction between
development within Activity Nodes (i.e. more urban areas of the County) and rural
areas allowing for a sign of suitable size to accommodate a non - residential project on
a larger parcel of property. The `one -size fits all' sign limit may, in fact, be a deterrent
to non - residential development in the aforementioned Activity Nodes.
There is also a noticeable lack of clarity within the UDO addressing the development
of large -scale properties with multiple tenants necessitating the need for a larger,
freestanding sign, advertising local businesses and on what constitutes a
blinking /flashing sign leading to enforcement concerns.
The proposed amendment(s) seek to address these concerns
2. Analysis
As required under Section 2.8.5 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to:
`cause an analysis to be made of the application and, based upon that analysis,
prepare a recommendation for consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of
County Commissioners'.
The amendments are necessary to address current concerns over advertising needs for
development within the urban areas of the County (i.e. the Commercial Transition,
Commercial - Industrial Transition, and Economic Development Transition Activity Nodes)
and clarify the prohibition on the use of blinking /flashing signage by incorporating new
definitions into the UDO.
Staff will also be using this amendment process to incorporate an interpretation relating to
the use of digital displays by gas stations. Historically gas stations have displayed gas
prices through an internally /externally illuminated reader board. These displays create
unnecessary glare for motorists. We have allowed gas stations to incorporate digital
reader board displays to advertise gas prices, reducing glare and eliminating issues of
light trespass either through cracked message boards allowing undiffused light to escape
or misaligned external light fixtures creating glare for motorists.
Additional analysis will be part of the public hearing materials
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3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives)
Land Use Goal 4: Land development regulations, guidelines, techniques, and /or
incentives that promote the integrated achievement of all Comprehensive Plan goals.
4. New Statutes and Rules
N/A
d. PROCESS
1. TIMEFRAME /MILESTONES /DEADLINES
a. BOCC Authorization to Proceed
January 22 2015
b. Quarterly Public Hearin
February 19. 2015
c. BOCC Updates /Checkpoints
January 22, 2015 — Approved of the UDO Amendment Outline Form as well as
the legal advertisement and for the February 19, 2015 Quarterly Public
Hearing.
January 2015 — Planning Board members will be sent the proposed amendment
via e-mail for review and comment as there is no January 2015 Planning
Board Ordinance Review Committee meeting.
February 19, 2015 — Quarterly Public Hearing.
April 7, 2015 - Receive Planning Board recommendation.
d. Other
2. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM
Mission /Scope: Public Hearing process consistent with NC State Statutes and
Orange County ordinance requirements
a. Planning Board Review:
January 2015 — Planning Board members will be e- mailed the amendment packet
for initial review and comment.
March 4, 2015 — Recommendation.
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b. Advisory Boards:
c. Local Government Review:
d. Notice Requirements
Legal advertisement published in accordance with the provisions of the UDO.
e. Outreach:
❑ General Public:
❑ Small Area Plan Workgroup:
❑ Other:
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Modification of existing language will not require the outlay of additional funds by the
County. Processing of the amendment shall be handled by staff utilizing existing
budgeted funds.
e. AMENDMENT IMPLICATIONS
The amendment will allow for larger freestanding and wall signs for projects in identified
Activity Nodes where there is adequate road frontage necessitating the development of
additional advertising space and clarify what constitutes a blinking /flashing sign to aid in
enforcement efforts.
f. SPECIFIC AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
Will be available with the quarterly public hearing materials.
Primary Staff Contact:
Michael D. Harvey
Planning
(919) 245 -2597
mharvey @orangecountync.gov
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