HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing Notice for 06-30-1994 Mtg. - Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments and Rural Character Preservation Strategies ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 01
306F REVERE ROAD
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS
AND RURAL CHARACTER PRESERVATION STRATEGIES
FOR ORANGE COUNTY,N.C.
Pursuant to the requirements of the General Statutes of North Carolina,Chapter 153A,Section 240,323 and 343,and
Articles 20.5,20.6,2.2.12 and 2.2.13 of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance,and Section VIII of the Orange County
Subdivision Regulations, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held in the Superior Courtroom of the
Orange County Courthouse(New), 106 East Margaret Lane,Hillsborough,North Carolina,on Thursday,June 30, 1994
at 7:30 p.m.for the purpose of giving all interested citizens an opportunity to speak for or against the following items:
PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS
1. Minimum Lot Size in AR and R-1 Zoning Districts: All but 37% of the County's planning and zoning
jurisdiction is already zoned in a manner which requires a minimum lot size of two acres or more.This proposal
involves amendments to Articles 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 and would,if approved,change the minimum required lot area
per dwelling unit from 40,000 square feet (0.92 acres) to 87,120 square feet (2.0 acres) in AR Agricultural-
Residential and R-1 Rural Residential zoning districts. The net effect of the proposal is require a two-acre
minimum lot size in the remaining 37% of the County's jurisdiction.
The proposals are based, in part, on a Rural Character Study Committee recommendation that a minimum
average lot size of 80,000 square feet(1.84 acres)be established as the"baseline"zoning density for the rural
portions of the county. The proposed amendment would implement this recommendation but sets a higher
standard; e.g.,2.0 acres. A second reason for the two-acre standard is that studies of development between
1987 and 1991 have shown that lots created through the major subdivision approval process in rural portions
of the county have averaged approzimately two acres in size.
Citizens whose property is presently located in the Rural Buffer zoning district or a Protected
Watershed Overlay District which requires a minimum lot size of two acres or more would not
be affected by this proposal.
2. Density Avers This proposal involves an amendment to Article 6.2 and would, if approved, allow
developments to provide varying lot sizes so long as the overall density does not exceed one dwelling unit per
two acres (after excluding street rigl►ts-af:way) and no lot is less than 40,000 square feet in size.
3. Minimum Let Size In HYCO-PW and FLAT-PW Protected Watershed Overlay Districts: This
proposal inMOlves amendments to Article 6.23.2 to insure consistency between amendment #1 above and the
Protected Watershed Overlay Districts; e.g., the minimum lot size requirement in the Hyco Creek and Flat
River watersheds are increased from 40,000 square feet to two acres.
Citizens whose property is presently located In a Protected Watershed Overlay District which
requires a minimum lot size of two acres or more would not be affected by this proposal.
RURAL CHARACTER PRESERVATION STRATEGIES
Related to the above proposals are a variety of options recommended as methods by which to preserve rural character
and/or open space. Because of the number of available options, the Board of County Commissioners is focusing on
several basic issues and would like to receive citizen comment on the following:
1. Whether clustering is a desirable and marketable form of development;
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2. Whether a 50 percent open space requirement is appropriate, and how should open space be defined, and
3. Whether deneety bonuses should be provided as incentives for preserving open space.
Specific ordinance amendments are not being proposed. Comments received at the public hearing will be used to
developing specific rural character/open space preservation proposals.
Copies of the proposed text amendments and issue papers as described in this notice are available for public inspection
at the Orange County Planning Department.
All interested citizens are invited to attend this hearing and be heard. Public comment will be received during the
public hearing.Following the close of the public hearing,only evidence received in writing by the date of the Planning
Board meeting following the public hearing will be considered by the Board of Commissioners for decision.
Changes may be made in the advertised proposals which reflect debate, objections and discussion at the hearing.
Questions regarding the proposals may be directed to the Orange County Planning Department located in the Planning
and Agricultural Center,306F Revere Road,Hillsborough,North Carolina Office hours are from 8:00 am.to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday. You may also call 732-8181 (Hillsborough), 688-7331 (Durham), 967-9251 (Chapel Hill-
Carrboro) or 227-2031 (Mebane/Graham). Please ask for extension 2575 or 2585. You will be directed to a staff
member who will answer your questions
Marvin Collins, Planning Director
PUBLISH: June 15, 1994
June 22, 1994