HomeMy WebLinkAboutOTHER-2025-042-Application for Zoning Atlas Amendment – 1125 New Grady Brown School Road Hillsborough, Hillsborough Township � Tff.Erll ate .. Ci 7i Ll 3 �a �
Attachment 7
STATEMENT OF CONSISTENCY
OF A PROPOSED ZONING ATLAS MAP AMENDMENT
WITH THE ADOPTED ORANGE COUNTY 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
A County- initiated amendment to the Zoning Atlas has been reviewed to rezone a parcel as
follows :
Parcel Owner of
Identification Township Current Zoning Proposed Zoning
Number ( PIN ) Record
■ Rural Residential ( R- 1 ) NR- CD ( Non - Residential
■ Lower Eno ■
Unprotected Conditional District)
9863 -28 - 1858 Hillsborough Orange Watershed Lower Eno Unprotected
County Watershed
Major Transportation
Corridor Overlay Major Transportation
District Corridor Overlay District
The Board of County Commissioners hereby finds :
a . The requirements of Section 2 . 8 Zoning Atlas and Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO) Amendments and 2 . 9 . 1 Conditional Districts of the UDO have been reviewed and
the following standards conditions have been deemed acceptable :
1 . The property shall be developed consistent with the reviewed site plan and
application as acted upon by the Orange County Board of Commissioners on June 3 ,
2025 .
2 . The applicant will provide a single boundary survey of the high school property to
replace the four currently recorded . The road R . O . W. internal to the campus that runs
perpendicular to New Grady Brown School Road will be abandoned . The survey will
be completed and recorded with a revised deed no later than 18 months from zoning
approval .
3 . The applicant proposes a 30 ' - 0 " wide pedestrian easement along Orange Grove
Road and a portion of New Grady Brown School Road (to provide a pedestrian
connection from this intersection to the school ) . The site plan dated 2/ 12/2025 shows
it behind the existing buffers ; however, the final location is to be determined and is
contingent on the approval of the Orange County School Board ,
4 . The applicant proposes two future development areas as shown on site plan C2 . 0
dated 2/ 12/2025 , A . Area in northwest corner of existing site ; and B . Area on the east
side of existing site . Proposed future development contained within these areas shall
follow the Non - Residential Zoning Compliance Permit process .
b . Pursuant to Sections 1 . 1 . 5 Statement of Intent - Amendments , and 1 . 1 . 7 Conformance
with Adopted Plans of the UDO and to Section 160D -604 (d ) Planning Board review and
comment — Plan Consistency and 160D-605 ( a ) Governing Board Statement — Plan
Consistency of the North Carolina General Statutes , the Board finds sufficient
documentation within the record denoting that the amendment is consistent with the
adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan .
c . The amendment is consistent with applicable plans because it supports the following :
■ Planning Principle 1 . Efficient and Fiscally Responsible Provision of Public Facilities
and Services: Orange County's public facilities and services should be delivered in a
manner that efficiently uses existing capacity. Expansions of facilities and services
should be made only after careful consideration of the costs and benefits of
expansion .
Staff Comment : Not applicable .
■ Planning Principle 2 . Sustainable Growth and Development : Growth and development
within the county should occur in a pattern, location, and density that is sustainable
over the long-term .
Staff Comment : The proposed NR-CD zoning district for School : Preparatory use is
consistent with the 10 -Year Transition Land Use Classification (Appendix F
Relationships Between Land Use Classifications and Zoning Districts) . The existing
land use has operated at this site since 2001 . The proposed project will remain limited
to the property and will not result in additional impacts to the surrounding parcels .
Approval of the proposed zoning atlas amendment will bring the existing school site
into compliance with the UDO and allow for improvements ( i . e . accessory structures ,
expansions , etc . ) in the areas identified for future development . The proposed School :
Preparatory use is permitted in the NR- CD zoning district , complies with the UDO
standards , and meets the standards of evaluations as reviewed by the Planning
Board .
■ Planning Principle 3A . Encouragement of Energy Efficiency , Lower Energy
Consumption , and the Use of Non - Polluting Renewable Energy Resource :
Decreasing the use of non -renewable resources and lowering energy consumption
are encouraged in both public and private activities. The county's transportation
system should be enhanced to promote more energy efficient modes of travel and
improve air quality.
Staff Comment : Not applicable .
■ Planning Principle 4 . Natural Area Resource Protection : Protection of the County 's
natural areas, including forests, wildlife habitat, and other important open spaces
should be a priority. The County should work with regional and local organizations,
the towns, and private landowners to promote and achieve preservation of the
County's important natural resources.
Staff Comment : The applicant provided an Environmental Assessment and a
Biological Inventory as part of the application package . Staff has reviewed and
determined no significant environmental impact is expected from this project based
on existing conditions . Required landscape buffers are provided along New Grady
Brown School Road and Orange Grove Road . In addition , existing landscape is
maintained along the entire perimeter of the site . The project protects the existing
stream on site with required stream buffering .
■ Planning Principle 5 . Preservation of Rural Land Use Pattern : The County's rural
areas are a cherished component of the County's character. Future development
should preserve and enhance the county's rural landscape .
Staff Comment : The 2030 Comprehensive Plan , Appendix G , Land Use Classification
and Overlay Locational Criteria , identifies 10-Year Transition in the Comprehensive
Plan as areas changing from rural to urban in form and density . No additional impacts
( i . e . noise , traffic , lighting ) shall result from the proposal . Existing landscaping is to
remain on -site acting as a buffer to adjacent properties and minimizing impacts to the
adjacent parcels .
■ Planning Principle 6 . Water Resources Preservation : The County has finite water
resources to provide to future populations. The protection and management of the
County's water resources should be a high priority.
Staff Comment : The existing school is connected to public water and wastewater
service . No additional utilities are proposed . The project will continue to protect the
existing stream onsite .
■ Planning Principle 7 . Promotion of Economic Prosperity and Diversity : Development
of a diversity of new businesses and expansion of existing businesses should occur in
Orange County.
Staff Comment : Not applicable .
■ Planning Principle 8 . Preservation of Community Character : Future growth and
development should occur in a manner that preserves and enhances the existing
character of the County, its townships, and rural crossroads communities.
Staff Comment : The project proposes development which is consistent with the
existing high school . The existing school is appropriately located within the 10 -year
Transition area , as defined in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan . The site is surrounded
by low density residential uses , undeveloped parcels , and the Interstate 40 corridor .
No additional traffic , lighting , or noise will occur from the proposed project . As a
result , no additional offsite impacts will result . The proposal shall not create a conflict
with the adjacent low density rural residential uses and undeveloped properties .
■ Land Use Overarching Goal : Coordination of the amount, location, pattern, and
designation of future land uses, with availability of County services and facilities
sufficient to meet the needs of Orange County's population and economy consistent
with other Comprehensive Plan element goals and objectives.
Staff Comment : The proposal , as proposed and limited by the application and site
plan , is consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan ' s stated goals . The application
proposes to bring the existing school site into compliance with the UDO and allow for
future development . The existing high school has been operating on this parcel since
2001 , serving the needs of the County . The proposal will not change the existing use
of the parcel and will allow the school to continue to serve Orange County residents .
The proposed project shall remain compatible with minimal negative impacts to the
immediate area .
■ Land Use Goal 2 : Land uses that are appropriate to on -site environmental conditions
and features, and that protect natural resources, cultural resources, and community
character.
Staff Comment : The proposed use meets all UDO standards for buffering and
screening , as well as the applicable erosion control and stormwater regulations .
There is no proposed activity in the stream buffer area .
■ Land Use Goal 3 : A variety of land uses that are coordinated within a program and
pattern that limits sprawl, preserves community and rural character, minimizes land
use conflicts, supported by an efficient and balanced transportation system .
Staff Comment : The existing use is consistent with the future land use classification
allowed by the 2030 Comprehensive Plan , Appendix F ; and is consistent with the
land use allowances for the 10-Year Transition . No additional traffic , lighting , or noise
will occur from the proposed project . In addition , existing landscaping and land use
buffers will remain . Standards contained in the UDO , including landscaping and
setbacks , will continue to allow the use to be buffered from neighbors and prevent
negative impacts . The site shall be developed with all applicable development
standards from the UDO in order to protect neighboring residential properties and
minimize land use conflicts .
■ Land Use Goal 6 : A land use planning process that is transparent, fair, open,
efficient, and responsive .
Staff Comment : The Orange County staff has noticed the public regarding this
application , as required by Sections 2 . 8 . 7 , 2 . 9 . 1 ( D ) , and 2 . 9 . 2 of the LIDO , including a
required Neighborhood Information Meeting , mailings to neighboring property
owners , posting of the property , and advertisement in the local newspapers .
Additionally , staff have provided all application documents on the Active Development
Projects webpage .
■ Appendix F , Land Use Classification Description for Rural Buffer : Only very low
density residential, agricultural uses exempt from zoning regulations, and low-
intensity agricultural support uses are appropriate in the Rural Buffer.
Staff Comment : The existing school use is consistent with the allowable future land
uses within the designated 10 -Year Transition " land use classification of the 2030
Comprehensive Plan .
a . The amendment is reasonable and in the public interest because it furthers the goals of
the adopted Comprehensive Plan and is located in an area designated on the Future Land
Use Map as I O0 Year Transition . "
The Board of County Commissioners adopts this Statement of Consistency and the findings
expressed herein .
Vote : (o For, DAgainst
Q410 V X� O/T
Jamez a Be4ford , Chaef Date