TITLE
Vote on a request from the Chatham County Planning Board and Environmental Review Advisory Committee to schedule a public hearing to consider amendments to the conservation subdivision standards in the Subdivision Regulations and Conservation Subdivision Guidelines for Conservation Space Selection.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Consider a request from the Chatham County Planning Board and Environmental Review Advisory Committee to schedule a public hearing to consider amendments to the conservation subdivision standards in the Subdivision Regulations and Conservation Subdivision Guidelines for Conservation Space Selection.
Introduction & Background:
The conservation subdivision option was adopted in 2008 and provides a 10-15% density bonus for the preservation of a minimum of 40% of the site as conservation space. The first conservation subdivisions were approved in 2014 (The Retreat at Haw River and US Steel) and one of those subdivisions has been constructed. Four additional conservation subdivisions (Ryan's Crossing, Firmage, Morgan Ridge Phase 2 and McBane) have been approved since 2014. One of those (Firmage) was an administrative approval which is allowed for conservation subdivisions of 15 or fewer lots. Currently, two conservation subdivision applications have been submitted to the county and are under review (Savannah Ridge and The Conservancy at Jordan Lake) and staff is working with applicants on 4 more conservation subdivisions (Pyewacket, Tripp property, Hamlets Chapel property, and 15-501 property).
Discussion & Analysis:
There was a six-year gap between adoption of the conservation subdivision option and approval of the first subdivisions under this provision in 2014 and it has been used more frequently since then. As a result of the increased use of this option, the Planning Board and Environmental Review Advisory Committee have identified sections of the regulations they think need to be amended. Staff has also identified parts of the sta...
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