Rural Setbacks agenda request

PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date:

Planning Commission

September 8, 2005

Staff Lead:

Department:

W. Todd Benson, Assistant Zoning Administrator

Community Development

Topic:

A Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Section 2-309 to Establish 100 Foot Buffers of Residential Uses, in Subdivisions Requiring Open Space, from Conservation Districts (RC), Agriculture Districts (RA), Rural Residential Districts (RR-2), and Residential-Village Districts (V)

Topic Description:

This text amendment is designed to increase buffering around rural districts (RA, RC, RR-2 and V), with the objective of protecting, for example, agricultural and associated uses from future development impacts of the adjoining residential districts.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

Conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of the attached Ordinance.

Financial Impact Analysis:

None

Summary Staff Report:

Property owner and citizen testimony at various public hearings regarding proposed rezoning, special exception and special permit applications has indicated that allowing more intensive residential development close to rural uses is disruptive and harmful to rural uses. Actual experiences on rural properties and animals have been presented. The purpose of this amendment is to require additional buffering around rural uses so as not to interfere with their continued viability. The amendment would require subdivisions with common open space requirements to use a portion of the open space to create a buffer adjacent rural districts.

This text amendment was initiated on June 28, 2005. On July 28, 2005, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended adoption of the amendment to the Board of Supervisors.