Title
Legislative Public Hearing on a Land Use Ordinance Text Amendment Relating to the Office-Residential Mixed Use (OR-MU) Zoning District
PURPOSE: To request that the Town Council consider an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance to add density and dimensional standards for residential uses in the OR-MU district. A draft ordinance has been prepared; the Town Council must receive public comment before taking action on a legislative matter.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X_ Comprehensive Plan __X_ Other
Council Direction Statement
The Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan includes recommendations for staff to simplify and clarify the Land Use Ordinance. While the New Unified Development Ordinance (New UDO) project is underway, opportunities remain to add clarity to the existing development regulations and support opportunities for residents to reasonably develop and add residential density to properties zoned OR-MU - which are exclusively within Downtown Carrboro. Climate Action and Racial Equity pocket questions have been provided as attachments F & G.
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INFORMATION:
Information
The OR-MU district was originally established for a development proposal involving the construction of a multi-family residential apartment project by the STGL ownership group at the eastern edge of Downtown Carrboro. Seeking opportunities to include commercial uses in the project and/or future projects in the area, the Town established the OR-MU district and subsequently applied the new zoning classification to an area along the west side of Merritt Mill Road. While the STGL project did not move forward, the zoning designation has remained in place. The zoning map amendment and language establishing the OR-MU District was approved on June 20, 2006. Information can be found at the following links:
• Agenda Item Abstract: BOARD OF ALDERMEN <http://www01.townofcarrboro.org/BoA/Agendas/2006/06_20_2006_D4.pdf>
• Attachments (Previous Meeting Minutes): 06_20_2006_D4A.pdf <http://www01.townofcarrboro.org/BoA/Agendas/2006/06_20_2006_D4A.pdf>
As much of the focus of the new district was on commercial and mixed-use development opportunities, the adopted OR-MU language did not speak to allowances for residential-only uses such as new construction or additions to existing homes, nor did it include appropriate density and dimensional standards for such projects. This inadvertent gap in the existing language was brought to light when staff received an inquiry from a property owner in the OR-MU district seeking to build an accessory dwelling unit. Following the provisions in Section 15-321(a) of the Land Use Ordinance, planning staff have prepared a draft text amendment to add appropriate standards for residential-only uses in the OR-MU district, in keeping with the original intension of the district.
The Town Council must receive public comment before adopting an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance. The draft ordinance was referred to Orange County and presented to the Planning Board on February 19th. Comments are provided (Attachment E).
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: Advertisement costs and staff time are associated with the consideration of text amendments for public hearings and advisory board review.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council receive public input and consider adopting the resolution for consistency (Attachment A) and the draft ordinance (Attachment B).
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