Current Interest Projects

Class B Special Use Permit - Hollow Rock Racquet and Swim Club


Orange County Planning staff has received a Class B Special Use Permit (SUP) application from Hollow Rock Racquet and Swim Club seeking permission to improve its facility at 5100 Erwin Road.

The property is further described as follows:

Parcel Identification Number (PIN)

0801-13-2925

Owner

Hollow Rock Racquet and Swim Club, Inc.

Address

5100 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27707

Acreage

+/- 9.29 acres in Orange County

+/- 5.51 acres in Durham County

Zoning (in Orange County)

Rural Buffer (RB)

Not in a protected or critical watershed


Hollow Rock is a member-owned recreational facility that offers year-round tennis, swim, fitness, and camp activities. It has been in operation since 1971, which predates
Orange County’s Special Use Permit requirements. However, in order to expand its facility on the Orange County side, Hollow Rock must meet current Orange County zoning
requirements. This requires obtaining a Class B Special Use Permit for a Recreational Facility.

The SUP application proposes the following improvements to the club:

  • Renovations to the clubhouse, which would not alter the building footprint or height;
  • Demolition of the wading pool and three fabric shade structures; and
  • Construction of the following features:
    • An accessible walk, ramp, and overhead canopy at the main entry;
    • A 750 sq. ft. concessions building with a trellis; and
    • A 675 sq. ft. open-air picnic shelter.

A Neighborhood Information Meeting (NIM) was held on Thursday, August 29th at the club. Prior to the meeting, Planning staff sent letters to all property owners within 1,000 feet
of the club property. The letters included project and meeting details.

The project is tentatively scheduled to go before the Board of Adjustment on Monday, October 14th. The Board of Adjustment will hold a quasi-judicial hearing before making a determination
to approve or deny the permit. The board will make its decision based only on substantial, material, and competent evidence submitted at the hearing. Members of the public are welcome to attend
the hearing, but only individuals with legal standing can submit evidence. Prior to the hearing, staff will send out notification letters to all property owners within 1,000 feet of the club property.

For more information on this project, please review the following documents:

NCDOT I-40 Widening Plans 

For more information please contact:

Nish Trivedi, Transportation Planner - 919-245-2582

Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor - 919-245-2579

Craig Benedict, Planning and Inspections Director - 919-245-2585            

   


Settlers Point


Settlers Point is a Master Plan Conditional Zoning District (MPD-CZ) approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at its January 23, 2018 regular meeting.  Minutes from this meeting can be accessed at the following link: http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=49911&dbid=0

The application involved the rezoning of approximately 195 acres of property:

From: Economic Development Hillsborough Limited Office (EDH-2) ; 
Economic Development Hillsborough Office/Retail (EDH-4) ; 
Economic Development Hillsborough Research and Manufacturing (EDH-5) ; 
Rural Residential (R-1) ; 
Major Transportation Corridor (MTC) Overlay District.

To: Master Plan Development Conditional Zoning (MPD-CZ) Settlers Point ; 
Major Transportation Corridor (MTC) Overlay District.

for a mixed use development proposing two development areas further identified as follows:

1. District 1 Light Industrial/Manufacturing and Research – The district is located west of Old NC 86 accessed via Service Road and south of Interstate 40 intended to provide for light industrial/manufacturing and research operations. 

The District is approximately 148 acres in area involving 2 parcels of property (PINs 9863-71-8857 and 9863-91-6573) and is depicted within the submitted application narrative as follows:

Map

2. District 2 Commercial – The district is located within the central most portion of the property, along    Interstate 40 intended to provide for high intensity office uses, retail, and services.

 The District is approximately 47 acres in area involving 8 parcels of property (PINs 9873-11-4636, 9873-11-5415, 9873-11-7506, 9873-11-9450, 9873-11-7247, 9873-10-7937, 9873-20-2388, and 9873-10-4310) and is depicted within the submitted application narrative as follows:

Map

Originally there was a third district planned, south of District 2.  This District was eliminated from the proposal at the request of the applicant.

Agenda materials from this meeting can be accessed utilizing the following link: http://www4.orangecountync.gov/weblink/0/doc/49647/Page1.aspx.   Agenda materials for the public hearing, held on November 14, 2017, where review of the project began can be accessed utilizing the following link: http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink8/0/doc/49440/Page1.aspx

The County’s approval of the project does not mean a developer can commence land disturbing activity immediately.  The approval merely rezoned the property to a new Master Plan Development Conditional Zoning district designation and established additional development requirements/conditions for the project.  Individual development(s) will have to obtain site plan approval by County Planning staff in accordance with the Unified Development Ordinance and applicable conditions imposed by the BOCC as part of the January 23, 2018 approval.

Relevant document(s)



Wild Flora Farm / Barn of Chapel Hill


  • On Oct. 13, 2017, Orange County Planning issued a final determination on the status of the Wild Flora Farm. Below are links to relevant documents, including the determination letter to the property owners. All documents are saved as PDFs.
  • February 16, 2018 Public Records Request – Barn of Chapel Hill:  County staff received a public records request concerning an appeal application for the Barn of Chapel Hill located at 7316 Morrow Mill Road (PIN 9729-50-7168).  The appeal application involves the final determination of the Planning Director, as articulated in an October 13, 2017 letter, concerning the aforementioned parcel of property located at the intersection of Morrow Mill and Millikan Roads owned/operated by Southeast Property Group LLC (a.k.a. Wild Flora Farm) care of Ms. Kara Brewer.  The review of this item includes the Board reviewing/acting on a request from the applicant to issue subpoenas compelling the submittal of information deemed essential to the proceeding.    The following represents the County’s response to this request.  Please note it does not contain the staff prepared abstract for the Board of Adjustment, which has not been completed as of March 5, 2018.  This item will be posted on the Orange County website, under the Board of Adjustment tab on the Planning Department webpage, once completed.

  • Appeal of subpoenas issues by the Board of Adjustment – Late on July 5, 2018 County staff was notified, via e-mail, the Board of Adjustment’s decision to issue subpoenas for information concerning the Barn of Chapel Hill had been appealed to Superior Court.

  • Subpoena Response

  • Motion to Quash and Modify

    • Background:  At its May 7, 2018 regular meeting the Board of Adjustment began review of an appeal involving a determination made by the Orange County Planning Department concerning the Barn of Chapel Hill Property.  This appeal included requests, submitted by the applicant’s attorney, that the Board issue subpoenas to the following entities:
1.        Southeast Property Group, LLC,
2.        Wild Flora Farms, LLC,
3.        The Barn of Chapel Hill, LLC,
4.        Kara Brewer a/k/a Kara M. Brewer, and
5.        Chris Brewer

requesting information submitted/caused to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Revenue and/or to Orange County regarding alleged eligibility/compliance with the provisions of N.C.G.S. 153-340, 105-164.13E(a), 105-277.3. 
A copy of the issued subpoenas can be access here: Subpoenas

  • As a reminder the appeal is related to an October 12, 2017 determination made by staff a structure located on the aforementioned property is classified as a bona fide farm purpose pursuant to the provisions of NCGS 153A-340 (b) (2a) and is not subject to the land use regulations as embodied within the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

  • The Board issued the requested subpoenas and asked for all requested documents be submitted at the July 9, 2018 regular meeting.  The Board of Adjustment is scheduled to continue the hearing at its August 13, 2018 regular meeting.

  • As indicated this decision (i.e. to issue the subpoenas) has been appealed to Orange County Superior Court.  Please note County staff has no involvement with the review of this request through the court system and cannot offer updates on when said appeal will be heard or acted upon.  Additional information shall be posted when it becomes available.

  • Public Statement on Wild Flora Farm LLC / Southeast Property Group LLC continued enforcement efforts

  • On August 9, 2019 the following court document was filed entitled, “Petitioners Notice of Voluntary Dismissal without Prejudice”. Those interested in the notice can read the document below and the related letter from Orange County Planning Department dated April 22, 2019 entitled, “Zoning Determination”.


Holly Creek Lane - Operation of a Recreational Facility


  • County staff received a public records request concerning the on-going review of the purported operation of a Recreational Facility, specifically a cricket league.  The parcel, further identified utilizing Orange County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 9758-52-5171, is an approximately 16 acre parcel of property located at the intersection of Old Greensboro Highway and Holly Creek lane within the Bingham Township of Orange County. 
  • The use of a parcel of property for personal recreational activities is not prohibited.  In those instances where a recreational land use is open to members of the general public for some form of compensation, a Class B Special Use Permit is required allowing for the activity to occur in accordance with the provisions of the Orange County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 
  • Staff determined in the fall of 2017 a Class B Special Use Permit (hereafter ‘SUP’) would be required to allow for cricket events to occur on the property as these events were part of a formal league operating within the area.  The property owner has been in contact with staff on the possible appeal of this determination as well as requesting information on the submittal and processing of a SUP application allowing for the cricket matches, connected to a league, to continue from the property.  The file (171 pages) represents all correspondence on this matter.  As of April 2, 2018 no appeal or SUP application have been submitted to the County for processing.


NC-54 Corridor


  • The NC-54 corridor between Old Fayetteville Road in Carrboro and I-85 in Graham is currently being studied. This is being conducted through a cooperative, comprehensive and continuing transportation planning process involving multiple agencies some of which include:
    • North Carolina Department of Transportation
    • Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization
    • Triangle Area Regional Planning Organization
    • Orange County
    • Alamance County
    • City of Graham
    • Town of Carrboro
  • Join in the planning for this important regional corridor at http://www.nc54west.com/
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