Staff recommends denial of the plan, because the plan does not comply with current buffer requirements. Staff does not support the request to reduce required buffers for the following reasons:

• An opaque buffer cannot be established in less than 20' to 25' of buffer width and be expected to perform as required.
• The natural forest area comprising the 50' buffer provides sound deflection for the Temple, as well as for existing single-family dwellings in the area. Therefore, the buffer should not be reduced in width.
• The proposed parking expansion east of Old Pittsboro Road in the vicinity of the Temple could be located on ample undeveloped Temple property west of Old Pittsboro Road on.
• Given the amount of property available for development and the fact that no development plan has been submitted for the property west of Old Pittsboro Road, staff feels there is no justification for consideration of reducing buffers. Vacant property owned by the Temple is available for development and should be utilized for parking expansion in a manner that would eliminate the need for consideration of buffer reductions.

The staff originally approved the SRI Temple site plan on June 29, 2001. The plan consisted of a request to refurbish an existing dwelling containing 1,500 square feet into a place of worship, to install a parking lot, and roadway improvements to Old Pittsboro Road. The Temple is located on the eastern side of Old Pittsboro Road and also owns property on the western side of Old Pittsboro Road. The Temple would be constructing an entrance drive to the Temple from Chapel Hill Road and temporary parking off the entrance drive near the Temple location. (This new entrance drive would replace Old Pittsboro Road as the primary entrance for the Temple.) The property owned by the Temple west of Old Pittsboro Road is reserved as the future site of a permanent Temple location. The original approved plan provided for 42 permanent parking spaces at the Temple and 31 temporary grass parking spaces along the new entrance drive west of Old Pittsboro Road. Excluding the construction of a new entrance drive and temporary parking, no additional development on the property west of Old Pittsboro Road is contemplated at this time. The original approved plan for the Temple complied with all buffer requirements.

0754.12-76-8450

0754.12-76-7488

0754.12-76-6696

0048724

0235507

0005939

2.00

0.31

3.18

Current Zoning: Both properties east and west of Old Pittsboro Road are zoned Residential-30 (R-30).

Overlay District: N/A

Town Limits: The property east of Old Pittsboro Road is inside Cary's town limits.

Land Use Compliance: Low to medium density residential.

The plan proposes to reduce a 50' opaque buffer to a 10' buffer along the southern property line, where the site adjoins an existing railroad line.

Staff does not support the proposed buffer reductions for the following reasons:

• An opaque buffer cannot be established in less than 20' to 25' of buffer width and be expected to perform as required.
• The natural forest area comprising the 50' buffer provides sound deflection for the Temple, as well as for existing single-family dwellings in the area.
• The proposed parking expansion east of Old Pittsboro Road in the vicinity of the Temple could be located on ample undeveloped property west of Old Pittsboro Road.
• Given the amount of property available for development and the fact that no development plan has been submitted for the property west of Old Pittsboro Road, staff feels there is no justification for consideration of reducing buffers. Vacant property owned by the Temple is available for development and should be utilized for parking expansion in a manner that would eliminate the need for consideration of buffer reductions.

The building would remain as previously approved. A one-story ranch dwelling, containing 1,500 square feet converted into a place of worship. The Temple would maintain the original exterior materials and colors.

No roadway improvements are proposed or required as part of this parking lot expansion site plan. The previously approved site plan for SRI Temple did incorporate the Chapel Hill Road widening and right-of-way dedication necessary to meet Town of Cary Thoroughfare Plan requirements.

This project has addressed all of the requirements of the stormwater section of the Town of Cary.

Staff received two responses: one from an individual seeking general information as to what was proposed, who did not voice an opinion; one from an individual whose property adjoins the vacant Temple property, who voiced a concern with both the proposed reduction in the southern 50' buffer and the additional noise that would be generated from the railroad by a buffer reduction.