Agenda - 04-14-1999 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Goal Synthesis - The Overall Vision The SOCF Task Force envisions Orange County in the future with sustainable economic development that is equitable for all citizens, and conserves and improves the environment. People will be able to live in dignity in an affordable community with commercial, industrial, and agricultural opportunities, and we will seek to understand the relationship between human activity and natural resources. The major institutions, towns, county and the Triangle region will work in conjunction to plan for growth, resource protection, and area quality of life. The historic and social character of our towns will be maintained. Each town will continue to have a thriving business economy. The focus of economic development will be on encouraging and supporting a diversity of businesses that provide quality jobs paying a living wage and that conform to and promote the community's sustainability goals. The towns' historic neighborhoods will be preserved and new neighborhoods will offer a variety of development choices that include a range of affordable housing and are designed with goals of integrating people's needs to live, work, shop and socialize, and decreasing auto - dependency in mind. Increasing opportunities for people to use public and alternative transportation (i.e. bicycling, walking) will help. to alleviate traffic and air quality issues. Our transportation planning will be community- oriented and take into account the environmental and economic impacts of different methods. An effective and efficient transportation system will help link people in rural communities with jobs in towns, and will be a large incentive to limit auto use and commute by public and alternative transit. Incentives will be provided to cluster rural growth around transit corridor nodes. The County will institute a program to protect critical natural areas and farmland through incentives to landowners. County-scale patterns of development will encourage the maintenance of natural areas and large inter- connected open space designed to protect critical habitat, wetlands, and land for recreational and visual enjoyment through the encouragement of denser development in the towns and clustering of development in rural areas. The County will still maintain a vital and thriving farm community that will be a significant contributor to local food consumption and the local economy. The water quality of all streams in the County will be at least as good as it is in 1999, and the Eno River will still be home to several rare species of fresh water mussels. Availability and quality of surface and groundwater drinking supplies will be integrated into planning for development. Orange County will be a place that includes cultural diversity, addresses human rights and relations issues, and builds and sustains a strong sense of community. The County will be able to provide health and human services for all of its citizens. Our community will work to eliminate substandard housing, homelessness, child abuse, drug abuse, and poverty. The County will have a vibrant community life spurred by UNC, area arts, multi-cultural. diversity, recreational opportunities, and active citizen participation. Our community will have fair, accountable, representative governing bodies that encourage all citizens to participate in decision - making. Local governments will be fiscally responsible and use tax dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible, and work inter jurisdictionally in a coordinated fashion. We envision Orange County in the future without underemployment and illiteracy. Our community will provide quality educational opportunities to meet the needs of all of its citizens throughout their lives. Our school systems will be models for the State in providing challenging learning environments and focusing on meeting the needs of each student.