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RESOURCES PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT <br />GOAL: Implement watershed protection standards and classifications to insure high quality water <br />resources in Orange County. <br />- -Eno River Corridor <br />Coordinate with Eno River Association to define water quality and natural area/open <br />space values in central Orange. <br />Add OBJECTIVE: <br />Continue refinement of Environment and Resource Conservation Department. <br />— Create steering committee of boards involved to share information and coordinate policy <br />objectives. <br />-- Consider creation and placement of mechanism for first - response focus on matters of <br />immediate environmental degradation (improper timbering, filling of floodplains, etc.) <br />RURAL CHARACTER PRESERVATION <br />GOAL: Prepare /resolve strategies and ordinances to preserve rural character <br />-- Review Rural Character Study for current applicability. <br />a. In keeping with review of Rural Character Study, ask Planning Board and staff to <br />address failure of flexible open space ordinance to provide meaningful, contiguous open space, <br />and to exact sufficient balancing community benefits for provision of development incentives. <br />OBJECTIVE 1: Adoption of the Rural Buffer Conceptual Guidelines. <br />b. Initiate decade - delayed refinement of Rural Buffer Conceptual Guidelines. Issues <br />identified in 1988 included owner equity, septic system monitoring. Refer to Rural Character <br />Study. Possible outcome: seek grant funding to perfect mechanisms to defeat sprawl and create <br />sustainable development with protected open space. <br />GOAL: Develop a comprehensive voluntary farmland preservation program <br />for Orange County <br />ADD OBJECTIVE: <br />Facilitate more involvement by, and communication with, farm community. <br />-- Easement purchase program <br />Examine criteria for purchase of easements recommended by Ag Districts Advisory <br />Board to assure they achieve multiple objectives (in watershed critical area, riparian rights, <br />identified significant natural area) <br />-- Rename Ag Districts Advisory Board to reflect wider concerns <br />(Agriculture Preservation Commission) <br />-- Review need for, name and characteristics of, Rural Education Center <br />a. Farmer's market <br />b. Livestock scales <br />c. Meeting space <br />d. Consolidation of services <br />e. Space limitations at planning building <br />f. Demonstration projects <br />- -Advance board diversity <br />Make appointments on advisory boards to consciously include broader representation of <br />rural areas, particularly in realms of obvious interest (economic development, planning, parks, <br />environment, OWASA) <br />-- Initiate annual O.Co. Agricultural Summit <br />