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Collins indicated the PID zoning district is one designated.-~ <br />for lands which are in public ownership. It also addresses <br />private lands which represent designated open space areas such <br />as the Duke Forest holdings. The minimum lot size requirement <br />within the PID district is 400,000 square feet (approximately <br />five (5) acres. Planning Staff would recommend seeking <br />application of the PID district throughout the County. <br />7. Initiate a Purchase of Development Rights program by author- <br />izing the Planning Department to prepare an Implementation <br />Plan. <br />Collins explained that acquisition of development rights means <br />that the County would seek to acquire development rights for <br />individual property owners far their property in such a manner <br />that a lower density than permitted would be achieved. The <br />County would compensate the property owner for the acquisition <br />of the development rights. <br />8. Pursue special legislation to allow Transfer of Development <br />Rights. <br />Collins explained that for each individual property within an <br />area there is a value placed on those development rights which <br />may be on an acreage or per lot basis and the value is <br />assigned by the County working with the individual property <br />owners. The rights are then transferred to another portion of <br />the County. Receiving areas are identified. He noted that <br />this program had been a success program in Montgomery County, <br />Maryland in relation to agricultural preservation. He also <br />noted it had been successful in the Pinelands of New Jersey <br />for environmental protection as well as agriculture <br />preservation. <br />9. Amend Cluster Development provisions to encourage its use. <br />Collins stated that this would promote the provision of open <br />space in the Rural Buffer. - <br />10. Collect additional data on: <br />a. environmentally significant areas; <br />b. septic system failures; <br />c. techniques to maintain visual quality. <br />Collins indicated a more in-depth study should be done to more <br />accurately determine the situation with septic tank failures. <br />The need for an inventory of environmentally sensitive areas <br />in Orange County has also been indicated. <br />Planning Staff also feels the need for a study to ascertain <br />the visual characteristics of the area and what design <br />standards could be implemented in order to maintain that <br />visual quality. <br />Commissioner Hartwell asked if a mechanism was in place to tax the <br />property owner at a lower tax rate after having sold development rights. <br />:ollins responded that the impact aspect would be reviewed as a part of the <br />authorization to prepare an implementation plan. Hartwell indicated that <br />Forsyth County has an implementation plan whereby only the County is <br />allowed to purchase development rights and the property owner is taxed at <br />