Shaping Orange County's Future Final Full Report

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GRoWTHAND DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN TRANSITIONAREAS Villages have been the focus of growth in the town transition areas, which are areas planned for incorporation, and that have become incorporated into town boundaries. Growth has been incremental and carefully planned with extensive citizen input. The villages have been designed to complement the historic and cultural character of their locations. They are pedestrian - friendly and are formed around a central mixed -use area with commercial, industrial, institutional and residential uses, a village square, a transit center (where appropriate), and a multi- use community center, decreasing the need for automobile use. Multi -use centers serve as schools, community centers, senior centers, senior care facilities, adult learning centers, child care facilities, health clinics, libraries, and provide office and meeting space for government and volunteer organizations. Thus the multi- use center is a focus for community services, cultural activities and community life. Each village has a mixture of housing types and is socio -economically diverse. Incentives promote the development of affordable and disabled accessible housing. Villages are developed through citizen and stakeholder input, to design communities that grow in measured steps. Through consensus, a people- centered design has been developed that sets broad parameters for development, with local builders and architects having flexibility to design and build an architecturally diverse mixture of buildings that complement the character of the area within these guidelines. The result has been development of highly diverse communities having a genuine sense of place and close -knit community atmosphere. Each village has a boundary to limit its expansion and incorporate 50% open space within each boundary. Public transit connects villages and towns. Each village center has a multi -modal Transit Distribution Center with bus service, park and ride, pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and van/car pool lanes. Paratransit for persons with disabilities has improved and expanded in rural areas to serve all who need it. GRoWTHANDDEvEwpmENT INRURAL AREAS Development of Small Area Plans for the county's five identified rural community centers (Caldwell, Carr, Cedar Grove, Schley, and White Cross) is encouraged. Each of these has served historically as a center for services to local rural populations and a focus for community activity. The creation of "hamlets" in these locations — small- scale, non water and sewer dependent development - is supported to provide an expanded mix of housing, local commercial enterprises and community services that enhance rather than destroy the community character of these places.