Shaping Orange County's Future Final Full Report

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The other rural areas of the county allow for large -lot development of three acres (or more in designated water supply watersheds) lots. When zonings were changed, provisions were made for the creation of up to five lots at the previous zoning. These rural areas also contain the "receiving areas" for a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program for the purpose of farmland, natural area, and other land conservation. The TDR program allows landowners to transfer the right to develop one parcel of land to a different parcel of land. It protects natural areas and farmland by shifting development from these areas to areas planned for growth. When the development rights are transferred from a piece of property, the land is restricted with a permanent conservation easement. Buying development rights allows landowners to build at a higher density than ordinarily permitted by the base zoning. CONSER VA TION OF NA TURAL AREAS AND OPEN SPA CE A "green infrastructure" made up of parks, natural areas, wildlife corridors, farms and other open space exists. Recognizing the need to protect land for different purposes, some lands are preserved for resource or endangered species protection, and human use is not allowed or is restricted. Other lands are designated for human use and activity for recreation or for work such as farming and timbering. The county's Natural Areas Inventory and other subsequent assessments have been used to prioritize land acquisition objectives. The amount of open space preserved in R.ural Oran ge County in 2030 perpetuity has increased dramatically over the past 30 ears through acquisition of land and development has a network of permanently Y g q p rights. Farmland has been voluntarily preserved through r eserved natural areas, wildlife incentives, such as tax relief, and through initiatives, corridors and open sczce. such as a voluntary Purchase of Development Rights program. Sustainability has become a way of life for all landowners, whether their holdings are large farms, forest tracts, or quarter acre lots with small gardens and yards. In each case owners take pride in careful management of the natural resources on their property. They enjoy its use in their lifetimes knowing they will leave the land's value in place for the next generations.