Agenda - 02-07-2012 - 7d - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapter 5: Land Use Element 4„ There are, however, positive signs of community commitment to land and watershed preservation with Orange County establishing a Lands Legacy Program and the Triangle Land Conservancy increasing the acreage it owns in the County. In addition, private land owners have taken positive steps towards protecting environmental resources through the provision of conservation easements. By the end of 2007, a total of 20,400 acres (8% of the County) were protected through various public and private means. One of the goals of the Plan is to protect 10% of lands in the County by 2010. Even if this goal is achieved, more will need to be done to protect the integrity of the natural landscape in Orange County. Given the forecasts for continued growth in development in the County, land planning efforts will need to direct growth to designated areas and away from prime natural areas. TRANSPORTATION TRENDS The County's population has become increasingly dependent on the automobile for transportation. Since 1990, approximately 70% of the County's workforce has driven alone to work each day, with an average 22 minute commute. Looking at travel data, the North Carolina Department of Transportation expects that the total daily vehicle miles traveled will increase from 2000 to 2015 by 51%. County vehicle registrations increased by 33% between 1990 and 2005, showing that more and more cars are driving on County roads. This increased travel has, in turn, increased vehicle emissions in the County. In 2004, Orange County was declared part of a "non-attainment” area by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal ozone standards. In late 2007, however, the EPA approved a request from the State to redesignate the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area to "attainment" and it is now in a maintenance program to follow a State plan for maintaining the ozone standard through 2017. The increase in vehicle use has contributed to impaired local air quality and increased traffic congestion. Changing these trends will require coordinated planning efforts, both locally and regionally, to provide alternative means of transportation. DEVELOPMENT CONSTRAINTS In addition to regulatory constraints to development, such as zoning regulations that limit densities and use types in certain zoning districts, Orange County's physical features, including topography, suitability of soils, and drainage areas or floodplains serve as constraints on future development in some areas of the County. Map 5-8 illustrates the locations of these development constraints. Some of these areas are also identified on the Future Land Use Plan Map 5-4, shown previously, as Resource Protection Areas. The construction and engineering industries have seen great improvements in building technologies over the last few decades. Natural development constraints that would once prohibit development from occurring can now be overcome through new building materials and engineering designs. In response, the County has been very successful at regulating development to reduce soil erosion, sedimentation, and stormwater flows from new developments, and is seen as a leader in the state in terms of watershed protection. These efforts should be continued into the future. Ora vtgw,Coi,*ity Coinprahetvs,ive Flaw Page 5-32