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