Orange County NC Website
Chapter 5: Land Use Element <br /> 4.y <br /> use policies, plans, regulations and ordinances. And it is this Comprehensive Plan <br /> and implementation of its objectives that will guide the development of Orange <br /> County's future land use ordinances, regulations, and a coordinated land use plan <br /> that is based on community values. <br /> Much has been accomplished in planning for future land use patterns in Orange <br /> County, but more needs to be done. Specific needs follow: <br /> • The County's Future Land Use Warr Map needs to be updated <br /> and re-drawn to reflect current policies and plans, to provide <br /> guidance and information to residents and property owners. The <br /> revised Future Land Use Wain Map needs to be drawn to include the <br /> following: <br /> — Chapel Hill-Carrboro,joint Planning Area Land Use Plan; <br /> — Hillsborough-Orange County Strategic Plan; <br /> — Most Current Economic Development Districts; <br /> — Most Current Rural Activity Nodes and other growth <br /> opportunity areas; <br /> — Most Current Inventory of Natural and Cultural <br /> Resources; and <br /> — Identification of Preservation Areas. <br /> ■ Inter-local Agreements are needed between the County and the <br /> Towns of Hillsborough and Mebane, similar to the agreements <br /> with Chapel Hill and Carrboro, to jointly plan for and regulate <br /> development on the edges of those municipalities. <br /> ■ Following updates to the Future Land Use Map, the County's <br /> Zoning Unified Development Ordinance will need to be <br /> assessed for necessary adjustments. These zoning changes <br /> should encourage meeting the objectives that promote <br /> sustainability including mixed-use development patterns, <br /> transportation linkages, economic development, and diversity in <br /> housing opportunities. <br /> • Adjust zoning regulations and apply zoning categories in <br /> preservation areas to discourage intensive and unsustainable <br /> development. <br /> • Continue to study mechanisms for transfer of development <br /> rights from preservation areas to areas targeted for growth. <br /> • The County needs to refine policies to encourage green building <br /> practices for public and private construction projects. This may <br /> entail an assessment of current building codes and development <br /> ordinances to identify barriers to using green construction <br /> practices, and/or creating incentives for private developers to use <br /> more environmentally friendly construction and demolition <br /> techniques. Deconstruction for the purpose of reuse is preferred <br /> over demolition. <br /> 0ra4i#e,Cou*ity Co-mprehe wive Plate Page 5-38 <br />