Orange County NC Website
environmental resources. Limiting growth potential does provide amulti-faceted (i.e., resource <br />and fiscal} sustainability tool. <br />10. Q: How is growth potential limited? <br />A: Growth can be regulated, managed and limited by: zoning (land use overlays); <br />adequate public facility ordinances; and lowering housing density {i.e., reducing how many units <br />per acre}. <br />(b] Medium Growth (2.6% per year] <br />Unincorporated - 721 people (307 units) per year <br />Incorporated - 1,338 people {570 units) per year <br />Considered conservative growth in comparison to Durham (2.1 %); Wake {4.7°l°}; and Johnston <br />(5%}. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the responsibility the County has to not contaminate the <br />water and not overcrowd roads, and to provide schools. Craig Benedict said that with a lower <br />amount of units, there would be room to accommodate everything. This is why the staff is <br />proposing lower density. <br />(c] Population Build Out <br />Present regulations <br />20,000 + 130,000 = 150,000 units <br />Trend <br />20,000 + 103,000 = 123,000 units <br />Staff proposal <br />20,000 + 55,000 = 75,000 units <br />Which number is sustainable? <br />(d] Housing Density (Watershed overlay] <br />- expressed in units per acre <br />- minimum lot size (zoning district) expressed in minimum lot area (SF} per unit (e.g. Rural <br />buffer requires 87,120 SF ar two acres per lot <br />(e] Density and minimum lot size are usually different <br />- 1 unit per 3 acres <br />- 2 acres minimum lot size <br />- choose a 3-acre lot or 2-acre lot with one acre shared open space <br />(f] Transfer of Development Riahts (TDR] <br />Sending areas -Farmland and environmental preservation <br />Receiving areas -density increase requests pay for units, urban transition areas <br />