Orange County NC Website
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1. Efficient provision of Public Services <br />2. Protection of Rural Community Character <br />3. Preserve Farmland and Viable Local Farm Economy <br />4. Protect Water Resources -Watershed and Groundwater <br />5. Traffic Reduction <br />6. Reduction of the Fiscal Impacts of Development <br />7. Hazard Mitigation -Reduction of Storm Water Runoff and <br />Flooding <br />8. Protection of Natural AreaslWildlife Corridors <br />9. Reduction of Air Pollution <br />10. Development Location and Type <br />11. Economic Prosperity and Diversity <br />12. Affordable Housing <br />13. Preservation of Community Character -Neighborhoods <br />and Historic/Cultural Features <br />Issue <br />Orange County population growth (2.6°~ annually} yields build-out in 75-100 years. <br />- What's the problem? <br />- Why change land use and zoning now? <br />Response <br />- An unsustainable pattern of growth (cumulative to over 100,000 rural dwelling units} <br />will ultimately lead to poor quality of life regardless of growth rate <br />- Difficult to reverse growth - Opportunity to be proactive and establish a sustainable <br />pattern <br />- Growth will accelerate when Chapel Hill and Carrboro reach build-out (Years 2025 and <br />2010, respectively) <br />- Growth may accelerate as adjacent counties reach build-out and people seek the <br />quality of life preserve in Orange County. <br />Charts and maps <br />Issue <br />Does lower density mean: <br />- Mare sprawl? <br />- More Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT} <br />Response <br />NO........ Lower Density means: <br />Fewer Lots Fewer People <br />Lower VMT Lauver Public Service Costs <br />More Open Space <br />1.5-acre density is for illustration purposes only, and currently there are not zoning areas with a <br />1.5-acre density, but this reflects what could be permitted by present zoning. Assuming a 1-acre <br />minimum lot size, a maximum of 1,000 homes could be built. <br />** Low Impact Design is a suggested subdivision option, which can provide environmental <br />benefits. A smaller lot size than the 2-acre proposal may be suggested if the overall proposed <br />density remains the same, and more open space is achieved. <br />FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY <br />