ORD-2012-036 Ordinance Amending the Zoning Atlas - Eno Economic Development District (EDD) Area Land Use

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typically provides predictability for the residents and development community as to what type of land uses may be expected and allowed within each zone district. Land is divided into zone districts from the zoning code which describes the intent and regulations of each particular zone category. A typical zone district will set forth regulations for permitted land uses, building height, density, setbacks, minimum lot sizes, etc. So, to summarize, a Future Land Use Map generally reflects the pattern of development that the community desires to see in specific areas, whereas the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map establish the actual use of land including the density, intensity, height, and form of development. I also found out that if a property owner wants to develop or use their property in ways that do not conform to their current zoning regulation, they must apply for a change in their zoning classification, also referred to as a rezoning. Zoning regulations, and the rezoning process, are often a key part of implementing area plans. All this research led me to one scary conclusion: that if you all approve the land use classification to be changed to EDE-1, you are making a decision that would go against the vision and desires of the community regarding future land use. Furthermore, you are making it that much easier for an individual land owner who may want to have their land rezoned in the future to suit their own needs without regard to the vision and desires of the community. The rezoning is more likely to be approved if the land use is already classified non-residential. Finally, this is what Wikipedia says about Land Use: "The major effect of land use on land cover since 1750 has been deforestation of temperate regions. More recent significant effects of land use include urban sprawl, soil erosion, soil degradation, salinization, and desertification. Land-use change, together with use of fossil fuels, are the major sources of carbon dioxide, a dominant greenhouse gas. According to a report by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, land degradation has been exacerbated where there has been an absence of any land use planning, or of its orderly execution, or the existence of financial or legal incentives that have led to the wrong land use decisions, or one-sided central planning leading to over-utilization of the land resources -for instance for immediate production at all costs." Sound familiar? "As a consequence the result has often been misery for large segments of the local population and destruction of valuable ecosystems. Such narrow approaches should be replaced by a technique for the planning and management of land resources that is integrated and holistic and where land users are central. This will ensure the long-term quality of the land for human use, the prevention or resolution of social conflicts related to land use, and the conservation of ecosystems of high biodiversity value." That's how it should be done. Like my neighbor Barbara said in her earlier letter to you: Sustainability is sometimes better than growth. I think she speaks for everyone who lives on Old NC 10 Hwy and it's surrounding community. Sincerely, Jennifer Sharpe, MSW, LCSW