Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
33 <br /> CHAPTER 4 <br /> IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES <br /> Two key themes have guided development of the draft Stoney Creek Small Area <br /> Plan. These are, first, that it is important to retain elements of the present rural <br /> character for the area and second, that property owners should receive fair value for <br /> their land should they choose to sell or develop it in some way. The draft plan <br /> reflects a substantial commitment of time, resources, and efforts at consensus <br /> building by the Stoney Creek Planning Group. <br /> The most expedient way to implement the plan recommendations would be to <br /> amend the zoning ordinance to create higher, intermediate, and lower intensity <br /> districts with required minimum lot sizes consistent with the plan recommendations. <br /> However, this is perceived by the Planning Group to be at odds with the underlying <br /> premises of the Plan and could effectively undermine efforts. at achieving <br /> consensus across a broad spectrum of landowner opinion. <br /> The Property Value/Rights Subcommittee states that, "Stoney Creek landowners <br /> should be able to choose from a variety of development options that are consistent <br /> with good land stewardship, community health standards, and Rural Character <br /> design guidelines. Offering landowners constructive alternatives to meet these <br /> objectives is better than forcing them into a very narrow range of options." The <br /> Flexible Development proposal presented at public hearing on November 27, and <br /> currently being considered by the County Commissioners, is consistent with this <br /> statement and offers an alternative to wholesale rezoning of the area. <br /> It needs to be emphasized that Flexible Development is NOT a transferable <br /> development rights program! The provisions related to density bonuses are based, <br /> in part, on existing regulations applicable to affordable housing, the <br /> recommendations of the Rural Character Study Committee, and the proposed <br /> Preliminary Recommendations for a Regional Transit Plan as prepared by the <br /> Triangle Transit Authority. Both affordable housing and open space bonus options <br /> 1 A third draft of the plan text was distributed in late April for Planning Group review. Several members called <br /> and suggested changes,but there was not time for an additional meeting to discuss them. Thus,suggested revisions <br /> have not been incorporated in the text,but are referenced in footnotes as appropriate. A member suggested that <br /> "effectively"and"across a broad spectrum of landowner opinion"be deleted and that"both within the Planning <br /> Group and within the larger community"be inserted. <br /> 17 <br />