Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
UNC-CHAPEL HILL PLANNING PANEL <br /> Environment/Ecology Goals and Principles <br /> The Natural Environment goal is to encourage development that protects the <br /> natural and built environment and provides for appropriate location of land <br /> uses. <br /> Critical Features <br /> Preserve and protect features of critical environmental concern: <br /> • Recognize the exceptional plant communities and rare plant/animal species as assets <br /> and opportunities,through the registry of these sites with the North Carolina Natural <br /> Heritage Program: <br /> — Rhododendron Bluff populations (4) along Morgan Creek(within the Hunt <br /> Arboretum), <br /> — Big Oak woods(within the Mason Farm Biological Reserve), <br /> — Southern Shagbark Hickory slopes (within the Mason Farm Biological Reserve <br /> and eastern side of"Parker Property"), <br /> — Alluvial Forest along Morgan Creek(within the Mason Farm Botanical Reserve, <br /> Hunt Arboretum, and creek corridor portions of the greater Mason Farm tract), <br /> — Hardwood Forest on the southern slopes of the North Carolina Botanical Garden <br /> nature trail area, and <br /> — Bolin Creek floodway and surrounding steep slopes(within the Town of Carrboro <br /> portion of the Horace Williams tract). <br /> • Areas of critical environmental concern, including stream floodways, the Town of <br /> Chapel Hill Resource Conservation District(RCD), and areas of steep slopes should <br /> be incorporated into an open space network. The network would provide corridors <br /> and linkages between designated"protected" areas,protect scenic views, vistas and <br /> areas, buffer other land uses from each other, provide recreational opportunities and <br /> protect vulnerable areas from development. <br /> • Protect, preserve and enhance the existing land uses (biological research, educational <br /> and neighborhood quality) by providing adequate forest, visual, noise and watershed <br /> buffers. <br /> • TTA rail corridor alignments should not cross Botanical Gardens property. <br />