Agenda - 11-27-1995 - C-1-b - Laserfiche WebLink

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, Y 046 Steep slopes are shown on the Topography Map and are generally found in the southeastern section of Orange County. They are also associated with major stream channels and prominent topographic features such as hills and mountains. Soil Conditions Perhaps no other natural environmental factor in Orange County is as much a determinant factor on land use and land development as soil conditions. Soil characteristics such as depth to bedrock, permeability, shrink-swell potential, erodibility, and drainage are crucial factors in influencing land use. Constraints to development may only be slight, but they may be so severe to deter development altogether from a given site. In general, however, as the severity of the soil limitations increases,the cost of site preparation and construction also increase. In 1977, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) completed a soil survey of Orange County. Each of the 38 soil types in Orange County have been described in terms of characteristics, potential uses, and management requirements. The characteristics of the soils in area determine what problems can be expected as land is developed. These problems generally relate to limitations for septic tank absorption fields and dwellings. Limitations for Septic Tank Absorption Fields. The use of septic tank absorption fields is important because slightly more than one-third of the county's housing units rely on such systems for sewage disposal. As shown on the accompanying table, most of these units are located in rural areas outside of municipalities. METHOD OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL All Public System or Township Housing Private Company Septic system Units Number Percent Number Percent Bingham 2,310 104 4.5% 2,206 95.5% Cedar Grove 1,485 - - 1,485 100.00/0 Chapel Hill 25,708 20,618 80.2% 5,090 19.8% • Chapel Hill 14,271 13,543 94.9% 728 5.1% • Carrboro 6.108 5,888 964916 ---- --- 220 3.6% • Remainder 5,329 1,187 22.3% 4,142 77.7% Cheeks 2,154 446 20.7% 1,708 79.3% • Mebane 216 200 92.6% 16 7.4% • Remainder 1,938 246 12.7% 1,692 87.3% Eno 2,164 108 5.00/0 2,056 95.00/0 Hillsborough 4,069 2,486 61.1% 1,583 38.9% • Hillsborough 1,783 1,655 92.8% 128 7.2% • Remainder 2,286 831 36.4% 1,455 63.6% Little River 793 - - 793 1 100.0% Total 38,683 1 23,751 1 61.4% 14,931 38.6% Source: U.S. Census of Population&Housing, U.S. Census Bureau, 1990.