Agenda - 01-22-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 1 He reviewed the map of the rural buffer uses and the following slide of Rural Buffer 2 statistics: 3 4 RURAL BUFFER SUMMARY STATISTICS 5 Established; 1987 per JPA 6 Total Area 36,958 acres 7 8 Zoning Rural Buffer (RB) 9 RB 1 DU / 5 AC* (University Lake) 15,400 acres 10 RB 1 DU / 2 AC (Jordan Lake) 21,558 acres 11 12 Use Value Area (Farm & Forest) 13 1990 — 11,800 acres± 14 2002 — 10,970 acres 15 2014 — 10,206 acres 16 17 Population (Rural Buffer approx.) 18 2010 Units — 4,712 19 Population- 11,106 20 (DCHC MPO MTP) 2040 Units — 10,183 Increase 116% 21 Population — 25,161 Increase 127% 22 23 Craig Benedict said it is difficult to put 5,000 projected new units in the rural buffer, even 24 if you converted the farm land. He said the total acres of farm land decreased in 2012, but total 25 farms increased. He said this was due to a decrease in farm sizes. He said the direct sale of 26 food from farms to consumers has gone up due to County and town policies. 27 He said there have been discussions for ten years about agricultural support 28 enterprises. He said there is high demand for new housing in Orange County, and the models 29 show a high degree of activity wanting to occur in the rural buffer, and agricultural support 30 enterprises could help stem the tide of conversion. 31 Craig Benedict said staff is in the process of developing the 2045 plan, and there is an 32 initiative that asks whether 65,000 people can really come to Orange County, and if so, what 33 housing will be used. He said staff is looking for input on how to develop this plan to make 34 sure it is achievable and sustainable. 35 Mayor Lavelle referred to attachment 3a and said it seems like the numbers are off for 36 Carrboro. She said her staff will look into this. 37 Alderman Slade said he would like to see a similar analysis applied to some of the 38 proposed added commercial uses to the rural buffer. He questioned what kind of cap would be 39 used for commercial development. He said his main concern is that commercial activity creates 40 competing pressure for farms. He said he understands some of the history of how we got to this 41 point, and Maple View Farms has been used as an example of why more of these uses should 42 be allowed. He said that type of augmentation for farm activities is already allowed, and the 43 more conditional use purposes are all that remains. He said the consideration is whether it is 44 appropriate for these to exist in the rural buffer versus in the towns. 45 Alderman Slade said he encourages everyone to proceed with caution in allowing more 46 competing uses that might make it harder for farms to exist in the rural buffer. 47 Craig Benedict noted that this will be discussed in item 5. 48 Town Council Member Palmer said her concern is regarding the population growth and 49 the rural buffer. She said in 2040 there will be "McMansions" in the rural buffer, and it is time to 50 re- negotiate what is put there. She said land needs to be set aside for parks and recreation