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8 <br />I~VEI2ALL ASSESSIIZENT: <br />Overall, the subdivision regulations are working well to protect environmentally sensitive <br />areas within development proposals. The regulations are accomplishing the stated goals of <br />preserving areas set forth in the 1981 Comprehensive Plan, as amended. Land is being dedicated <br />or protected for the public through the process and other lands beneficial to residents within or in <br />the vicinity of subdivisions are being protected through Homeowners' Associations. The recent <br />spike in public dedications in subdivisions over the past 18 months has been due to development <br />proposals containing land suitable for public dedication, i.e. those areas designated for <br />preservation (Eno River and greenways in the JPA). This is more of a location factor than any <br />amendment at play. Many of the earlier subdivisions were not adjacent to lands targeted for <br />preservation, hence no public dedications. <br />If, through the updated Comprehensive Plan process, recommendations by committees <br />and boards are forthcoming then a revision to the subdivision regulations may be needed. <br />However, to make changes without a specific purpose would not be prudent. <br />Recommendations For Future Consideration <br />On occasion, the amount of environmentally sensitive land to be protected takes virtually <br />all of the mandatory 33 percent open space and leaves little or no land for other important issues <br />such as centrally located recreation or roadside buffers. Some potential options are listed below: <br />® Increasing the open space percentage to 40%, or higher, would help somewhat cases <br />where there is a high amount of environmentally sensitive lands to protect. <br />® Another option is to remove certain types of credit for flexible development open space <br />(i.e. steep slopes, wetlands, floodplains) from the flexible development portion of the <br />regulations, and place them in the general regulations for all subdivisions. This would <br />have the same effect as an increase in the open space percentage for those properties with <br />highly sensitive areas for protection and a need for active recreation area for residents. <br />® Create an urban option for Flexible Development to be applied in urban designated areas <br />as identified on the Growth Management System Map. The standards applicable in rural <br />areas of the County do not necessarily transfer easily into more urban areas (e.g. <br />Hillsborough growth areas, Efland area, EDD yeas with residential components) where <br />different development types are encouraged. <br />Recommendation on Recreation Pa~rrient in Lieu <br />The price of providing public recreation continues to escalate along with land acquisition <br />costs, development costs and ongoing operations expenses. The fees assessed to each newly <br />created lot in subdivisions do not reflect the real costs of providing recreation to County <br />residents. Also, the actual geographical areas on the existing Community and District Parks [see <br />attached] may need to be revised based on newer population distributions and commuting <br />patterns. <br />Information provided on payment in lieu in this report is backward looking, meaning <br />historical numbers. Both the public costs of recreation versus private contribution rates of new <br />development as well as the physical location of proposed parkland and parks should be studied <br />with the intent of providing an updated recreation report for the Board within timeframes <br />specified by the Board. <br />Report prepared on: December 3, 2007 by Robert P. Davis, Current Planning Supervisor <br />