|
1* '
<br /> Quality of Life Goals Page
<br /> 1 . Environment and should be continued to ensure these lands h
<br /> Land Use remain safeguarded.
<br /> Several recommendations have been made
<br /> Goal 1:Promote Land Use Patterns to conserve these important areas of the
<br /> that Meet Our Citizens'Needs While County. Among them are using the Lands
<br /> Protecting Natural Resources Legacy program to develop a comprehensive `
<br /> To prevent sprawl and help maintain the Natural Areas Conservation and Open Space
<br /> County's rural character,we must identify Plan,securing funding for land acquisition
<br /> areas of the County in which to promote and purchase of development rights,and
<br /> denser, mixed-use development and direct educating and encouraging citizens to use
<br /> growth into these areas to minimize the native plants. Strategies that can be imple- activities on the environment.Energy use
<br /> environmental,social,and fiscal impacts of mented to achieve this goal include: reduction should focus on reducing the
<br /> development. • using various acquisition methods such use of non-renewable energy resources and
<br /> SOCF provides several recommendations to as fee-simple,conservation easements, PDR reducing air pollution from these sources.
<br /> promote quality land use patterns:develop and'1DR programs,and tax incentives,and Reducing and eliminating hazardous and
<br /> a countywide plan that identifies where solid wastes will help protect water quality
<br /> tywi p using various funding methods such as from toxics and will reduce the costs and
<br /> growth is most appropriate,promote land bonds,grants,land trust partnerships,and a landfill space needed.
<br /> use patterns that enhance quality of life and land conservation revolving fund.
<br /> sense of community and use land and other A number of recommendations were put
<br /> resources efficiently,and adopt a process to Goal 3: Create Environmentally Sus- forth to address this goal. They include
<br /> create Compact Mixed-Use(CMU)Develop- tamable Transportation Systems that protecting water quality,promoting environ-
<br /> ments,Villages,or Hamlets in areas where Meet People's Needs mentally friendly/green building and site
<br /> design,reducing per capita energy use from
<br /> growth is preferable. Strategies to reach this
<br /> Transportation issues in Orange County non-renewable sources,and reducing solid
<br /> goal include: revolve around a two-pronged axis:air qual-
<br /> and hazardous waste. Strategies that are
<br /> ity and traffic. Dependence on the private
<br /> waproposed
<br /> d ts,o accomplish this goal include:
<br /> auto,new national air quality standards,and
<br /> congestion in the Triangle area,necessitate • guiding growth away from water supply
<br /> 7 that we rethink how we travel from place to
<br /> t
<br /> Ii place and reduce the number of daily trips • identifying wellhead protection areas,
<br /> E and miles. It is clear that we need more en- • providing fast track approval for environ-
<br /> vironmentally sound transportation systems, mentally friendly development,
<br /> l along with land use patterns that decrease • establishing environmental standards for
<br /> the need for private vehicles. new development,and
<br /> Many recommendations were developed • encouraging building reuse.
<br /> to attain this goal. They ranged from
<br /> • creating an inter-governmental"Growth expanding public transportation,promos Goal 5:Protect Our Water Supply
<br /> Management Board"to determine where ing auto-limited zones in higher density Water is a limited natural resource. We must
<br /> growth should occur and how much, areas,encouraging additional transportation continue to assess the limits of water supply
<br /> • establishing and supporting guidelines demand strategies,and reducing conges-
<br /> and standards for CMU developments,Vil- tion and pollution with minimal new road and storage capacity,stay conservatively
<br /> construction. Strategies to accomplish this within these limits,and work to safeguard
<br /> ies accom
<br /> lages,and Hamlets,and g p our drinking water supplies from pollutants.
<br /> • determining where each type of develop- goal include: Water conservation strategies will become
<br /> ment is most appropriate through citizen • designating public transportation nodes increasingly important as our population
<br /> input and small area planning. throughout the County, grows.
<br /> • providing dedicated bus-only lanes, SOCF has suggested a couple of recommen-
<br /> Goal 2: Conserve Natural Areas, Farm- . phasing out private auto lots at high dations for this goal:continue to assess water
<br /> land and Other Important Open Space schools, supply limits and safety and ensure sufficient
<br /> A prominent issue in Orange County has supply,and aggressively promote water con-
<br /> been the protection of natural areas and ▪ promoting carpooling,telecommuting, PP Y� g Y I?
<br /> High Occupancy Vehicle(HOV)lanes,and servation. Strategies to employ are:
<br /> open space. Part of ensuring in- flexible work schedules,and • establishing a water conservation pro-
<br /> able community includes maintaining a
<br /> healthy environment. The creation of the • developing multi-modal alternatives to gram,
<br /> Environment and Resource Conservation new road construction. • developing a water reclamation program,
<br /> Department and the Lands Legacy program and
<br /> has been a significant step towards Goal 4:Pollution Prevention and Waste p reserv- •
<br /> p Reduction permitting the use of gray-water.
<br /> ing and protecting important natural and
<br /> cultural areas in the County,and such efforts The quality of life in Orange County
<br /> depends greatly on the impact of human
<br />
|