Orange County NC Website
floodplains in Chapel Hill Township are found along Morgan, Phils and Pritchard <br /> Creeks in the University Lake watershed and New Hope, Bolin and Collins Creeks <br /> in the northern and central part of the township. The land adjacent to these <br /> water courses defined as the floodplain is a natural hazard which places a con- <br /> 4 - <br /> straint on the development of this land. Most types of urban development should <br /> be discouraged from locating in these areas. Whatever limited building that <br /> is permitted should adhere to design standards which would ensure that the <br /> function of the flood plain would be maintained. <br /> Water Resources: The University Lake watershed is an important natural resource <br /> for Chapel Hill Township since it drains into a water supply reServoir. This <br /> watershed needs to be protected from development and land uses which would <br /> negatively impact the reservoir through excessive sedimentation and other <br /> forms of poilution from various types of urban development. The streams within <br /> this watershed form a critical element in this system and need spetial consi- <br /> deration with respect to development and land use impacts. <br /> Steep Slopes: Although not a township wide constraint, some steep slopes <br /> (greater than 15%) exist in portions of Duke Forest and around University Lake. <br /> By itself, steep slope conditions are not necessarily a prohibitive constraint <br /> on small scale development. However, the level of constraint does increase <br /> when this condition is superimposed upon additional environmental constraints <br /> • <br /> • such as floodplains or water supply watersheds. <br /> Soil 'Conditions: Certain soils in the Township have poor building development <br /> potential . The extreme eastern portion of the Township along the Durham County <br /> line, and the area known as the "southern triangle" contain soils which have <br /> limitations far development because of erodability, "shallow depth to bedrock <br /> and high runoff potential . The University Lake watershed area is comprised of <br /> generally poor soils in terms of development potential . North of Chapel Hill <br />