Agenda - 06-04-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3.11 BINGHAM TOWNSHIP PLAN TOWNSHIP PROFILE: SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS Bingham Township, located in the southwestern portion of Orange County, occupies 148,900 acres and contains 19% of the total County land area. The Township is characterized by a predominantly rural landscape with limited low density commercial and residential development. Farming remains an important activity throughout the Township. Due to its pro- ximity to Chapel Hill and Carrboro, urban forces have begun to exert a significant influence on the character of the Township. These growth pressures are likely to continue throughout the plan period and will require concerted growth management efforts to minimize adverse impacts resulting from this growth. Socio-Economic Features During recent years Bingham Township has experienced a significant popula- tion increase. Population figures from the 1980 Census indicate that between 1970 and 1980 the population of the Township increased from 2379 persons to 3954 persons at an average annual growth rate of 6.2%. The current population of the Township accounts for 5% of the total County population._ The primary economic activity of the residents of Bingham Township is agriculture. Forty percent of the County's dairy operations are located in the Township. Development pressures on this agricultural area are of major concern to the Township residents. Existing Land Use and Infrastructure Bingham Township is predominantly a rural-agricultural area. Limited low density commercial and residential development is scattered throughout the Township. However, the proximity of the Township to the expanding Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill represents a growing source of development pressures. N.C. 54, which runs east-west across the central portion of the Township, functions as a connecting link between Bingham Township and the Towns. This corridor and its intersections provide a visible demon- stration of the increasing impacts resulting from urbanization in the adjacent townships. Commercial uses locating along this route, particu- larly along the sections nearest the Towns, elicit concern about the potential for strip commercial development. The TOwnship's accessibility not only to Carrboro and Chapel Hill, but also to Durham and the Research Triangle Park, is attracting new rural non-farm development. In 1978 Bingham Township accounted for 13% of all building permits issued in the County. It's estimated population for that same year, however, amounted to only 5% of the County total, thus indicating that development activity in the Township was disproportionately high in comparison with the existing population.