Agenda - 06-04-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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t - SOIL CONDITIONS o suitability for various uses (construction, ag- riculture; sewage disposal) . UNIQUE NATURAL AND CUDTURAL FACTORS o natural areas o historic sites The interaction between these elements forms the basis of the life- supporting characteristics of the natural, system. Certain natural systems or combinations of natural systems place constraints on the capacity of the land to contain development and land use. Each loca- tion's natural environmental characteristics vary. Sane environ- mental characteristics can be found throughout Orange County; others pose significant constraints at the Township level. Others are even more site specific. Where constraining environmental features or conditions overlap, the result may be an additive effect. In many cases, the existance of a particular environmental feature or combination of features will lead to the designation of a critical or environmentally sensitive area. This type of environmental information is used, along with other lo- cational criteria to suggest where and what type of development is appropriate for the County. It is particularly important to identify the level of constraint in the area most likely to be developed in the plan period. ANALYSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS AND CONSTRAINTS Geology Geology refers to the physical history of the earth, the materials of which the earth is composed and the processes by which its features undergo change. The bedrock geology of Orange County is fairly complex, but can gen- erally be discussed in terms of three major rock types: (1) low grade metamorphic rocks of predominantly volcanic-sedimentary origin which are part of a large, distinctive rock unit that extends fram central Georgia to southeastern Virginia, and is known locally as the Carolina State Belt; (2) intrusive rocks of genetic composition that occur in the northwestern corner of Orange County and can also be found scattered in the State Belt rocks; and (3) Triassic rocks found in a small area in south-eastern Chapel Hill Township which are sedimentary in origin, having been formed by erosion of material from the upland State Belt. The geologic inheritance of Orange County is responsible directly or in combination with other factors for a number of features which can be environmentally constraining to the development of the land. These include rock characteristics for ground water yield and found- ation support, topography, slope, soils and earth resources.