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V!' <br /> k: <br /> however, can probably have little impact on residential energy conser- <br /> vation. <br /> Land use planning directed at conserving energy can perhaps have its <br /> greatest impact on the transportation sector. A land use plan sets <br /> forth a general pattern of development for an area - places for living, <br /> working and shopping. If the pattern of land uses is compact, rather <br /> than spread out, and if individual residential areas are close to <br /> places for shopping and work, then an energy-efficient form of dev- <br /> elopment is achieved. <br /> PLAN INTERPRETATION <br /> The Orange County Land Use Plan was not developed specifically to <br /> conserve energy, but does have energy saving aspects. The policy of <br /> infill development for Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the urban trans- <br /> ition areas immediately adjacent to the present urban development <br /> will result in a compact and higher density form of development in <br /> the future than otherwise might occur. <br /> Within these existing and future urban areas are located areas of <br /> concentrated commercial development, aCtivity nodes. Each activity node <br /> serves surrounding residential development in sub-areas of the towns. <br /> In Chapel Hill the plan directs medium-and high-denSity residential <br /> development to areas immediately adjacent to the commercial uses at <br /> activity nodes. Travel distances between living and shopping areas <br /> aneredUced by this pattern of development and energy saved. <br /> The infill policy which will increase population density in Chapel Bill <br /> and Carrboro will also make bus transportation more economically feas- <br /> ible. Buses are a much more enerry-efficient form of transportation <br /> than cars. <br /> It is hoped that future joint planningeffbrts with the Town of <br /> Hillsborough will result in an infill policy for that area with simi- <br /> lar energy saving potential. <br /> In rural areas the neighborhood activity nodes will also promote con- <br /> servation since they are meant to provide places for commercial uses <br /> serving local populations throughout the Country. Such development <br /> will reduce the needs of people in rural areas to travel to the towns <br /> for may day-to-day goods and services. <br /> 48 <br />