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t er. <br /> -';'i <br /> ',,-,:i <br /> :i <br /> AJ. <br /> It is not clear what proportion of the copulation commute because of <br /> pl <br /> better jobs or a greater availability of jobs outside the County and <br /> what proportion have sought and found employment in adjacent Counties <br /> ._.; <br /> and have then chosen to reside in Orange County. It appears, however, <br /> that Orange County offers important residential advantages and intang- <br /> ibles important in the residential location - decisions of future <br /> Y' County residents. These intangibles include the availability of high- <br /> ., er education and recreational opportunities and a general ambience <br /> perceived as appropriate for pleasant residential living. <br /> The concern becomes how to provide local employment for County residents <br /> without significantly damaging the natural and man-made environments en- <br /> couraging residential in-migration and, yet, promote development patterns <br /> aimed at minimizing land and energy consumption. The present growth <br /> pattern is accompanied by a shifting of labor out of the agricultural <br /> sector, a sector which is limited in terms of creating new jobs. This <br /> -,, <br /> I labor shift is compounded by an increased level of development pressures <br /> on farmland for non-farm uses, particularly residential uses. As Orange <br /> County and Triangle J receive a larger proportion of total state growth, <br /> serious concerns are raised regarding the impact of such growth on <br /> traditional land uses and traditional employment sources throughout the <br /> rural areas of the County. <br /> '.' Further concerns are raised regarding the impact of such in-migration <br /> on lower income County residents. The weighting of employment opportun- <br /> , <br /> .1 ities at the white collar end of the scale c=esponds with higher in- <br /> comes and a rise in the cost of living. Migrants attracted to the area <br /> are often either accustomed to a higher cost of living and financially <br /> capable of adapting to it or are willing to forego current and future <br /> hardship to take advantage of preferred employment and the area's compen- <br /> satory factors. <br /> Some County residents, particularly low-income residents, are increasingly <br /> unable to compete with the in-migrants for jobs and housing, forcing many <br /> to leave the County either to find housing or jobs or both. Although <br /> there are no absolute growth limits, public response to these concerns <br /> should seek the effective and well-planned management of growth pressures <br /> to minimize such negative impacts. <br /> en <br />