Agenda - 03-10-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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004 • - We want to be able to serve efficiently the new development that does occur; we do not want a sprawling pattern of development that will require and demand urban services. - We want to be able to maintain the identity of Chapel Hill as a distinct and unique area. We have seen the Chapel Hill Land Use Plan and the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan as key instruments in achieving our basic Goals and Objectives. The concept of a geographically fixed urban area, surrounded by a very low-density rural buffer, achieves these purposes. We drew an "Urban Services Boundary; " this is the area where we think we can efficiently provide urban services in the future (water, sewer, police and fire protection, parks and recreation services, etc. ) . We took - the position that development within this urban services area should occur at urban densities , and be developed to allow for provision of urban services (water and sewer extended, streets built with curb and gutter, etc . ) Outside of this area, in the Rural Buffer, ' we would expect that urban services would not be provided; development would occur at very low densities, if at all. Water and sewer lines would not be extended into the Rural Buffer. There would be no effort to annex any of these areas. We believe that, if development occurs in a manner as called for in the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan, we will achieve a desirable result. Development in the Urban area will occur according to urban- standards, and will receive the benefits of all urban services. Development in the rural buffer will be of a very low density. Urban services will not be provided, and urban development standards will not be enforced. These areas will not be annexed, and will not pay municipal taxes. The low-density nature of central Orange County will be preserved, and the environmentally sensitive Duke Forest and University Lake watershed will be protected. We believe it is a sound concept. Why a 2-Acre Minimum Lot Size? The question of how low is "low density" was extensively discussed during preparation of the Land Use Plan. Proposed densities in the Rural Buffer ranged from 1 unit per acre to 1 unit per five acres. We believe that the concept of "no water and sewer" in the Rural Buffer is key to the Buffer' s success. We believe that when water and sewer are available, development pressures are irresistable. Therefore, we believe that development should occur at densities that will not require public water and sewer now or in the future.