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revision of the study was produced on March 4, 1987. Major recommendati5 <br /> ons <br /> contained in the study include: <br /> 1. Retain the two-acre minimum lot size requirement. <br /> Collins indicated the following reasons for retaining the two- <br /> acre minimum lot size requirement: <br /> a) The Rural Buffer concept as adopted by the County is an <br /> important growth management strategy in terms of defining <br /> the growth boundaries for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area and <br /> preventing the sprawl of the urban area in the southeastern <br /> portion of the County. <br /> b) Equally important is the issue of environmental protection <br /> and open space. As well as University Lake Watershed, <br /> there is a substantial portion of Duke Forest and a <br /> significant amount of environmentally sensitive areas in <br /> the Rural Buffer. There are farms that are in operation or <br /> under use value taxation that contribute greatly to the <br /> open space surrounding the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. <br /> For these reasons, the Planning Staff feels it is critical to <br /> maintain the two-acre minimum lot size requirement. <br /> 2 . Retain the policy prohibiting extension of water and sewer ' <br /> facilities into the Rural Buffer except in emergency <br /> situations. <br /> Collins indicated that allowing public water and sewer <br /> extensions the potential for increased density is much <br /> greater. <br /> 3 . Delete Article 11. 7 .2 of the Zoning Ordinance, Non-Conforming <br /> Lots. <br /> The amendment would allow owners of adjacent, undeveloped <br /> lots less than two (2) acres in size to develop their lots <br /> without combining them to create conforming lots. <br /> 4. Amend Article 4. 2 . 1 of the Zoning Ordinance, Rural Buffer (RB) <br /> Zoning district. <br /> The amendment would allow property owners of record in the <br /> Rural Buffer to create one lot for each child. such lots <br /> would be exempt from RB dimensional requirements, but <br /> would conform to the dimensional requirements of the R-1 <br /> Residential zoning district. <br /> The proposed amendment would add the following paragraph to <br /> Article 4.2 . 1. <br /> c) Exempt Lots <br /> A lot created for use for a one-family residence by a <br /> 9 <br />