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22 <br /> 1-21-93 Final Version <br /> Slow residential growth tied to agriculture continued well into the <br /> 20th century. In fact, land use and land ownership patterns in the <br /> community center from 1938 are similar to the types of land use in <br /> 1992 . By contrast, the Township as a whole has changed in the last <br /> 20 years through the pace of subdivision activity. Almost 500 new <br /> housing units were constructed in the 1980 's in Cedar Grove <br /> Township, and new projects are planned or under discussion. In <br /> addition, the Town of Hillsborough's proposed reservoir in Cedar <br /> Grove Township would dramatically alter the landscape of the area. <br /> A similar history, and a similar onset of change, face Bingham, <br /> Caldwell, and other rural Orange communities . The challenge for <br /> Cedar Grove and other comparable communities is to find a way to <br /> protect a distinct character, while accommodating necessary growth. <br /> Achieving such a balance is a concern repeatedly raised by rural <br /> residents in meetings with the Rural Character Study Committee, and <br /> is the challenge the Committee has endeavored to address through <br /> these recommendations. <br /> Phase I - Rural Buffer Strategies/A Historical Perspective <br /> This initiative began in January, 1987 when the Board of County <br /> Commissioners rezoned approximately 38,000 acres surrounding the <br /> towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The application of Rural Buffer <br /> zoning standards, including a density limitation of one dwelling <br /> unit per two acres of land, concerned many county residents, <br /> especially from the affected area. In response, the Board of <br /> Commissioners asked that additional studies be conducted to <br /> identify ways of preserving open space in the Rural Buffer with <br /> minimal impact on affected property owners. <br /> In June of 1987 , an Assembly of Governments meeting was held at the <br /> Institute of Government. Attended by representatives of Orange <br /> County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, there was consensus among those <br /> present that ways and means of preserving open space in the Rural <br /> Buffer should be identified in lieu of the two-acre minimum lot <br /> size requirement. While the focus of such an effort would initially <br /> be the Rural Buffer area, attention was also to be given to the <br /> remainder of the county. Subsequently, a citizens advisory <br /> committee was appointed by the Board of Commissioners in November, <br /> 1987 to undertake such a study. The citizens advisory committee <br /> developed a set of options and strategies which were presented at <br /> a public hearing attended by elected representatives of Joint <br /> Planning Area, Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, and <br /> residents of the Rural Buffer area. The Guidelines, while praised <br /> for their thrust, sensitivity and consensus-building, have not <br /> received unanimous adoption by the all of the Joint Planning Area <br /> jurisdictions. Nonetheless, completion of the recommendations has <br /> set the stage for Phase II of the Rural Character Study. <br /> 2 <br />