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23 <br /> 1-21-93 Final Version <br /> Phase II - Recommendations for Rural Orange <br /> In September of 1990, the Rural Character Study Committee embarked <br /> on Phase II its charge. Whereas the first phase focused on rural <br /> character protection strategies for the Rural Buffer, Phase II <br /> involved a similar set of strategies for the remaining rural areas <br /> of Orange County; e.g. , "Rural Orange" . After 18 months of <br /> deliberation and meetings with residents in Bingham, Cheeks , <br /> Hillsborough, Eno, Cedar Grove, and Little River Townships , <br /> recommendations have been drafted which attempt to balance the <br /> sometimes-competing interests of resource protection and land <br /> development. The Committee has tried to incorporate voluntary <br /> programs, incentives , and innovative techniques to keep the "old" <br /> and provide for the "new" to create a framework for rural character <br /> protection and development. <br /> To produce these recommendations, the Committee engaged in what <br /> became an extended educational process . This process included two <br /> series of meetings with rural residents, along with assessments of <br /> land use patterns and the natural and man-made environments of the <br /> rural areas. Finally, in October 1991, the Committee embarked on a <br /> three-month re-evaluation of buildout/carrying capacity and <br /> economic analyses . A report was produced examining the time and <br /> impact of buildout in rural areas in January 1992 . <br /> The economic analysis was designed to determine the feasibility of <br /> various development options proposed in this report. Three farms <br /> were selected to serve as models for conducting economic analysis . <br /> Site plans were prepared for each model using conventional and open <br /> space strategies. The costs and profits associated with carrying <br /> out each design plan were then calculated. The application of <br /> current and proposed development options to specific sites and the <br /> economic analysis of these models eventually led to modifications <br /> in the recommended development options. <br /> Affecting the overall recommendations of the Committee was a range <br /> of related projects already underway. Included among these are the: <br /> - Natural Areas Element of the Comprehensive Plan <br /> - Scenic Roads Study <br /> - State-Mandated Watershed Protection Standards <br /> - Purchase of Development Rights Program <br /> - Voluntary Agricultural Districts Program <br /> - Inventory of Historic/Archaeological Sites <br /> - SCS Land Evaluation & Site Assessment (LESA) System <br /> - Hillsborough Cooperative Planning <br /> - Economic Development District Proposals <br /> - Private Road Study <br /> Many of the strategies recommended in this report relate to one or <br /> 3 <br />