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27 <br /> 1-21-93 Final Version <br /> agricultural operations, assessing the possible need for <br /> additional development strategies to protect agriculture. <br /> GOAL 2 : PRESERVE AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES IN RURAL ORANGE. <br /> Orange County is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, <br /> including clear streams and rivers, a wide variety of plant <br /> species , and wildlife habitats of significant animal species - some <br /> of which are now rare and endangered. Many of these resources have <br /> been identified, while others have yet to be discovered. Protection <br /> of these resources often conflicts directly with private property <br /> rights. Balancing environmental protection with property rights <br /> through voluntary programs and incentives is encouraged as an <br /> effective approach to ensure the continued existence of Orange <br /> County's natural resources. <br /> ACTION STRATEGIES <br /> Strategies recommended for inclusion in the Rural Character Element <br /> of the Comprehensive Plan include the following: <br /> 1. Create Open-Space Development (OSD hereafter) options that can <br /> protect identified natural resource sites by placing them <br /> within open space. Such options should use the resource as an <br /> opportunity for innovative development rather than as a means <br /> of penalizing landowners for having sites on their property. <br /> 2 . To facilitate natural resource protection, a Master Resource <br /> Areas Map should be compiled to identify and link critical <br /> environmental, natural, wildlife, cultural, historic, <br /> biological, and geological resources. The map should be used <br /> to show landowners/developers locations of sites on their <br /> property and encourage the voluntary protection of such sites <br /> through Open-Space Development and/or conservation easements - <br /> which can allow the site to remain in private ownership. <br /> 3 . During the development approval process, facilitate the <br /> protection of natural and wildlife habitats by continuing <br /> current County policy of initiating dialogue between <br /> developers and land conservancy organizations . This <br /> facilitates an opportunity for mutual protection of the <br /> site. Further dialogue is at the discretion of the <br /> developer/conservancy. <br /> 4 . In accordance with the recommendations of Section III , <br /> prepare a Rural Orange Design Guidebook to provide written and <br /> illustrative guidelines to show property owners and developers <br /> how to voluntarily develop sites in an environmentally- <br /> sensitive manner. Preparation of the Guidebook should involve <br /> the Planning Department staff; and design professionals , <br /> 7 <br />