Agenda - 05-22-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Region and in Orange County are the important employment centers located in the vicinity. These employment centers include Research Triangle Park (Founded in the mid-1960's) , three universities (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; North Carolina State University in Raleigh; and Duke University in Durham) , North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Duke University Hospital, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the state government at Raleigh. Research Triangle Park in particular has had an important impact on the area in terms of industrial and commercial expansion beyond the boundaries of the Park. Its success has augmented the perception of the area as a prime investment area. The primary geographic focus for employment within Orange County is divided between the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area and the I-85/U.S. 70 Southern Railroad corridor which bisects the County, crossing east- west through the township of Cheeks, Hillsborough and Eno. The Chapel Hill/Carrboro's employment emphasis is in institutional and governmental employment sectors given the presence of the University of North Carolina. Its presence has also generated significant commercial and services activity. The transportation corridor crossing the central townships is characterized by commercial and industrial activity. In Orange County, the single largest employer is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is unlikely that a significant alternative employment center will emerge in the immediate vicinity within the County. As a result commutation patterns, particularly in the southern tier of the County, are focused on the Chapel Hill/Carrboro urban area. However, commutation patterns characteristic of the County are also focused on employment centers outside of Orange County. The commutation patterns of Orange County residents reflect the location of major employment centers, within and without Orange County, and the character of the county road network. The existence of a well-defined state highway system providing convenient and dependable access from the rural areas of the County to Chapel Hill/Carrboro and from both the rural and urban areas of the County to employment centers in neighboring Durham and Wake Counties plays a very significant role in the economic growth framework. In terms of location and access, Orange County residents are successfully competing for jobs within and outside of the area. In addition, adequate services and retail facilities are close to residential areas due to good road access. However, the willingness of County residents to commute to jobs and travel relatively long distance to satisfy their demands for goods and services may change dramatically if energy costs and availability become so prohibitive as to impact on transportation costs and result in an increased demand for more local goods and services requiring fewer and shorter trips. This situation may also result in a further erosion of the rural quality of life and increase the sense of isolation and economic disadvantage experienced by rural residents of the County. 2