Agenda - 05-22-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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An important economic factor in Orange County is the disparity between the rate of population growth in the County and the level of employment based out-commutation as shown in Table 2-14. Orange County experienced a negative net commutation pattern in both 1960 and 1970 at a time when the County was experiencing a positive population growth rate. It is not clear what proportion of the population commute because of better jobs or a greater availability of jobs outside the County, and what proportion have sought and found employment in adjacent counties and have then chosen to reside in Orange County. It appears, however, that Orange County offers important residential advantages and intangibles important in the residential location decisions of future County residents. These intangibles include, the availability of higher education and recreational opportunities and a general ambiance perceived as appropriate for pleasant residential living. The concern becomes how to provide local employment for County residents without significantly damaging the natural and man-made environments encouraging residential in-migration and, yet promote development patterns aimed at minimizing land energy consumption. The present growth pattern is accompanied by a shifting of labor out of the agricultural sector, a sector which is limited in terms of creating new jobs. This labor shift is compounded by an increased level of development pressures on farmland for non-farm uses, particularly residential uses. As Orange County and the region receive a larger proportion of total state growth, serious concerns are raised regarding the impact of such growth on traditional land uses and traditional employment sources throughout the rural areas of the County. Further concerns are raised regarding the impact of such in-migration on lower income County residents. The weighting of employment opportunities at the white collar end of the scale corresponds with higher incomes and a rise in the cost of living. Migrants attracted to the area are often either accustomed to a higher cost of living and financially capable of adapting to it are willing to forego current and future hardship to take advantage of preferred employment and the area's compensatory factors. Some County residents, particularly low-income residents, are increasingly unable to compete with the in-migrants for jobs and housing, forcing many to leave the County either to find housing or jobs or both. Although there are no absolute growth limits, public response to these concerns should seek the effective and well-Planned management of growth pressures to minimize such negative impacts. The subject of affordable housing in the County is one that is being studied by a committee of residents and developers and UNC representatives. 3