Agenda - 08-30-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r 1 ' 27 Discussion of Issues The joint planning staffs have identified four key issues for discussion from the proposed strategies. These issues are listed below, with a brief discussion of the pros and cons for each. Each issue is denoted by () (OC- Orange County, CH- Chapel Hill, CA- Carrboro) , which represents the staff that raises concern about the Committee's proposals in this particular regard. 1. EXTENSION OF PUBLIC SEWER TO RURAL VILLAGES (CH) The Rural Character Study Committee recommends that extension of public water and sewer lines be required for the proposed Rural Villages which have a maximum density of 84 units per 100 acres and have 80 percent of the land in permanent open space. Further, the Rural Character Study Committee recommends that extension of public water and sewer be permitted (where available) for Planned Residential developments with a maximum density of 72 units per 100 acres and two - thirds of the tract in open space. The Rural Buffer is presently defined as a low density area consisting of single family homes on two -acre minimum lots and not requiring public water or sewer service. One concern with extending water and sewer into the Rural Buffer is that the presence of the lines would encourage or at least allow additional development beyond the densities and scale envisioned in the Joint Planning A reement and Land use Plan. The densities in the "built" portion of the Rural Villages would be of an urban scale, surrounded by 80% of the tract left in permanent open space. Once urban -type densities have been achieved, pressures for annexation could increase and potentially undermine the intent of the Joint Land Use Plan. The Rural Character Study Committee suggests that the lines could be sized to serve designated areas only. It is not clear whether tap -ons from intervening property owners could be legally prohibited. These are issues that need further study. One option to consider is to create a community -scale water and sewer system, not tied by a pipe to an existing system, but still fully operated and maintained by a- public entity. This type of system might serve well if properly sited, designed, installed and operated. Thought should be given to how to ensure that these systems would be well -built and maintained, and what public entity would be responsible for oversight and maintenance. The issue of water and sewer extension into the Rural Buffer merits close consideration as it has the most potential of all the recommendations for altering the character of the Rural Buffer. 5