Agenda - 08-30-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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45 the Planning Area boundary. As development occurs in these areas, it will be of a very low- density nature and will generally consist of farm dwellings and outbuildings. Watery Quallty Critical Areas Only one Critical Area exists within the Joint Planning Area though others have been designated in Orange County. A Water Quality Critical Area has been established around University Lake, the primary raw water source for Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The Critical Area includes all lands which drain directly to University Lake and to major trunk streams feeding the reservoir. Only low - density residential uses are permitted in this area at densities not to exceed one dwelling per two acres of land. Rural Residential The Rural Residential category is a low- density area consisting of single - family homes situated on large lots two acres in size or greater. The Rural Residential designation is identical to the Rural Buffer category contained in the current Orange County Land Use Plan. The Rural Buffer category is described in the Plan as land adjacent to an Urban or Transition area which is rural in character and which should remain rural; contain very low- density residential uses; and not require urban services (water and sewer) during the Plan period. To the north of Chapel Hill and Carrboro in the New Hope Creek drainage basin, low- density residential development has taken place along Whitfield Road, Sunrise Road and Erwin Road. Residential developments similar to Sedgefield, Stoneridge, Oak Hills, Birchwood Lake Estates and Falls of the New Hope are expected to continue, relying on wells and septic tanks for water supply and sewage disposal. To the west of Carrboro, Rural Residential development is also expected in University Lake Watershed. Adopted County policies prohibit the extension of public water and sewer services into the watershed except in emergency situations. For this reason, residential development will continue to rely on wells and septic tanks. Initially, a two -acre minimum lot size requirement applied in designated Water Quality Critical Area. A one -acre minimum lot size requirement applied in the remainder of the watershed. with the adoption of the Rural Buffer zoning district and its application in the Joint Planning= -'lea, the minimum required lot size became two acres throughout Uniygrsity Lake watershed as well as the rest of the Rural Buffer. The remaining area designated for Rural Residential development is the Southern Triangle area in the extreme southeastern portion of the County. The area drains to the southeast toward Jordan Lake and is beyond the ridge line of the Morgan Creek basin, an area which can be served by gravity sewer lines. The Southern Triangle is also characterized by environmental constraints such as steep slopes, flood plains and soils with poor stability,, so low- density development is projected. 83