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5 <br />CONCEPTUAL GUIDELINES FOR THE RURAL BUFFER <br />I.: DEFINITIONS <br />A. Terminology <br />Cluster: The arrangement of single- family residential lots so as <br />to allow environmentally - sensitive site design. This is <br />accomplished by preserving portions of a tract containing <br />resources to be left in open space. The majority of the housing <br />units are clustered on portions of the tract more feasible for <br />development. <br />Density: The ratio of dwelling units to overall acreage of the <br />whole tract. This rate is expressed as a ratio representing the <br />number of residential lots or dwelling units per 1.0 acres of <br />land by tract. For example, a density of 0.50 means 0.5 <br />lots /units per acre. This ratio can also be represented as 50 <br />units per 100 acres, or one unit per two acres. <br />Minor.Subdivision: For the purpose of this document, Minor <br />Subdivisions shall be construed to mean: <br />- the subdivision of land into not more than four (4) single - <br />family building lots; or <br />- the subdivision of land into single - family building lots <br />such that the overall average lot size is equal to or <br />greater than 4.59 acres. <br />Open Space: An area that is not used for development purposes, <br />but is kept in either its natural, environmental state; used for <br />active agricultural purposes; or used for passive recreation <br />activities that generally protect the natural state of the land <br />(trails and greenways, golf courses). <br />Purchase of Development Rights: A system allowing for the fee - <br />simple purchase of the development rights from a tract of land, <br />where the site's actual development rights are not applied on <br />this or other tracts. Such a- system would be utilized by <br />governments, non - profit conservation agencies, or other <br />designated agencies. <br />Rural Buffer: Land located within the Orange County - Chapel Hill - <br />Carrboro Joint Planning Area designated as such on the Joint <br />Planning Area Land Use Plan and Ma R. The area generally includes <br />two sub - basins; the New Hope Creek basin located north of Chapel <br />Hill and-Carrboro, and the University Lake basin - located west <br />of Carrboro. The Rural Buffer contains land that is rural in <br />character and contains land uses that are of an overall low - <br />density. <br />Rural Character Study Committee (also, The Committee, or RCSC): A <br />committee of 16 citizens from across the County representing a <br />variety of occupations and interests. This Committee has been <br />charged with developing a strategy for the preservation of <br />natural resources, visual resources., agriculture., -..and growth <br />management. <br />1 <br />