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PAGE 83 – JPA LAND USE PLAN Open Space Areas which are designated as significant and worthy of protection according to the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan completed in April of 1991. (See Master Plan Map following Strategy Maps). The areas are part of a system of open space in Durham and Orange Counties along New Hope Creek and its tributaries between Eno River State Park and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land north of Jordan Lake. This category is made up of critical environmental areas such as stream beds, floodplains, steep slopes, and larger tracts of historic, educational, or recreational value. The New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan describes these areas in detail and makes specific recommendations as to how they should be protected or utilized for environmental, educational, and/or recreational purposes. Agricultural Areas 2 During the compilation of background information, a land use survey was conducted of the Joint Planning Area. The survey indicated those land areas currently in use for agricultural purposes. This information was further verified through the Orange County Tax Office to determine those farms which were qualified and listed for use value taxation purposes. The Land Use Plan designated those farms and agricultural uses which are anticipated to continue in the same status during the planning period. Agricultural areas existing within Transition Areas are expected to change from rural to urban uses as Chapel Hill and Carrboro continue to grow and as public water and sewer services are expanded. Agricultural areas are located principally in University Lake Watershed but are also prominent along the northern perimeter of the Planning Area boundary. As development occurs in these areas, it will be of very low-density nature and will generally consist of farm dwelling and outbuildings. *University Lake Watershed Area *Amended 4/2/90 The University Lake Watershed Area includes all lands which drain into the University Lake reservoir. Density within this area is limited to 1 dwelling unit for every 5 acres with a required minimum lot size of 2 acres. Based on a preferred watershed protection strategy of land use controls as recommended by Camp, Dresser and McKee in the University Lake Watershed Study, only low-intensity residential uses are permitted. A minimum lot size of five (5) acres and a maximum density of one (1) unit per five (5) acres is required for any development. 3Cluster subdivisions with lot sizes of not less than one (1) acre are also allowed so long as density limits are adhered to. There is an allowance for as well as the creation of a limited number of 5 lots (5) of two-acre lots at a density of 1 unit per 2 acres for property legally in existence as of October 2, 1989.4 Additional lots shall be allowed consistent with the 1 unit per 5 acre density as detailed herein.5 2 Some of this information has been relocated to the renamed Rural Residential and Agricultural section of the Plan and is denoted in green underlined bold text on the next page. 3 The minimum lot size in the Rural Buffer is 2 acres. Density (i.e. how many residences allowed on a given property) has always been limited to 1 dwelling unit for every 5 acres of property. With this amendment Staff is moving density language to the front portion of the description so that it is understood what the limit it. We are also indicating the required minimum lot size for the area is 2 acres. 4 Staff is adding the specific date a lot has to have existed on to qualify for the 2 acre density allowance. 5 Staff has ensured the language describing the University Lake Watershed Area is consistent throughout the Plan. 131