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U <br /> L � xGOT <br /> g Environmental Quality Indicator : <br /> kA <br /> �I tj <br /> r � <br /> Why indicator I Land use identifies how individual parcels of land are used such as <br /> was selected agriculture , park , or office . Some land uses impact the natural <br /> environment more than others . <br /> How indicator Wake County Planning uses a computer program which assigns a <br /> was measured specific land use classification to each parcel in the Assessor ' s <br /> records . The program uses information on each parcel record such <br /> as zoning , tax rate , land class and building use to assign the existing <br /> land use . Because the model does not measure road right- of- way <br /> areas directly, a proportional percentage of the road right- of- way <br /> areas has been assigned to each land use classification . <br /> The trend Since 1995 , the acreage of agricultural and vacant land has <br /> in Wake County I decreased while residential acreage has increased . Agriculture ( 27 % ) <br /> and residential area ( 26 % ) were the primary land uses . In 1996 , the <br /> ! county still contained about 100 , 000 acres of vacant parcels , about <br /> 20 % of the whole county ( 548 , 000 acres ) . Other categories of land <br /> use including commercial , industrial , institutional , office , forestry, <br /> and parks remained about the same since 1995 . <br /> The Wake County Wake County has developed a Land Use Plan which encourages <br /> Government response ( residential , commercial - retail , and office ) growth in and around the <br /> municipalities and away from the water supply watersheds . Part of <br /> o <br /> the plan identifies and provides incentives to preserve pens pace . <br /> Wake County works with the farming community to conserve <br /> natural resources and farming as a way of life . <br /> i <br /> 3 <br />