CFE 081301 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• Vehicle miles traveled has increased by 43 % between 1987 and 1997 , over and above increase in traffic due to population growth . This averages 28 miles per person per day versus 20 miles per person per day in 1987 . This figure will go up , with attendant increases in air pollution and the further development of roads and other impermeable surfaces unless aggressive steps are taken to reduce it . • Aggravating this trend is the fact that the county has very little roadway that is safe and adequate for bicycle transportation . The lack of infrastructure that would promote bicycling as a viable transportation option has contributed to the increase in vehicle miles traveled and the deterioration of air quality . Priorities If Orange County' s current development trends continue for the next thirty years , the result will be a county largely subdivided into two - acre lots and suburban developments , with little or no productive farmland and only a few fragmented parcels of habitat for the county' s unique species . The county needs to plan aggressively for- its future and guide development in a way that preserves rural character, productive farms , critical habitat , and open space . This is best done through guiding development away from : • biologically or ecologically sensitive areas., such as wetlands ; • critical habitat for the county' s unique species ; • those areas most productive for other uses., such as farming ; and • encouraging clustered development in rural villages , activity nodes , and other areas most suitable for human habitation . Such planning., which sites each use in its most appropriate area within the county, creates a richly diverse and productive landscape . Recommendations In addition to the studies mentioned above , the various committees working for the county have proposed strategies to address their particular area of concern . These groups should be encouraged to continue their work and to develop their studies into long-term policy recommendations . The BOCC should also see that the groups coordinate their planning and recommendations so that multiple solutions may be achieved within single proposals . In particular, the EIE Committee recommends that the Joint Master Recreation and Parks Work Group coordinate with the Bicycle Task Force and the Land Resources Conservation manager to examine ways in which open space might jointly or complementarily meet the needs of recreation, bikeways and critical habitat . The EIE Committee makes the following recommendations to address the rapid growth currently being experienced by the county : 1 . Immediately adopt and implement a farmland preservation plan , through the proposed Lands Legacy program . The EIE Committee recommends implementing both Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) for maximum flexibility in acquisition methods .