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<br />Following provides a brief summary of Planning Staffs recommendations for Residential Zoning <br />Density and Minimum Lot Size: <br />1. Residential Density <br />The proposed Residential Density zoning amendment implements policy options within the <br />Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element by reducing urban and rural sprawl potential <br />through a reduction in future housing density. This regulation, along with other existing <br />policies, are necessary to address identified growth challenges in the areas of air and <br />water quality, water resources, environmental protection, open space preservation, traffic <br />control, and efficient provision of public services. <br />Existing studies, conditions and future trends identify limited and fragile resources that <br />need to be measured with future growth potential. Planning Staff will present six (6) <br />options for Residential Zoning Density within the County's rural planning jurisdiction, that <br />range from existing zoning density (Option 1) to increasingly resource-based, limited- <br />density plans (Options 2-5 proposals) addressing water and air quality and limiting traffic. <br />No changes are being suggested far Urban Transition areas and Rural Activity Nodes. <br />Option 1 -Existing Maximum Density Plan (Present zoning plan could allow over <br />130,000 additional units) <br />Option 2 -Medium-Low Density Plan (Trends show that aver 100,000 additional units is <br />possible) <br />Option 3 -Low Density/Low Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Plan (This plan lowers density <br />the farther one travels from employment centers and major transportation routes, thereby <br />decreasing total traffic miles) <br />Option 3.1 -Low Density Plan (Resembles Historic Density. The average long-term rural <br />density is approximately 2.8 acres per dwelling, and this plan approximates this density <br />excepf in critical watershed areas, which are matched to the existing Cane Creek and <br />University Lake) <br />Option 4 -Lowest Density Plan (Cane Creek and University Lake watersheds have <br />existing low density rules (1 dwelling unit per 2-5 acres) which could be applied to other <br />watersheds.) <br />Option 5 -Lowest Density Plan (Upper Neuse Watershed Management Plan and Cape <br />Fear River Basin Assembly) (Matches recommendations from the Upper Neuse <br />Watershed Management Plan and suggests rules to be consistent in the Cape Fear <br />Basin) <br />Maps illustrating each of the options above will be on display at the meeting. <br />Attachment 1 provides a summary of growth projections for each of the density options <br />provided above. It should be noted that "Option 1 -Existing Maximum Density Plan", <br />which is based on the county's existing residential zoning densities, could ultimately <br />~ .{ umprchenbi~c l'I;wnin~ ilia illNli.^OOS Public Ri~ann s i!trii ?3 Jonne .lmondmrnL~Absu a~~ opt lti~ dnc <br />