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17 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> KU It 1-H CA 1W Ll NA Orange County, North Carolina <br /> Common zoning principles that are enforced in Orange County and <br /> throughout the state can have a disproportionate impact on available <br /> housing and housing costs. Similar to many growing communities and <br /> counties in North Carolina, Orange County zoning and land use regulations <br /> try to strike a balance between varying impacts and growth management <br /> techniques. Some can create barriers hindering affordable housing efforts <br /> while supporting other goals, nonetheless, certain zoning techniques have <br /> been identified as impediments. In order to promote and support affordable <br /> housing opportunities, these impediments must be reviewed, cross- <br /> balanced, and examined in order to reduce or ameliorate barriers in the <br /> future. <br /> B. CURRENT REGULATIONS SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING <br /> OPPORTUNITIES <br /> Providing housing opportunities for residents in a range of income levels is <br /> essential for a well-balanced community. Local government land use <br /> controls that limit the supply of housing can be the primary reason for the <br /> lack of affordable housing. The urban services boundary implemented in <br /> Orange County regulates the location of water and sewer infrastructure and <br /> the supply of available land for development. This can limit the supply of <br /> developable land; create a higher demand and increase housing prices in <br /> the local real estate market. <br /> Recognizing these effects and determining what factors are within Orange <br /> County's control is imperative in developing regulations that support <br /> affordable housing in the county. The Orange County Unified Development <br /> Ordinance contains standards and regulations allowing for and supporting <br /> affordable housing opportunities for Orange County residents. These are <br /> identified below: <br /> • The Unified Development Ordinance does not set minimum square <br /> footage requirements for residential structures, which assists in <br /> reducing overall costs. Minimum room square footages and <br /> dimensions are consistent with the North Carolina State Building <br /> Code. <br /> • Orange County strives to allow for a variety of housing types for <br /> residents in the general use zoning districts, economic development <br /> zoning districts, and conditional zoning districts in Orange County. <br /> Many of these residential uses are permitted by right which reduces <br /> Draft Affordable Housing Strategic Plan ;. <br />