Agenda 02-15-24; 2 - Consultant Briefing on Orange County Land Use Plan 2050

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9 • Chatham County (and potentially others) could be regional partners in providing recreational facilities, habitat protection, and conservation efforts. • Environmental justice issues are important, especially because historically minority populations have been subjected to worse environmental conditions than their more advantaged counterparts. The historically Black Rogers Road community, for instance, was located next to an active landfill by virtue of that community having less political voice. Making sure that all populations receive equitable health outcomes, as well as access to natural spaces, which can be key to maintaining and improving mental health, was mentioned by many stakeholders as a key agenda item for the upcoming Plan. • Making sure that there are more opportunities for passive recreation in the environment (or low-impact transportation, like bicycling) is important. • There is a strong need to start monitoring and reducing PFAS and PFOA pollution. • Climate change is seen as a real threat by almost all stakeholders, but there is debate as to whether the county is doing enough to mitigate and adapt to climate change or whether it is doing too much and neglecting some of its other responsibilities, such as economic development. • Agricultural landowners who are interested in maximizing the return on their land are concerned about zoning limitations and environmental protections that restrict development potential. This problem is especially notable around the Rural Commercial Activity Nodes (RCANs), where much of the surrounding property is currently agricultural or owned by farmers, and the current comprehensive plan projects for commercial development that is difficult to develop. • Similarly, schools, sanitation services, and utilities can find it difficult to find property to locate their services on by virtue of that land being reserved for conservation purposes or required for set aside by environmental regulations. • The County could be doing more to support climate action, resiliency, and sustainable development on public and private lands. One concern is being prepared for severe droughts exacerbated by being at the headwaters of the Neuse and Cape Fear River basins. Increase Local Employment Opportunities and Improve Fiscal Health • Businesses typically gravitate to Alamance and Chatham Counties because Orange County is seen as less business friendly. Some are concerned that the County does not do enough to change this narrative, which results in businesses exploring other communities in the Triangle. Concerted marketing efforts and clearer regulatory structures that inform businesses of what they should expect when they come to partner with Orange County are important if this narrative is to change. Orange County, North Carolina - Land Use Plan 2050 1 Stakeholder Interviews Summary 6