Agenda - 03-29-2004-a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~D ~ 5 Urban Form Principle: A compact form of development should be achieved avoiding urban sprawl. The urbanizing areas of the Towns are the major growth centers in the Township. The "infill" of existing urban areas is the guiding principle upon which the Chapel Hill Township Plan is based. "Infill" development of suitable vacant land within the Towns at existing or projected densities, as set forth the Towns' 1977 Land Use Plans should be encouraged. Staff Comment: The proposed amendment is generally supportive of this principle in That it recognizes that an area originally proposed for urban densities will not develop in this fashion due to a policy change regarding infrastructure. Amending the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan and map to include it in the Rural Buffer area, and applying Rural Buffer zoning, will help maintain the existing rural character and inhibit urban sprawl. Utility Extensions Principle: The timing of utility extensions and the pace of growth should be coordinated. Water and sewer service should not be extended outside the boundaries of the Joint Planning Area. Staff Comment: The proposed amendment supports this principle b,y assigning the appropriate land use category fo an area no longer intended to receive water and sewer service. The amendment will bring closure to the process begun when the area was removed from the Urban Services Area. Allocation of Growth Principle: Areas where public facilities and services are available should be developed before areas where such services are not yet available. To the maximum extent feasible, no "spillover" growth from the two Towns will occur in Chatham or Durham Counties or in Bingham Township. In other words, all "spillover" development will be absorbed within the boundaries of Chapel Hill Township. The area north of Town is assumed to be most suitable for absorbing "spillover" because of transportation access, the large, efficiently sewerable area below the Morgan Creek-New Hope Creek divide, and existing growth patterns. The "Southern Triangle" area will develop only after all the suitable land south of and between the Duke Forest tracts has been developed. Duke Forest tracts will not be developed over the period 1980-2000. Staff Comment: The proposed amendment supports this principle by incorporating in the plan what has already been formalized in the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan and the Water and Sewer Management Planning and Boundary Agreement. It will protect Chatham County from "spillover" by maintaining the existing rural character of the area. Finally, it will remove the Chapel Hill Southern Transition Area from the "Southern Triangle,"making the entire area Rural Buffer. G:\Comprchensivc Dimming Div\GENE~?004 Public HwriogsWiar 291PAWmdt to 1PA LUPV+mdt to 1PA LUP ]t SmffMcmo doc 7