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As we pointed out in 2015 and reaffirm even more wholeheartedly now; our goals are fully <br /> congruent with and supportive of the 2030 OC Comprehensive Plan and its various urgent,and <br /> ambitious objectives, These include, broadly, "aligning our built environment and <br /> socioeconomic activities with the natural systems that support life" (section 1.3 "protection of <br /> the County's natural areas, including forests, wildlife habitat,'and other important open <br /> spaces"(2.2.4) and "discouraging urban sprawl, encourage a separation of urban and rural land <br /> uses" (5.7.3), "providing a diversity of housing types and housing densities... fora range of <br /> housing needs of current and future populations"(1.3.2 and 4.2'); and "supporting local <br /> agriculture and maintain the viability of local farms" (345),All,of these goals seem.likely to be <br /> reaffirmed and deepened in the emerging 2050 Plan as well. <br /> As an earnest of these commitments, we note that we have made rriajor'progress toward <br /> many of these goals, even without a residential community, For one, following up on our, <br /> commitment to open space and land preservation, we are in the.midst of putting about40%of <br /> our 112 acres into NC Land and Water Fund and Working Land easements, in partnership with <br /> both Orange County and the Eno River Association. Our land-preserving, conservation-and <br /> farm-oriented development is notable also because we lie within an area of high expected <br /> impact and urbanization (FLUM-designated 2o-yeartransition zone). <br /> As to "affordable... housing initiatives,designed to support non-profit organizations,.mdke use <br /> of state and federal funds, and provide housing opportunities for'County residents" (i:3,2), we <br /> are actively establishing partnership with Community Home Trust`forthe ownership of some <br /> of our community residences. We continue to explore potential USDA support and other state <br /> and federal opportunities as well. Low-cost natural building materials and methods, which'we <br /> embrace also for ecological purposes, combined with well-integrated "sweat equity <br /> opportunities, should also help to lower housing.costs for more.families. <br /> As for"preservation of working farms, forestry, and ancillary.a"gricultural businesses"and <br /> "developing a local food system that links local producers"and consumers" we have already <br /> established an active CSA(Community-Sponsored Agriculture' )'farm that supplies upwards of <br /> 6o,area households weekly. We also recently applied for and received a $so;000,Orahoe <br /> County Agricultural Economic Development grant to expand the CSA's washing and packing <br /> facility, work that has just now been completed. <br /> Looking beyond the MPD-CZ <br /> Our ideas and intentions have not changed, Indeed, based'upon our e'xperlence so far, the' are <br /> stronger than ever. We are proud of our on-the-'ground accomplishments so:far, asjust <br /> described, and of the non-residential community of several dozen people, mostly local but <br /> including some from all over the country, who have actively and continuously sustained <br /> planning and other activities since 2012. <br /> But circumstances have changed. Our existing MPD-CZ was approved in late 2osS. We;were <br /> thinking big. Our'application envisioned"a village of thirty flexibly-configured residence's along <br /> with a Common House; built all together and upfront, under cooperative ownership. A loop <br /> 2 <br />