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Attachment 2 <br />Land Use Element <br />Range of Policy Options <br />Land Use/Zoning Density Options <br />PROLOGUE <br />The Land Use Plan creates a master plan for where different uses (residential, <br />commercial, etc,) are located and how intense (acres per units, square footage per <br />acre, etc.) the uses could be. The plan affects the Orange County planning jurisdiction <br />directly, which is 95% rural and 5% urbanizing residential and economic development.. <br />The Plan does not include municipal land use or zoning, but coordination is an <br />important aspect. <br />During the 4-year process of the Land Use Element update, the Planning Department <br />prepared future growth scenarios (options) based on existing regulations and trends. <br />This information led to a maximum growth scenario using existing zoning allowances of <br />approximately 145,000 new homes and over 345,000 new people if the County was to <br />'build out' over many years. <br />This scenario, although it could unfold over many years, creates an ongoing and more <br />unmanageable cumulative negative impact on the County. "Growth Management <br />Challenges and BOCC goals have been identified using a host of existing elected <br />advisory boards and task forces to note the improbability of the County becoming <br />sustainable at the present housing density rules and long-term growth potential at <br />'buildout' (i.e, when undeveloped lands are converted to developed lands). <br />Sustainability is the key to the future and preservation of quality of life in Orange County <br />Sustainability: how can we preserve our valuable environmental (air and water) and <br />cultural resources for future generations while managing growth in a manner where <br />public service costs do not overburden the people and the impacts of growth do not <br />diminish the quality of life appreciated by Orange County residents and businesses. <br />The following options presented attempt to lessen the long-term impacts of growth to <br />varying degrees. In addition, some options have a stronger focus on traffic reduction <br />and associated air gtaality, while others have mare dominant effects on water quality <br />and/or sprawl reduction. The land use highlights are noted with the options. <br />G:\Comprchensive Planning Div\GBNL\2005 Public Hwrings\Nov 2l\GCCP-LUEPolicy0ptions\Att 2-LUG Desc 1 l 1605 doc <br />