Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
102 <br /> and New Hope Creek-Jordan Lake Areas and Open Spaces" and "Preserving <br /> watersheds,which span portions of Agricultural Lands" <br /> Chatham, Durham, Orange,and Wake <br /> Counties.The plan offers actionable During Community Engagement Window <br /> strategies to ensure wildlife habitat #2, respondents expressed highest <br /> connectivity throughout these support for the Vision Theme,"Protect <br /> regions. Critical Watershed Areas and Open <br /> Spaces and Preserve Agricultural Lands" <br /> • At the time of this writing,an updated (85%).The Working Lands and Open Space <br /> Farmland Preservation Plan is Goal also received high support (84% of <br /> underway. Once completed, it may respondents). <br /> inform working land-related policies <br /> in the future. When asked if they agreed with <br /> the County's current approach to <br /> Community Aspirations managing conservation and growth in <br /> unincorporated areas,the majority agreed: <br /> The survey from the 2024 Strategic Plan 60% in the short survey and 58% in the <br /> and community engagement from the long survey.The majority of respondents <br /> Land Use Plan 2050 provide insights also supported a shift in the County's land <br /> into the community's perspectives on use approach to place more emphasis <br /> agriculture,working lands,and open space. on protecting environmental,agricultural, <br /> In the Strategic Plan Survey, respondents watershed,and rural) lands (75% in the <br /> shared that their decision to live in Orange short survey and 54/o in the long survey). <br /> County was influenced by the availability In contrast, in the long survey,35/o did not <br /> of parks and open spaces,with 44%citing support this shift. <br /> this as a key reason.When asked about When asked about their level of support <br /> preferred types of development and for changing the County's land use <br /> growth in the county,69% of respondents approach to encourage new Rural <br /> favored parks and nature reserves,while Conservation Neighborhoods—where <br /> 47%supported the preservation of family smaller lot sizes would be allowed in <br /> farms. exchange for permanently protecting 60% <br /> During Community Engagement Window of the site-52% of respondents supported <br /> #1,94% of respondents expressed the this concept. However,32% disagreed due <br /> belief that well-preserved forests, rivers, to concerns about the affordability and <br /> and other natural spaces should be central availability of housing and questions about <br /> to Orange County's identity in the region. the management of private water and <br /> When asked about the most important wastewater systems. <br /> environmental needs in the future,the <br /> second highest response was to protect <br /> agricultural/working lands and healthy <br /> soils.Additionally,when asked about their <br /> biggest concerns for the county's future, <br /> the most commonly identified topic was <br /> sustainable land use, growth, and sprawl. <br /> Accordingly,two key themes identified in <br /> the New Issues and Opportunities Report <br /> include "Protecting Critical Watershed <br /> ORANGE COUNTY LAND USE PLAN 2050 99 <br />