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71 <br /> REGIONAL AND LOCAL GROWTH <br /> POLICIES <br /> RGA Support sustainable development across <br /> Orange County as guided by the Conservation <br /> • Growth Framework • joint planning with <br /> municipalities. <br /> Orange County will use the Conservation and Growth Framework (map <br /> and future land use categories) to support sustainable development <br /> across the county that balances conserving natural areas and working <br /> lands, providing more attainable housing choices, and increasing <br /> employment opportunities and the local tax base. Continue working <br /> with municipalities to support the development of sustainable urban and <br /> suburban-scale growth in their jurisdictions. <br /> The intent of this policy is to balance the need to provide more housing options that <br /> are attainable to the local workforce,conservation of important environmental and <br /> agricultural lands,and the need for a broader and more diversified tax base to alleviate <br /> the tax burden on residential households in Orange County.The Conservation and <br /> Growth Framework(the future land use map for Orange County) provides a balanced <br /> approach for achieving these planning objectives and will be used by the Planning <br /> and Inspections Department, Planning Board,and Board of County Commissioners, <br /> along with the policies in this plan,to guide land use planning decisions within the <br /> unincorporated areas in the County's planning and zoning jurisdiction. In addition, <br /> the County will support sustainable development efforts within the municipalities of <br /> Orange County through partnership opportunities. Objectives of this policy include: <br /> • Continue to protect important natural lands,water supply watershed areas,wildlife <br /> habitats,environmentally sensitive areas,and prime working lands (forests,farms, <br /> and other agricultural operations) as guided by the Conservation and Preservation <br /> future land use category. <br /> • Provide balanced opportunities for development of rural-scale residential units at <br /> very-low densities that limit impacts on the natural environment as guided by the <br /> Rural Residential and Rural Buffer future land use categories. <br /> • Support an increase in housing choices in unincorporated Orange County through <br /> the Rural Conservation Neighborhood future land use category that requires the <br /> protection of 60%of a property's highest value environmental and agricultural <br /> lands in trade for allowing for small lots on the remaining portions of the site.Allow <br /> for higher density conservation subdivisions within proximity to activity nodes and <br /> growth areas. <br /> 68 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT <br />