Orange County NC Website
11 <br /> Exhibit A <br /> Justification Statement in Support of Atlas Map Amendment <br /> (Updated September 15,2025) <br /> The subject property is approximately 6 1.11 acres located along Highway 54 north of the <br /> intersection with White Coss Road in White Cross. Surrounding and nearby land uses include <br /> homes and farms,American Legion Post No. 6, Fiesta Grill, Bravos Market,Whitecross Mart, <br /> Carrboro Tropicals,Aguilar Tire and Automotive Center, Casework Arts and Stone Services. <br /> Surrounding and nearby properties are zoned Residential-1,Agricultural-Residential, <br /> Neighborhood Commercial, and Local Commercial. <br /> The subject property is zoned Residential-1 ("R-1"). R-1 allows for rural non-farm residential <br /> development at a density of one unit per acre under a conventional subdivision process. We <br /> propose to rezone the property to Residential Conditional District("R-CD") to allow for 43 <br /> homes with design flexibility in accordance with an associated site plan and written conditions <br /> that address compatibility and harmony with the surrounding area. <br /> The Future Land Use Map of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan designates this property Rural <br /> Residential and includes it in a Rural Community Activity Node. Rural Residential encourages <br /> low density residential development such as this. The Rural Community Activity Node <br /> acknowledges that the area is appropriate for certain commercial or institutional uses.Although <br /> there are many such uses in this area, none are proposed here. <br /> The 2030 Comprehensive Plan's Land Use Element of the begins by stating that "a fundamental <br /> and repeated concept expressed throughout each of the Elements of the Comprehensive Plan is <br /> the need to plan for sustainable growth."Between 2010 and 2020, Orange County's population <br /> grew by 11%, adding nearly 15,000 new residents. The Plan clearly indicates a need for <br /> additional housing to accommodate the County's fast-growing population, but also that housing <br /> should be developed thoughtfully with the intention of maintaining the area's rural character and <br /> critical natural resources. The Rigsbee development is intended to meet this need. The <br /> neighborhood will provide new homes for 43 families while preserving nearly 20 acres of <br /> contiguous land as primary open space for habitat preservation and passive recreation. The <br /> design protects the creek and all associated floodplains and buffers, and incorporates green <br /> stormwater features to infiltrate and clean storm runoff for an added layer of protection. Rigsbee <br /> will also be built outside of prime forest land on a property managed for many years for active <br /> forestry and agriculture. The new community's open spaces will ultimately protect its most <br /> valuable land to preserve its ecological integrity while also meeting the need for sustainable <br /> long-term growth. <br /> Our goal is to create a thoughtfully designed community at Rigsbee that integrates sustainable <br /> practices, embracing the beauty of its natural setting and its long agricultural history. Green <br /> stormwater management features will be incorporated into the community design to naturally <br /> capture and treat stormwater, following practices designed to protect nearby Collins Creek and <br /> its tributaries so that they remain healthy and clean. We are proposing up to 43 lots of about <br /> 20,000 square feet, each with its own septic system and serviced by a community well. Homes <br /> will be situated along two central spines, all with easy access to a network of trails and a shared <br /> 169776813.5 <br />