Agenda - 08-25-2008- c2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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F~ Orange County Comprehensive Plan Update May 19, ?008 Public Hearing Continents prepared by Dolly Hunter, Community Action Network The Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition has the following comments about the Land Use Element: The wording of Land Use Objective 3.4, which discourages the location of non-farm and intensive residential development within farming areas, could exclusively prevent Rural Node and duster development in all rural areas. We recommend that Rural Node development be allowed in farming areas where appropriate transportation and services can be accessed. Aland use pattern for Rural Nodes should be identified on the Future Land Use Map. To protect farms from complaints and nuisance suits the new neighbors should be given notification of the right to farm. The coalition recommends (see comments dated May 5) several additional Land Use Objectives, including: 1. Amend the regulatory process in order to expedite the review and approval of residential cluster development forms throughout the County, including the Rural BufFer and other areas zoned for low density residence. 2. Expedite the development approval process for projects that commit to providing workforce and special needs housing; far housing in rural nodes; and for cluster developments throughout rural areas. Additional Comments from Dolly Hunter The tables of development activity for major, minor and exempt subdivision data from 1999 to 2007 be -should be included in the County Data Profile. This is absolutely necessary to accurately evaluate development trends. If placed in the Data Profile it can be updated with future years activity data. The tables and analysis of population data should very clearly delineate the population of unincorporated areas from that in incorporated areas of the county. The populations of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough should be removed or delineated to honestly reflect the unincorporated population. This is especially important in population comparisons and projections. Two examples that need accurate accounting are: • The Land Use Map 5.5 which shows the percent of population growth of each Township. The map should show (a) the number of additional people and {b) the change in populating between 1990 and 2000 population per Township; • The overall density of Orange County is 305 persons per square mile if one includes Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Using data only from the rural part of the county, density is closer to 100 persons per square mile. When comparing Orange County to other counties, the other counties should be identified, rather than not as is currently the case. Most importantly all analysis should be objective and not subjective and speculative. All subjective analysis should be removed from the text because it is in many cases misleading: In conclusion, Orange County has done an excellent job controlling growth and protecting the environment. I hope that now the county will being accommodating and directing growth in a visionary pattern to achieve social, .economic and environmental equity in the future.