Agenda - 10-07-2008- 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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14.5 Orange County Comprelieusive Plan Update May 19, 2008 Public Hearing Comineirts .prepared by Dolly Hunter, Conuiluiuty Action Network The Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coali ion has the following comments abouf 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 cluster 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: I. 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; for 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 iri 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. Tlie 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 leas done an excellent job controlling growth alld protecting the envirotuz~ent. I hope that now the county will being acconuilodating and directing growth in a visionary pattern to aclveve social, econonuc and' envirolunental equity in the future.