Orange County NC Website
197 <br />p.5-38, Objective LU2-8 <br />Please provide some examples of nonrenewable resources that should be covered by the performance <br />standards. We would argue that the performance standards should be developed for development, period, <br />regardless of whether "nonrenewable resources" are involved. <br />p.5-38, Objective LU2-9 <br />Possible yields in terms of water quantity should be evaluated for ground and surface water. "Carrying <br />capacity" is a very subjective concept and can be affected by a number of factors, such as household size, <br />per-capita usage, irrigation practices, and conservation programs. Carrying capacity far too often assumes <br />a static per-capita level of use that greatly exceeds what humans actually need to survive. If "carrying <br />capacity" is included in the analysis, it should be as a suite of possible outcomes: how many people can <br />be supported under various scenarios. <br />p.5-38, Objective LU2-10 <br />There are several problematic elements, in LU2-10. New development and redevelopment, especially <br />"green" development and smart growth, may look slightly different and be somewhat denser than historic <br />land uses. The Objective could be interpreted as supporting opposition to such new development and <br />redevelopment that would be a net positive for the County. <br />The environmental impacts of a development need to carry significant weight in the decision making <br />process. There are numerous ways to minimize such impacts; however, some of them may be perceived <br />as conflicting with historic vernacular and character, such as increased densities and greater mixing of <br />uses than the County has historically experienced. We wholeheartedly support such a shift, and offer our <br />services to help communities work toward new developments and redevelopments that respect <br />community character but are walkable, transit supportive, and energy efficient. <br />Also, "community aesthetics" and "the visual... environment" are synonymous. Please edit Objective as <br />shown: <br />Develop design standards or guidelines that address scale, density, and aesthetic <br />considerations for residential, mixed-use, industrial, and commercial land uses to promote <br />community aesthetics, energy efficiency walkability and accessibility; and the protection of the <br />visual-a+~d-natural and cultural environments of the County. (See also Housing Objective H-3.1.) <br />p.5-38, Objective LU3-1 <br />Is development not going to tape place AT ALL in locations where necessary facilities do not exist? <br />Please cross-reference an objective that sets forth how new public investments will be targeted. <br />p.5-39, Objective LU 3-4 <br />Please state how "farming areas" will be defined <br />p.5-39, Objective LU3-7 <br />Such "nonresidential" clustered nodes should be mixed use, i.e., include residential development (cross- <br />reference Objective LU3-9) <br />p.5-40, Objective LU4-1 <br />Add "and multifamily dwellings," which achieve a similar objective, to wit: <br />"Support the use of individual mobile homes and multifamily dwellings as a useful housing <br />resource in the County by increasing the opportunities where these units can locate by-right." <br />p. 5-40, Objective LU4-4 <br />Insert "quality, energy-efficient" before "affordable," to wit: <br />The Village Project a PO Box 685 ° Carrboro NC 275.10 ° 919-942-6114 ° www thevillageproject.com 7 <br />