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.38 <br />Val :ark► . <br />Orange County <br />Planning & inspections Department <br />306E Revere Road :Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />�V1. Telephone: (919) 732 -8181 <br />FAX (919) 644 -3002 <br />.tar G4NE CREEK WATERSHED STAFF REPORT <br />EXE( U'I'NE SUIIRMARY. October 30,199$ <br />The <br />.Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) report entitled "Final Recommendations for <br />Protecting the Cane Creek Water Supply" was referred to Planning staff to 1) <br />evaluate the <br />watershed study, and 2) prepare a staff report with applicable recommendations, prior to the <br />development of any proposed ordinance amendments. <br />Accordingly, this summer, planning staff members formed the Cane Creek Analysis Team <br />(CCA'l) to evaluate the implications of the Cane Creek Reservoir Watershed Study and final <br />OWASA recommendations. Because of the cost and time required to quantify impacts, and the <br />unitnown cost- effectiveness of such research, assessment of the .watershed study and OWASA <br />recommendati ons impacts was largely of a qualitative nature. At this point, staff are able to <br />Provide Preliminary <br />recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Following.,additional <br />input, staff will prepare a final recommendation for the November 23, 1998 public hearing. <br />Staff Analysis. <br />Preliminary.analysis of the watershed study and OWASA recommendations reveals that.ensuring <br />adequate and reliable long term protection of the water quality of Cane Creek Reservoir <br />necessitates a reduction.inthe pattern; intensity and/or amount of future development activity in <br />the watershed. Such a reduction can only be accomplished with certainty through land use <br />controls that cause development to occur in either large -lot or cluster configurations. Based on <br />staff's analysis, there appear to be three watershed management options that would accomplish <br />the needed long -term water quality protection. Each offers potential benefits and drawbacks. <br />Option l: Mandatory Flexible Development/ Large Lot <br />Current two -acre zoning along with mandatory flexible development (33% open space) <br />outside of the watershed critical area. In the critical area; five -acre lot zoning with 'up to <br />five lots as small as two acres for lots of record. OWASA 20 year plan for land acquisition <br />resulting in 1,266 acres. <br />Option 2: Creative Open-Space Development ( "Open- Space" or. "Cluster'} <br />Current two -acre zoning along with mandatory "Creative Open -Space Design" (50% open <br />space with one acre minimum lot size). Tributary detention ponds on Caterpillar Creek and <br />