HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-20-1998 - 2bSYNTHESIS REPORT
SUBMITTED BY THE
SYNTHESIS WORK GROUP
TO THE
SHAPING ORANGE COUNTY'S FUTURE TASK FORCE
SEPTEMBER 285 1998
Introduction
In the fall of 1997, six working committees were formed by the SOCF Task Force to identify
issues of importance within six broad areas cited by Orange County citizens as critical to
shaping our future: Economy; Education and Cultural Arts; Environment and Resource
Protection; Human Services, Health and Safety; Land Use and Growth; and Transportation,
Infrastructure and Services. Two additional ( "umbrella ") committees were formed early in
1998 to explore relationships among the identified issues in terms of the underlying themes of
the SOCF initiative: sustainability and community building. On June 1, reports on all of these
efforts were presented to the governing boards of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and
Orange County.
In reviewing this work at a Task Force meeting on June 25`x, it was immediately apparent that
the vast amount of information that had been gathered needed to be synthesized into a single,
integrated and coherent statement to provide focus for upcoming discussions of conflicting
issues and to assist in setting parameters for developing scenarios of possible futures. Thus,
the Synthesis Work Group was created, made up of Task Force members and other interested
citizens, many of whom had served on one or more of the previous committees. This group
met five times from July to September to produce the report which follows.
The purposes of the Synthesis Report are:
• to provide a framework within which to view all of the relevant issues;
• to specify major forces and trends propelling and limiting change in the County;
• to identify issues seemingly in conflict with one another thus encouraging debate and
discussion leading toward resolutions
The report is divided into four sections and two appendices:
♦ Section I describes some of the major forces and trends affecting change in Orange County.
These provide a context for examining key issues.
♦ Section II defines a framework of eight focus areas within which to view the various issues.
These areas are: Economic Vitality and Quality, Managing Growth and Development,
Transportation Issues, Environment and Natural Resources, Responsive Governance and
Quality Public Services, Quality Community Life and Participation, Basic Human Needs,
Services and Issues, and Diverse Educational Needs.
♦ Section III is a first attempt to list those issues that appear to be in conflict and on which
further discourse is needed.
♦ Section IV concludes the report, describing the next steps in the SOCF process and how the
report should prove useful.
♦ Appendix A includes a matrix listing all of the issues identified in the previous reports
under focus area headings. Many issues can fall under more than one focus area. Thus,
those that do not have one clear primary focus are listed under more than one focus area in
the matrix.
♦ Appendix B is a diagram contributed by one of the Work Group members showing insight
into how forces impacting Orange County's future can be examined.
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I. Forces and Trends Affecting Orange County
A. Driving Forces
There are several major driving forces and trends in Orange County that are significantly
affecting how the County is changing. The identification and acknowledgement of these forces
provides a context within which to view the key issues facing the County. Many of the
important trends affecting Orange County are also a reflection of national trends particularly
population growth, the growing gap in wealth, loss of community, availability and cost of
health care, increasing consumption, and changes in technology and transportation patterns.
♦ Population growth
The factor that is having the most significant impact on the face of the County and which was a
major impetus in formation of the Task Force is population growth. Orange County is part of
one of the fastest growing regions of the country, and the impacts of this growth are multi-
faceted, affecting virtually every aspect of life in the County. The location of the university
within the County and the location of the County within the Triangle area make Orange County
a very attractive place for a diversity of people from young professionals to retirees. These
factors have positive impacts in terms of attracting a diverse and well- educated citizenry, but
also have a down side in terms of the negative impacts of rapid population growth can bring.
Citizens of the County are concerned that this rapid growth is bringing deep and lasting
changes that may negatively impact the quality of life in Orange County.
Economic growth is a related force affecting change in the County. The strong economy of
the County has significant impacts both in the fact that it attracts people to live here, and in
that it creates the opportunity to reduce the number of residents dependent upon welfare and to
provide jobs with a living wage. Though economic growth has resulted in low unemployment,
many people do not have jobs that pay a living wage.
Several demographic changes will be impacting the cultural makeup and citizen needs within
the County. Examples of these demographic changes are the growth in the senior,
Hispanic /Latino /a, Asian - American, and disabled populations. Another demographic factor
affecting the County is population transience, due in particular to UNC -CH and to corporations
which routinely transfer their employees.
♦ UNC -CH and UNC Hospitals
The institutions of UNC - Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals provide many services and benefits to
the community in terms of health care, employment, and educational and cultural
opportunities. But the complex of UNC -CH and UNC Hospitals has often been referred to as
"a 1,000 pound gorilla" with which the County must contend. UNC -CH has significant
impact in terms of land use, economics, facilities, housing, transportation, and the
environment. The possible enrollment growth at UNC -CH, due to the "baby boomlet" will
result in increased impacts to the community, many of which are as yet unknown. UNC -CH
currently has a committee looking at enrollment growth.
N
B. Trends
♦ Growing Gap in Wealth and Income
There is a striking gap in wealth and income within Orange County. There is a large income
split with high paying professional jobs at one end, and low paying service jobs at the other
without many mid -wage jobs in- between, resulting in lack of a strong middle class in the
County.
♦ Loss of Community
Loss of a sense of community involves many issues and factors including issues of the long
history of the County, racial divisions, geographic divisions along urban/rural lines, and the
sense of a lack of government representation in County government. These lead to feelings of
alienation and voter apathy among some residents.
♦ Availability and Cost of Health Care
The lack of affordable, available health care for everyone within the County is a major factor
affecting quality of life for many citizens. It is estimated that over 14% of citizens in the
County are without health insurance.
♦ Increasing Natural Resource Consumption
The increase of natural resource consumption is resulting in irreparable loss of biodiversity,
natural areas, and valuable landscapes, as populations grow and sprawl occurs (i.e. an
increased per capita consumption of land). Likewise total and per capita consumption of water
and energy are increasing.
♦ Changing Transportation Patterns
There is a growing awareness that building more roads is not always the answer to traffic
congestion. The old, nationwide railroad system is nearly lost, but there is increasing interest
in development of mass transit, including light rail, and other alternative transportation systems
such as bikeways and pedestrian ways.
♦ Advances in Technology
The trend of advancing technology has both positive and negative impacts. Technology can
assist us in reaching our goals, but it can also lead to an over - reliance on technological
solutions to provide quick fixes to more fundamental problems.
♦ Increasing Demand on Schools
There is an increasing demand on schools to do more than they used to do, i.e. to address
academics, special needs, diverse cultures, and lacks in stable home environments.
K3
C. Factors that Affect Options
There are important factors that must also be acknowledged, which limit our capability to
achieve our desired ends, or limit our capacity to grow while maintaining quality of life.
♦ Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is the limit of the natural environment to accommodate growth. All
resources: land, water, air, energy are finite in nature. Nature (of which humans are a part)
can only stand so much pollution, and only so much harvesting of resources. When pushed
beyond these limits the ecological integrity of an ecosystem fails.
♦ Individual Capacity
This refers to the limits of people's individual resources of time and energy for participation.
♦ Cost of Government Services
Community priorities and tax funds available determine provision of government services,
including human services.
♦ Lack of Information and Access to Information
Lack of information and easy access to information limits government's ability to make
informed decisions and policies. Information is gathered and re- gathered since there is no
centralized database that organizes all existing data.
♦ Multi - national, Global, Corporate Economy
Living in the shadow of the multi - national, corporate, consumerist world means confronting
powerful economic forces when the changes we desire conflict with their goals and
assumptions.
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H. Eight Focus Areas
Eight focus areas were created as a comprehensive framework into which all of the previously
identified issues could fit. Below is a listing and description of the eight focus areas and major
issues under each. While it is recognized that all of the issues are interrelated to at least some
extent and in varying degrees, and that virtually any issue could fit under any focus area, it
was necessary for purposes of organization and discussion to designate each major issue into
one focus area. So, for example, while sustainable economic development could be under
either the Environment and Natural Resources or Human Needs, Services and Issues focus
areas, it is placed under Economic Vitality and Quality since this was considered to be its
primary "home".
A more complete listing of all key issues identified by the committees can be found in
Appendix A, which is an issue matrix organized by focus area.
1. Economic Vitality and Quality
♦ Sustainable economic development - This is defined as economic development that
adheres to the goals of sustainability (i.e. does not use resources faster than they can be
replaced, works toward zero waste and pollution, is equitable, allows people to live in
dignity and fosters community.)
♦ Business /commercial /industrial /agricultural opportunities
♦ Job creation, diversity, and retention
♦ Cost of living and affordability
♦ Cumbersome local approval of commercial projects
2. Management of Growth and Development
♦ Population growth
As previously discussed population growth is a primary force propelling development.
♦ Land use development issues
• Mixed use
• Urban growth boundaries, buffers, greenbelts
• Density of development
• Infill development
• Sprawl
• Infrastructure provision
• Neighborhood character
• Undeveloped land: open space, farmland and forest
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3. Transportation Issues
♦ Alternative types of transport (including mass transit, bicycle, and pedestrian)
♦ Environmental impacts
♦ Economic impacts
♦ Concurrent, integrated transportation and land use planning
♦ Needs - based, community- oriented transportation planning
4. Environment & Natural Resources
♦ Land - loss of natural areas, rare species, natural corridors, wildife habitat and
diversity, open space, farmland, and forest loss and fragmentation (particularly
hardwood forests).
♦ Water - quality and quantity of ground and surface water; loss of aquatic habitat and
diversity; and drinking water chlorination
♦ Air quality
♦ Energy
5. Responsive Governance & Quality Public Services
♦ Government accountability and efficiency
♦ Tax issues
• Balance between residential and commercial base
• Rising taxes
♦ Fair representation in government - Currently the County Commissioners are elected at
large. This system is viewed by many to result in a lack of rural representation.
♦ Facilitated public participation (i.e. government encourages participation)
♦ Public services such as sewer, water, solid waste management, street maintenance,
police, fire, education, and essential public facilities construction including school
construction
♦ Information base for good decision - making
• Sustainability indicators (these will let us know what direction we are headed)
6. Quality Community Life and Participation
♦ Preserving, sustaining and building a sense of community
♦ Civic participation
♦ Human rights and relations
♦ Full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to insure full access
for the disabled
♦ Urban/rural gap
♦ Cultural diversity
♦ Cultural arts
♦ Recreation and parks
♦ Community centers
♦ Local history and historic preservation
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7. Basic Human Needs, Services and Issues
♦ Adequate income
♦ Affordable, safe, housing
♦ Adequate nutrition
♦ Safety
• Crime prevention
• Safe environment
♦ Healthcare, including preventive services and education
♦ Childcare
♦ Mental health
♦ Senior issues
♦ Disabled issues
♦ Drug and alcohol abuse
♦ Abuse /neglect: child, domestic, elder
8. Diverse Educational Needs & Services
♦ Childcare and Preschool
♦ Elementary, Middle & High School
♦ Schooling options
♦ Vocational training
♦ Children with special needs
♦ Children who are academically gifted
♦ Literacy education
♦ ESL and bilingual education
♦ Job training
♦ Adult education/continuing education/distance learning*
♦ Higher education
* distance learning refers to courses and programs that are computer -based and conducted
through the internet rather than in a classroom
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III. Perceived Conflicts and Dilemmas
While most of the issues identified by the six citizen committees are widely - shared concerns,
there are a number for which citizens have differing viewpoints depending on where they live
in the County, the nature and location of their work, their economic status, age, family
responsibilities, and a variety of other factors. This section contains "a starter list" of such
issues. The Work Group was unable to fully delve into this area, and, therefore, recommends
a committee be formed to further reflect on, identify and refine these issues.
In describing these differing viewpoints as "perceived conflicts and dilemmas" this report
suggests that many "conflicts" are not really conflicts at all, and that satisfactory resolutions
can often be found when citizens engage in rational and civil dialogue - that is, when they
listen to each other and consider solutions together. In a community as diverse as Orange
County, there will always be differing opinions on many issues requiring further dialogue and
debate. It is recommended that some mechanism be established that fosters this process on a
continuing basis. Finding solutions to perceived conflicts and dilemmas is not only important
to developing a growth strategy for Orange County, but also to building community among all
of us who live here.
Following is a starter list of such issues:
• Debate of the environment vs. the economy
• Provision of services vs. willingness to pay
• Paying for farmland
• Land preservation vs. development density
• Rural /urban split in interests
• Traditionally under- represented people in government: Rural people, people of color,
latino /a people
• Private property rights vs. the needs of the community
• Infrastructure provision
• Role of science and technology
IV. Conclusion
The next steps for the SOCF process are for the Task Force to create alternatives scenarios for
the County's future and then, to design and hold citizen workshops to generate further
discussion of issues and to develop recommendations. It is hoped that the Synthesis report will
bring focus to this effort by providing a framework which connects and integrates all of the
issues identified by the citizen committees.
It is important to note that this report is not intended to replace those previous committee
reports which will continue to be the repositories of detailed information critical to the
directions and outcomes of the work of the Task Force. Rather, it sets some useful parameters
for thinking about how Orange County should grow. And it also begins the important process
of identifying some of the dilemmas with which the Task Force and community must come to
terms if we are to generate agreed upon recommendations that will guide us toward a desirable
future for all our citizens.
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Appendix A
This appendix contains a matrix of issues identified by the citizen committees. It is provided
to give an understanding of the span of issues that have been identified by the citizen
committees.
Issues are arranged under the eight focus areas. Several of the issues can be placed with equal
justification under more than one focus area. These issues are listed under each applicable
focus area in the matrix, and the number(s) of the other applicable focus area(s) are listed in
parenthesis to the right of the issue.
1. Economic
Vitality and
Quality
Business diversity-fostering a good small-business environment; avoiding reliance on a few large employers
Natural resource protection and business activities (recycling, eco-industrial parks)
Business opportunities and environmentally sound transportation
The environment and job creation
Viability of agriculture as a business (2,4)
Lack of mid-wage, mid-skill jobs(and relation to zoning)
Impact of UNC on our economy (7)
Affordability and cost of living
Cumbersome processes for local approval of commercial projects (2,5)
2. Management
Of Growth and
Development
Local and regional coordination for land use planning
Mixed use development
Buffers/Urban Growth Boundaries
Infill development
Development density
, Loss of environmental quality and natural resources (4)
Loss of open space(forests or fields) (4)
Urban sprawl/avoiding sprawl (4)
Loss of rural character (4)
Farm and farmland preservation; viability of agriculture as a business; and loss of prime agricultural soils to development(affects open
space, water quality, rural character, wildlife corridor, economy, etc. issues) (1,4)
Historic preservation (including preservation of structures and sites; coordination of activities; public awareness) (6)
Resource-wise infrastructure planning/relationship between land use and infrastructure
Limit expansion of power lines and telecommunication towers, and encourage alternative electrical generation
Neighborhood character
Downtown revitalization
State/local decision making framework-expanding ability of local gov'ts to chart their own course
Institutional longe-range plans(UNC, Duke)
(cont.) Cumbersome processes for local approval of commercial projects (1,5)
implications of land development on local taxes/budgets (5)
Balance of residential and non-residential development (5)
Provision of public services such as sewer, water, police, fire, etc. (5)
Alternative transportation modes including pedestrian, rail, bus, bicycle, carpooling (3)
Linking Transportation Planning and Land Use Patterns/Sense of community-(mixed use, transit oriented development, scenic roads)
(3)
Parks and Recreation issues including need for more facilities outside of towns, swimming pools, greenways in Rural Buffer, teen
programs, parkland north of Hillsborough, a better means of funding, more park/school combinations, better (6)
3. Transportation
Issues
Alternative transportation modes including pedestrian, rail, bus, bicycle, carpooling (2)
Local and regional coordination of transportation planning
Linking Transportation Planning & Land Use Patterns/Sense of community(mixed use, transit oriented development, scenic roads, etc.)
(2)
Road congestion -specifically around downtown Hillsborough
Transpo�tation concerns for special populations including the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with low income; linking
people with jobs and services
Air pollutants-cumulative impacts on public health; impact of heavy duty trucks and automobiles; indoor air pollution (4)
4. Environment
, & Natural
Resources
Understanding of interrelationships of natural resources and their relationship to human activity, limits of these resources, and past,
current, and projected status of these resources �
Preservation, conservation and improvement of the environment and the resource base
Full cost accounting of pollution and resource depletion
Environmental awareness/ethic
Local and regional coordination for environmental and resource protection planning
Utilization of incentives vs. regulations to address environmental/resource problems
Loss of natural areas, rare species, and natural corridors; decline in wildlife diversity and habitat; loss and fragmentation of forest,
particularly hardwood forests
Loss of open space (forests or fields) (2)
Farm and farmland preservation; viability of agriculture as a business; and loss of prime agricultural soils to development(affects open
space, water quality, rural character, wildlife corridor, economy, etc. issues) (1,2)
Loss of rural character (2)
Urban sprawl/avoiding sprawl (2)
Limited surface and groundwater resources and more water demands due to increasing population and per capita consumption; need
for water conservation
Contamination of surface and ground water; inadequate monitoring of wells, septic systems; runoff of chemicals, nutrients, and
sediment
Decline in aquatic habitat and aquatic diversity
Continuance of groundwater research
Total reliance on chlorination for water disinfection
Increasing amount of impervious surfaces
Air pollutants-cumulative impacts on public health; impact of heavy duty trucks and automobiles; indoor air pollution (3)
Noise pollution
Waste reduction/recycling
Energy issues: increasing per capita use; decreasing fleet average mpg; increasing auto ownership; dec'g use of conservation habits
Need for clear political authority and will for landfill management
5. Responsive
Governance 8�
Quality Public
Services
Implications of land development on local taxes/budgets (2)
High local property tax burden, on residents and businesses
Balance of residential and non-residential development (2)
Government accountability and efficiency
Government representation
Provision of public services such as sewer, water, police, fire, etc. (2)
Cumbersome processes for local approval of commercial projects (1,2)
6. Quality
Community
Life and �
Participation
Cultural arts issues: building database of artists; collaboration among arts groups, artists, schools&funding agencies; space for artists,
and for exhibits and performances; support for arts; careful consideration of proposed Performing Arts Center, etc
Parks and Recreation issues including need for more facilities outside of towns, swimming pools, greenways in Rural Buffer, teen
programs, parkland north of Hillsborough, a better means of funding, more park/school combinations, better (2)
intergovernmental cooperation, multi-use paths in utility easements, public transportation to parks, implementation of existing plans
Maintaining and building community
Human Rights and Relations issues(disparity between haves and have nots; gap between urban and rural Orange with resources
concentrated in urban areas; equal access to health care, housing and jobs; educating people to live together& respect differences
Civic participation
Urban/rural (North/South)gap
Historic preservation (including preservation of structures and sites; coordination of activities; public awareness) (2)
Conflict resolution
7. Basic Human
Needs,
Services,
8� Issues
� Affordable housing
Substandard housing
Homelessness
Availability of disabled housing units and Section 8 housing
Child Care (affordability, availability, quality) (8)
Early care of children (8)
Child Abuse/neglect (8)
Poverty (need for: affordable housing and child care;jobs paying a living wage; transport to jobs)
Affordability and cost of living (1)
Underemployment; opportunities for job advancement; and job training (8)
Welfare Reform
Literacy (8)
(cont.) Aging Issues (availability of coordinated services; personal independence to degree appropriate)
Disabled Citizens issues(availability and accessibility of housing, transport, basic services, etc.; lack of full, proactive compliance with
ADA standards; discrimination)
Public Health (issues include: disparities between white and minority populations; sustance abuse; sexual behavior issues; maternal-
child health issues; financial issues; lifestyle choices)
Mental Health (need for: adequate services; prevention programs; service coordination; decreased stigma; crisis senrices, etc.)
Public Safety (issues include reducing crime; coordination of Emergency Management System, disaster management; quick, effective
response of fire departments)
Food/nutrition
8. Diverse
Educational
Needs 8�
Services
Child Care (affordability, availability, quality) (7)
School readiness of preschoolers
Early care of children (7) '
Classroom size and school size
Communication between parents, teachers, and school administrators
Integration of technology into education
Meeting children's individual needs
Parent and community investment in education
Charter schools as an option, and their needs for support
Standardized testing and the need for a range of assessment methods
Meeting needs of special students (including transition services; opportunities for inclusion;well trained educators, etc.)
Child Abuse/neglect (7)
Underemployment; opportunities for job advancement; and job training (7)
Literacy (7)
Lifelong learning opportunities for: cultural enrichment, personal development, career/job enhancement, acquisition of life skills, literacy,
adult basic education, intellectual growth, and productive retirement
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