HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning - Policy Toward a Sustainable Community POLICY - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS POLICY MANUAL n—U
MEETING DATE: June 6, 1994 NUMBER:
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 1994 REVISIONS:
POLICY: Z uward a Sustainable Community
Orange County is committed to the concept of a sustainable community.A sustainable community uses and
protects its human and natural resources tc meet the current needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. It seeks improved public health, an informed citizenry, and
a better quality of life for all of its residents while promoting efficiency,conservation,pollution prevention,
and developing local resources to strengthen the local economy.
Sustainable Community Principles
Sustainability is a fundamental organizing concept against which to evaluate proposed programs and
policies in the areas of land use planning, environmental protection, economic development, housing,
transportation, solid waste management,health and social services, and public safety. Suz-h programs and
policies should therefore be prepared in a manner which addresses the following principles of sustainability:
Interdependence: Integrate long-term economic, environmental, and social considerations into all
decisions to reflect their inherent interdependence.
Partnership: Invite cooperation and unify efforts between governments, business,
environmentalists, non-profit organizations, citizens, and others to address
interdependence.
Stewardship: Balance resource use and conservation between present and future generations
so that future generations are not compromised.
Diversity: Maintain diverse biological, economic, and social systems.
Prevention: Anticipate and prevent social, economic,and environmental problems rather than
attempt to solve them after the fact.
Equity: Insure all conrimunity members equal opportunities to contribute to the economy,
enjoy the environment, and participate in decisions that affect them.
Responsibility- Ask all community members to take responsibility for sustaining their community
and environment.