RURAL AND SUBURBAN LANDS - Jackson County Oregon

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Rural and Suburban Lands Element 21-2to reduce the density and intensity of development allowed in rural/suburban inappropriatelocations while increasing development in appropriate urban locations.Assuming that a broad scale density transfer system is implemented at some future time, theCounty must select appropriate locations for receiving the developments which are transferred.Transfers to areas within urban growth boundaries will be necessary, warranting closecooperation with participating cities.If the County is to achieve the goal for rural and suburban lands, it will do so through cautiousprovision of public facilities and through strong land use planning. A passive approach will clearlyallow suburban sprawl to become more widespread, wasting energy and further degrading airand water quality and diminishing the rural character in such areas.The Rural and Suburban Lands Element is strongly related to many other elements of thecomprehensive plan. This relationship is strongest with the agricultural, forest and urban landselements because of the locations of the lands involved; with the public facilities element andwith the housing element because residential developments can be expected to have the mostsignificant affect upon rural lands. Elements dealing with energy, transportation andenvironmental quality are also related.Development within the county’s rural and suburban lands includes a wide array of densities andintensities. Some areas have urban services such as sewer and water and are quite highly builtup.Note the existing industrial areas outside of Medford and Central Point urban growthboundaries. Other areas are already divided in to sprawling tracts of traditional block patternscontaining individual and scattered homesites of one to twenty acres. What this means is thatsome of nearly every conceivable type of conventional development already exists throughoutthe county and much of it is inappropriate in terms of public services, energy consumption andenvironmental impacts.The County clearly intends to stage the implementation of this element through a phasedplanning process, reflecting the above parameters and the policies and implementationstrategies stated herein. This phasing recognizes the diversity of the county’s lands andresources, the variety of social and economic attitudes, needs, capabilities and restraints, andlifestyles prevalent in the citizenry, as well as the energy, environmental and physicaldevelopment opportunities and constraints these factors present; and also, that planning is aprocess reflecting all of these influential aspects.FINDINGS, POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:1FINDING:Existing residential densities are low with the build-out having been constrained by poor soilconditions and lack of public facilities, but must be expected to show significant increases if notrestricted or redirected. It is not appropriate to assume that an area’s unsuitability for standardseptic systems will indefinitely prevent its development in an area where land use regulationsindicate that the area is appropriate for development, unless such development would beJackson County Comprehensive Plan
Rural and Suburban Lands Element 21-3jeopardized by natural or man-induced hazards such as steep slopes, highly erosive or severesoil limitations, or would jeopardize the conservation of natural resources with high amenityvalues.Furthermore, the historic pattern of sprawling rural and suburban land use is well established insome areas. Considerable speculative investment has been made in rural lands and a highpercentage of rural residents intend to eventually divide their land and offer it for sale. The courtshave generally upheld downzoning actions in the interest of the public welfare withoutcompensation.POLICY: IT IS THE POLICY OF JACKSON COUNTY TO REDUCE ANDREALLOCATE THE OVERALL ALLOWABLE DENSITY AND INTENSITY OF RURALAND SUBURBAN LANDS TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO MINIMIZE FURTHERDEGRADATION OF AIR QUALITY, REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND REDUCETHE LONG-RANGE COST OF PROVIDING PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.(NOTE: THE COUNTY CLEARLY INTENDS TO STAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OFTHIS POLICY THROUGH A PHASED PLANNING PROCESS REFLECTING THEIMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES NOTED BELOW. THIS PHASE SHALL COMMENCEIMMEDIATELY AFTER PLAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY LCDC AND IS EXPECTED TOBE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER PLAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.)IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:A) Investigate a variety of alternative techniques which could be used to implementthe above policy and ensure goal achievement, and consider which areappropriate to the needs and desires of local area residents, including but notlimited to: downzoning, clustering/planned unit developments in urban areas,density transfer, upzoning, and other appropriate techniques as may be deemedfeasible and applicable. Any density/intensity increases will be emphasized inestablished communities and/or in areas which are already committed to suchdensities and uses through existing subdivisions, partitioning or development.B) Base all proposed rural and suburban land use and actions on the followingprinciples:i) Recognize the diversity of the county’s lands and natural resources andthe variety of social and economic needs, attitudes and life-stylesprevalent in the citizenry, as well as the overall social, economic, energy,environmental and physical opportunities and constraints these factorsinfluence regarding development in rural areas, and also that planning isa process responsible to these factors.ii)iii)Recognize the location and extent of existing rural and suburbanresidential development in areas where commitments to such uses anddensities have already been made .Development in such committed areas will be limited to the infilling ofvacant land at rural and suburban densities.Jackson County Comprehensive Plan
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RURAL AND SUBURBAN LANDS - Jackson County Oregon

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