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criteria that must be met before any parcel could be rezoned (see pages 23 and <br /> 24). <br /> b. The plan proposes a fairly large Rural Development category. Specifically, this <br /> area is almost 2,000 acres in size, approximately 800 acres of which is <br /> currently subdivided. Of the 1,200 acres that is not included in existing <br /> subdivisions, much of this area is divided into relatively small parcels, under 40 <br /> acres in size, that may be difficult to farm. Additionally, almost half of the <br /> 1,200 acres is located in the groundwater recharge overlay area which requires <br /> a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit per 20 acres with a <br /> minimum lot size of 8 acres. <br /> Therefore, approximately 600 acres of land designated Rural Development are <br /> located outside of the groundwater recharge overlay area or the long-range <br /> service area of the Village of Oregon that could be further divided into lots as <br /> small as two acres. While this potential expansion of unsewered development is <br /> contrary to the policies of the Regional Development Guide, it does reasonably <br /> correlate with future growth projections of the Town. Population projections to <br /> the year 2015 and the existing inventory of vacant lots in the Town indicate a <br /> potential building lot need of approximately 350 lots by the year 2015. <br /> However, if the Town permits this area to be fully divided in a shorter time <br /> frame, or permits wide-scale division of lots in the Agricultural Preservation <br /> and Agricultural Transition areas, these actions would be inconsistent with <br /> Regional Development Guide policies. <br /> c. The rural Commercial-Industrial areas are limited to uses that don't require <br /> municipal sewer and water and are rural in nature. Consistent with the Regional <br /> Development Guide, these uses should be further limited to only those that are <br /> agriculturally related or serve the basic retail needs of nearby residential <br /> neighborhoods. The plan should list examples of the types of uses permitted and <br /> specifically exclude inconsistent uses. <br /> All three of the Rural Commercial-Industrial sites listed in the plan are also <br /> partially located within the groundwater recharge overlay area. The plan states <br /> that "any contaminants entering the groundwater system in the recharge area <br /> will remain in the groundwater system for years or decades, and could <br /> potentially contaminate wells anywhere along the groundwater flow path." <br /> Therefore, uses such as gas stations and fuel storage should be prohibited from <br /> locating within the groundwater recharge overlay area or strict provisions for <br /> operation should be included in the plan. <br /> The plan states that a limited number of rural commercial or industrial <br /> development areas will also be considered along the C&NW rail line. The plan <br /> should specify that adequate access to a public road will be required for <br /> development along the rail line or specify the existing intersections along Tony <br /> Lane, Union Road and Netherwood Road. <br /> d. The groundwater recharge protections are an unique and advanced approach to <br /> protect this resource. The Town and the Village of Oregon should jointly <br /> examine opportunities to protect the area's potable water. <br /> 6 - 2^L <br />