7. Reclaim Our Rights to Clean Air and Water.

National public opinion polls regularly report that clean air and water are characteristics of the communities that Americans consider the most attractive places to live and work. Land development practices and transportation choices are among the locally controllable factors affecting water and air quality.

Principles and Concepts:

• Natural vegetation along stream and river corridors should be preserved to protect water quality and enhance the beauty of our creeks and rivers. Stream corridors in older parts of the community should be restored.
• Best management practices such as reduction of impervious surfaces and provisions for filtering pollutants should be required with all development.
• Create open space with new development by conserving naturally vegetated areas and putting new landscaping in place.
• Landscaped areas will filter pollutants and maintain cooler temperatures.
• Air quality can be improved by a regional approach to transportation and land use planning, recruitment of clean industry and promotion of alternative fuels.
• Locally, adding high occupancy lanes on freeways, building interconnecting streets and bikeways, increasing transit use and providing sidewalks for pedestrians will improve air quality.

The rivers and lakes form part of our heritage and should be protected.

The rivers and lakes should be free of pollution.

Clusters of housing can conserve natural features and reduce stormwater runoff.

Natural vegetation along the French Broad is critical to its fine water quality.

This is not a legal document. It does not replace or amend the existing procedures and regulations governing the publication of agency information. If you have questions, please contact MPC by telephone at (865) 215-2500.