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intrastate system and it is imperative that <br />planning and construction remain on their <br />current schedule. <br /> <br />A second recommendation concerns roads <br />county-wide. That recommendation is that <br />the NC Department of Transportation be <br />requested to update the Cabarrus County <br />Thoroughfare Plan in general. More <br />concentration should be given in that plan to <br />the roads in this part of the County. <br /> <br />The need for alternative methods of <br />transportation will need to be studied as area <br />roads become increasingly congested. It is <br />recommended that Cabarrus County <br />consider becoming included in a regional <br />transportation authority. Along with this, <br />serious consideration should be given to <br />options like park/ride lots, promotion of <br />shuttle buses and shared rides, and <br />eventually, light rail. <br /> <br />A related issue to the possibility of <br />passenger rail service is the need to protect <br />rail corridors in general. Protection <br />strategies should be studied with emphasis <br />on allowing room for expansion, public <br />health and safety issues, and possible <br />alternative uses of the corridor. The <br />altemative and additional uses that have <br />been mentioned include greenways, bike <br />paths and trails. <br /> <br />The final transportation recommendation is <br />that regulations be employed to reduce road <br />cuts and access on area roads. The <br />Cabarrus County Zoning Ordinance <br />currently includes a "Thoroughfare Overlay <br />Zone" which is used to limit access on <br />numbered highways in the County. In <br />addition, the Countryside Residential zoning <br />district includes provisions to limit access on <br /> <br />secondary roads and increase setback <br />requirements on them. <br /> <br />LIVABILITY RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />These recommendations cover a broad <br />spectrum and are characterized by the parties <br />or agencies required to act on them. <br />Livability is a term used to include all things <br />that pertain to a person's quality of life, and <br />the quality of the place in which they live. <br />The recommendations that are included <br />under this category overlap with some of the <br />other recommendations discussed earlier, <br />but the particular actions differentiate them <br />and should address how they more directly <br />affect livability. The different groups <br />identified to act on the recommendations <br />include everyone from County government <br />to individual private citizens, which shows <br />that in order for these things to happen it <br />will take a broad based community effort. <br /> <br />The livability recommendations are divided <br />into three categories - community identity, <br />quality of life, and rural preservation. They <br />are discussed in general temis under each of <br />those headings., <br /> <br />The most important recommendation under <br />community identity, and for that matter <br />under any of these categories, is that area <br />citizens organize into action and advocate <br />groups. Fortunately for the Midland area <br />this has already happened with the Midland <br />Community Association. Through <br />community groups such as this one, many of <br />the actions that affect livability can be <br />addressed. In addition, major issues that <br />may arise, such as proposals for noxious <br />land uses, may also be more effectively <br />analyzed. <br /> <br />25 <br /> <br /> <br />