Rural Settlements

In Orange County, we have 21 Rural Settlements. As we sprawl out and land values keep skyrocketing, it is crucial that we keep our promise to residents who bought into rural spaces. Rural settlements provide value beyond aesthetics: they serve as critical recharge points for our aquifer, air purification zones, and economic drivers of agriculture. Further, rural settlements epitomize a basic American principle: live and let live. It is time we strengthen and reinforce our rural settlement protections as they continue to fall under attack for development.