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1 (g) The conceptual preliminary plan shall demonstrate that the proposed development will satisfy <br />2 the following objectives, as more particularly described in the remaining provisions of this chapter: <br />3 <br />4 <br />1. <br />Protects and preserves all floodplains, wetlands, and steep slopes from clearing, <br />5 <br />grading, filling, or construction (except as may be approved by the Town for <br />6 <br />essential infrastructure or active or passive recreation amenities). <br />7 <br />2. <br />Preserves and maintains mature woodlands, existing fields, pastures, meadows, and <br />8 <br />orchards, and creates sufficient buffer areas to minimize conflicts between <br />9 <br />residential and agricultural uses. For example, locating houselots and driveways <br />10 <br />within wooded areas is generally recommended, with two exceptions. The first <br />11 <br />involves significant wildlife habitat or mature woodlands which raise an equal or <br />12 <br />greater preservation concern, ad described in # 5 and # 8 below. The second <br />13 <br />involves predominantly agricultural areas, where remnant tree groups provide the <br />14 <br />only natural areas for wildlife habitat. <br />15 <br />3. <br />If development must be located on open fields or pastures because of greater <br />16 <br />constraints in all other parts of the site, dwellings should be sited on the least prime <br />17 <br />agricultural soils, or in locations at the far edge of a field, as seen from existing <br />18 <br />public roads. Other considerations include whether the development will be <br />19 <br />visually buffered from existing public roads, such as by a planting screen consisting <br />20 <br />of a variety of indigenous native trees, shrubs and wildflowers (specifications for <br />21 <br />which should be based upon a close examination of the distribution and frequency <br />22 <br />of those species, found in a typical nearby roadside verge or hedgerow). <br />23 <br />4. <br />Maintains or creates an upland buffer of natural native species vegetation of at least <br />24 <br />100 feet in depth adjacent to wetlands and surface waters, including creeks, <br />25 <br />streams, springs, lakes and ponds. <br />26 <br />5. <br />Designs around existing hedgerows and treelines between fields or meadows. <br />27 <br />Minimizes impacts on large woodlands (greater than five acres), especially those <br />28 <br />containing many mature trees or a significant wildlife habitat, or those not degraded <br />29 <br />by invasive vines. Also, woodlands of any size on highly erodible soils with slopes <br />30 <br />greater than 10 percent should be avoided. However, woodlands in poor condition <br />31 <br />with limited management potential can provide suitable location for residential <br />32 <br />development. When any woodland is developed, great care shall be taken to design <br />33 <br />all disturbed areas (for buildings, roads, yards, septic disposal field, etc) in <br />34 <br />locations where there are no large trees or obvious wildlife areas, to the fullest <br />35 <br />extent that is practicable. <br />36 <br />6. <br />Leaves scenic views and vistas unblocked or uninterrupted, particularly as seen <br />37 <br />from public roadways. (For example, in open agrarian landscapes, a deep, "no- <br />38 <br />build, no -plant" buffer is recommended along the public roadway where those <br />39 <br />views or vistas are prominent or locally significant. In wooded areas where the <br />40 <br />sense of enclosure is a feature that should be maintained, a deep "no- build, no -cut" <br />41 <br />buffer should be respected, to preserve existing vegetation. <br />42 <br />7. <br />Avoids siting new construction on prominent hilltops or ridges, by taking <br />43 <br />advantage of lower topographic features. <br />44 <br />8. <br />Protects wildlife habitat areas of special species listed as endangered, threatened, or <br />45 <br />of special concern by the state or federal government. <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br />'Page 26 of 35 <br />