Agenda - 10-20-1998 - 10c - Laserfiche WebLink

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l Excerpt from Planning Board minutes, meeting of 7 -15 -98 AGENDA ITEM #10: PLANNING BOARD ITEMS a. Second Annual Flexible Development Report Presentation by Don Belk. This item is to receive the second annual report on Flexible Development, covering the period July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998. Section IV- B -10 -H of the Subdivision Regulations requires that an annual report be presented to the Board of Commissioners which describes the major subdivision Concept Plans reviewed during the year. The purpose of the report is to evaluate the effectiveness of the standards in accomplishing the goal of Flexible Development, "to preserve agricultural and forestry lands, natural and cultural features, and rural community character." The Commissioners are to review the report, determine whether changes to the regulations are needed, and direct Staff to propose amendments, if necessary. Eight (8) Concept Plans were reviewed during FY 97 -98 under Flexible Development procedures and standards. Six of the eight applicants (75 %) will implement the Flexible Development option. Five applicants submitted a single concept plan under the Conservation Option. One applicant (Village of the Oaks) submitted two plans, but intends to use the Flexible Development Cluster Option. One Subdivision applicant (Lawrence Road Subdivision) submitted two concept plans because their proposal for a Planned Development did not meet the 33% open space requirement. The application for the Planned Development is pending, awaiting a rezoning decision. The Wildwood West Concept Plan, submitted under the Cluster Option, was denied by the Planning Board. In the seven Flexible Development concept plans submitted, the total open space provided was 128.2 acres for 209 lots. The average amount protected per subdivision was 18.3 acres (43.8 %). In 1997, the percentage of open space protected per subdivision was 37.05 %. Of the 128.2 acres preserved as open space under Flexible Development, 99.8 acres (78 %) are required by the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to remain undisturbed regardless of the type of subdivision proposed. This includes areas within floodplains, stream buffers, building setbacks, and Tree Protection Areas. The net gain of voluntary open space attributable to Flexible Development during this reporting period is 28.4 acres, or 22% more than the protected area required by other zoning and subdivision requirements. Because of the limited number of Concept Plans reviewed, the opportunities for accomplishing the purpose of Flexible Development were also limited. Most of the reserved open space will protect streams, adjacent moderate to steep slopes, rock outcrops, forested areas, and the associated wildlife habitat.