ORD-2003-133 Amendments to Open Space Standards for Flexible Development Subdivisions

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BOCC Approved Ordinance 11 1 October 2003 Unless accepted for dedication or otherwise agreed to by the county, another unit of local government, the state or a private nonprofit land conservancy, the cost and responsibility of maintaining open space and any facilities located thereon shall be borne by the property owner and/or homeowner's association. Section 2 Section F EVALUATION CRITERIA A11 open space planning shall show consideration of the specific physical characteristics of the land parcel being developed, meet open space design goals and adhere to the three fundamental land characteristics of open space as set forth in Section C.2. At any given site, the types of resources may vary widely in character (e.g., a natural area compared to a historic site} and each type of resource may have areas of greater or lesser significance (e.g. a notable example of local vernacular building traditions compared to a much altered older home). Priorities for conserving such resources should therefore be based upon a thorough site analysis and an understanding of what is more special, unique, noteworthy, environmentally sensitive and/or historic as compared with other similar features of different types of resources. In evaluating the layout of lots and open space, the following criteria will be considered as indicating design appropriate to the site's features and meeting the intent of the Flexible Development standards. Whereas diversity and originality in lot layout are encouraged, it is recognized that not all objectives may be achieved on a given site. Each applicant must therefore achieve the best possible relationship between development and preservation objectives. F1 General Criteria The following criteria apply to all Flexible Development projects: The shape and placement of open space shall be reasonably contiguous, coherently configured, shall abut existing or potential open space on adjacent properties, and shall be supportive of stated open space goals. Open-space should not be overly fragmented. Long narrow segments are discouraged except in the case of POSA's, stream or wildlife corridors, greenbelt paths, view preservation areas (aka vista or visual amenity preservation area - an area left open to allow for the public viewing of one or more natural or constructed features of high visual quality), or landscape buffers adjoining street rights-of--way and/or neighborhood boundaries. Open space shall be connected, when applicable and reasonable, to other open space in the same project and/or to existing or potential off-site open space or pedestrian paths inland parcels adjacent to the Flexible Development area. The pedestrian circulation system shall be designed to ensure that pedestrians can walk safely and easily on the site, between properties and activities or special features within the neighborhood open space system. Roadside footpaths and off road trails shall connect with each other and link with existing or potential open space on adjoining parcels.