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

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Ordinance as recommended by Planning Board and Administration REVISED The Creation or Protection of Public Purpose and/or Utility Infrastructure. The primary means by which foals in open space design are addressed are composition, accessibility, size and shape. The primary way to achieve these open space design goals is by the application of standards to threse fundamental land characteristics defined below. • Composition -The natural and constructed n}an-nmde features of land indicate what types of open-space goals it can support. For each of the listed open space goals, certain characteristics are required or preferred. Compositional requirements and preferences are stated throughout this section. • Accessibility -All Flexible Development plans shall, unless the open space is to preserve conservation values that require minimal disturbance, provide open space access to the public at large and/or subdivision residents, in accordance with Section C.4. • Size and Shape -The usefulness of open space can be lessened when it is fragmented or shaped in long narrow segments. The most functional open space is large enough to maximize the benefits to ecological, environmental, cultural, recreational and/or visual uses. Size and shape requirements are listed in Section F.1. An open space plan may use other land characteristics as well, if a direct link to the goals of Section C.2 is shown. C.3C~Types of Open Space The types of open space conserved through Flexible Development shall be consistent with the following standards: a. Open space shall be comprised of two types of land: "Primary Conservation Areas" and "Secondary Conservation Areas ". b. Primary Conservation Areas ' + ~+'~ ~^"^~"'"^ °=:e ~ ~~'»"e~ These areas have sensitive environmental features and/or significant cultural resource areas, which may make them legally or practically unbuildable. These areas are the first open spaces to be chosen,€e~towards meeting the minimum 33% requirement. Secondary Conservation Areas may not be counted towards the 33% requirement unless all potential Primary Conservation Areas, other than expansion areas as defined below, have been set aside.