Agenda - 03-06-1996 - X-B - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

25 justification for a 50%open space standard. The focus of the article is the growing number of new communities across the country seeking to balance development and conservation. One source for the article was Urban Land magazine, and staff was able to collect (from Urban Land and the ULI Project Reference File) information concerning five of the 10 developments cited in the article. Summarized on Attachment B is the information pertaining to those five developments. One model suggested for use was the open space provisions adopted by the Town of Carrboro on June 27. The Carrboro provisions require every residential development containing 15 or more dwelling units to set aside at least 40% of the total area as open space subject to the following conditions: • One or more areas suitable for play fields must be included in every development with at least 50 lots. Each area must contain a minimum of 20,000 sq.ft., and the total area must be at least 400 sq.ft. per lot or dwelling unit. • All area within 60 feet of the edge of mapped floodway (or center of stream if there is no mapped floodway) if a development contains any portion of a stream designated on Carrboro's stream classification map. • Areas identified in the Carrboro Natural Constraints Map or the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats in Orange County. If the area included in the features listed above is more than 40% of the tract, then the amount of area set aside in one or more categories may be reduced so that the total open space is not more than 40%. If the area included in the features listed above is less than 25% of the tract, then the following areas must be included to make up the remaining 15% of the required open space: • Wooded areas; • Entranceway vistas; • Streams, ponds,wetlands, floodplains; • Slopes>15%; • Unusual natural features(e.g., rock outcrops);and/or • Other environmentally, historically or archeologically unique areas. On December 19, a staff member presented the Flexible Development proposal to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. In a December 28 letter, the Town Manager has provided a list of comments and questions from the Board of Aldermen(copy attached). Each of the alternatives described above represent a continuation of the discussion which preceded the preparation of the Flexible Development proposals. Each was considered, but within the context of competing interests of "no open space" or "20% open space", the standard contained in the current Cluster Development provisions. As noted at the public hearing, the Flexible Development proposal represents an attempt to strike a"balance" between many diverse and competing interests.