Agenda - 04-01-1996 - IX-D - Laserfiche WebLink

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88 seem as if no progress is being made in the plan. Nothing is being- achieved. Waddell stated that in previous discussions he had agreed with Howie that the open space should be a percentage of the total tract size. He noted agreement that unbuildable areas should be excluded before calculating the open space requirement and gave the following reasons: if we wish to protect and preserve agricultural activities in Orange County, then there should be areas where that would be practiced. One of those would be open fields and those cannot exist on steep slopes nor wetlands. We also want to preserve the woodlands. Therefore, he felt the areas that are unbuildable be excluded prior to computing the percentage of open space. Katz stated that he felt the issue was what people would be rewarded for. The whole point is creating a series of incentives that are worth money to people so that they will provide open space development. He continued that it seems we are going to reward people for what they are already required to do in the current ordinances. He felt that there was no, logic in that. It must go beyond what is already required. If we are satisfied that the status quo is already preserving sufficient open space and rural character, then why not leave it as it already is. The incentives should go beyond the current regulations. Barrows noted that Randall Arendt's comments on the plan already in place indicated many times that unbuildable land should be excluded. She asked whether it was wise to ignore those statements by Arendt. Jobsis stated that she felt excluding unbuildable land would make the process so costly that the results the Board would like to see would not be achieved which is to encourage landowners to buy into the idea of open space. She felt it would drive people away. She continued that even though the wetlands and steep slopes are already somewhat protected, they are as worthy of being protected and called open space as any farm tract or wooded areas. Some prefer wetlands as wildlife habitat, some prefer open fields and others prefer wooded areas.It is all open space that is to be protected. She noted her greatest concern was in creating something so difficult to work with that people will be driven away from the idea of providing open space. Reid agreed with Jobsis. He noted that he felt the wetlands already created problems for landowners.