Agenda - 11-27-1995 - C-1-b - Laserfiche WebLink

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07;3 COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES MAP The inventory presented in the preceding sections catalogues a diverse range of resources: water, land, plant and animal, and cultural and scenic. Traditionally, such resources have been viewed separately as being so sensitive that almost any development would destroy their resource values, or grouped together in limited ways to identify those features which preclude development for reasons of health and safety. The Development Constraints Map is an example of this approach Pertinent features such as floodplains, steep slopes, and impermeable soils are identified, located, and evaluated in terns of their significance. A composite map is then prepared which combines the information layers together to see the overall pattern of potential development areas. This technique is often referred to as 'overlay or sieve mapping" because the most suitable land for development becomes apparent as those areas that drop through the"sieve" of information layers. Identifying Conservation Areas While the Development Constraints Map underlines those features to be considered for health and safety reasons, a more effective approach is to focus on those resources considered essential to a coherent conservation network, then let its size and location be a central organizing theme in the land use planning process. The preparation of a Comprehensive Resources Map utilizes such an approach and displays resources which have been grouped together into two categories-"Primary Conservation Areas"and Secondary Conservation Areas". Primary Conservation Areas: Sensitive environmental resources, historically significant sites, and features considered unbuildable because of their limitations or inherent unsuitability for development should be placed in"Primary Conservation Areas". Such features include: • Wetlands; • Floodplains and alluvial soils; • Steep slopes; • Natural areas, and wildlife corridors and habitats; • Historic and archaeological sites,including: 0 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places; 0 sites included on the State's National Register study list; 0 sites designated as a local historic landmark; 0 areas designated as a local historic district;and 0 areas identified as having a high potential for archaeological remains. Secondary Conservation Areas: Within the second broad category of conservation areas, resources vary more widely m importance,vuhierability or fiagility,and consist of the following • Woodlands; • Prime farnland; • Other historic and/or archaeological sites;