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215 <br /> SECTION II: <br /> FLEXIBLE DEVELOPMENT <br /> This Flexible Development proposal is modeled, in part, on standards used by other localities as well as open space <br /> design reference materials. It also reflects the many suggestions of Orange County citizens, interest groups, and advisory <br /> boards. A partial list of these sources includes the following: <br /> • Concgptual Guidelines for Rural Orangg, Rural Character Study Committee <br /> • Flexible Development Bylaws, Grafton, Massachusetts <br /> • Land Preservation District Zoning Provisions, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania <br /> • DesigningQReenn Fpace 2ugLoments, Sussex County, Delaware <br /> • Rural by Desia Randall Arendt <br /> • PEARL Design Manual, Livingston County, Michigan <br /> • Dealing with Change in the Connecticut River Valley. Center for Rural Massachusetts <br /> • Open Space Development Alternatives, University Station Planning Group <br /> • Designing Oyes .Space Subdivisions:A Practical Step Approach. Randall Arendt <br /> • Towns and Town-Mating PrinlMles, Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk <br /> • Seaside:Making A Town in America. David Mohney and Keller Easterling <br /> • Choicer and Changes: Loudoun County General Plan 1990-2010_ Loudoun County, Virginia <br /> Tire proposal has been formatted so that it may be substituted for the current Cluster Development provisions contained <br /> in Section IV-8-10 of the Subdivision Regulations. After each major section or subsection, comments are provided to <br /> identify the source and/or explain the rationale for inclusion of specific standards or guidelines. <br /> IV-B-10. FLEXIBLE DEVELOPMENT <br /> Section A PURPOSES <br /> The purposes of Flexible Development are to preserve agricultural and forestry lands,natural and cultural features, and <br /> rural community character that might be lost through conventional development approaches. To accomplish this goal, <br /> greater flexibility and creativity in the design of such developments is encouraged and allowed Specific objectives are <br /> as follows: <br /> • To preserve areas of the county with productive soils for continued agncu ltnral and forestry use by preserving <br /> blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient operations. <br /> • To encourage the preservatim and improvement of habitat for various forms of wildlife and to create new <br /> woodlands through natural succession and reforestation where appropriate. <br /> • To minimise site disturbance;and erosion through retention of existing vegetation and avoiding development <br /> on steep slopes. <br /> • To preserve open hand,mcloding those areas containing unique and sensitive features such as natural areas and <br /> wildlife habitats, steep slopes, strew ns, wal nds, and floodplams. <br /> • To preserve scenic views and elements of the county's rural character, and to mmimi perceived density by <br /> minimizing views of new development from existing roads. <br /> • To preserve and maiatam historic and archaeological sites and structures that serve as significant visible <br /> reminders of the county's social and architectural history. <br /> Flexible Development 1 <br />