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GOALS AND OBJECTIVES <br />• Preserve agriculture: The preservation of agriculture was cited as an important <br />component of the rural character and culture. Allowing farming in open space <br />areas, while other parts of the farm are developed, was identified as a way to <br />encourage agricultural activities while still allowing economic return for the farmer <br />on his investment. <br />0 Protect natural and cultural resources: The protection of natural resources, <br />as identified on inventories of habitats and significant sites, was found to be of <br />critical importance, and OSD options provide means of protecting such sites in <br />permanent open space while allowing development on other portions of sites. <br />• Protect visual resources: The Committee found that much of the rural character <br />that is noted by residents is visual - vistas, old farmsteads, barns, etc. The <br />development options also offer means of preserving these resources in open space <br />without sacrificing development rights on the land. <br />• Manage orderly growth: The importance of orderly growth in rural areas was <br />noted for planning of efficient service provision in rural areas, and to discourage <br />suburban sprawl of subdivision after subdivision. <br />• Provide flexibility for landowners: The Committee recognized the centuries <br />of land stewardship by long -time landowners, and found that new development <br />options and plans should provide flexibility for property owners through a variety <br />of development styles - at the choice of the property owner. <br />INVENTORY OF THE STATUS OUO <br />Having reviewed the goals of the study, the design team examined the existing <br />land use pattern in the area. In particular, the implications of the pattern on service <br />provision and a comparison on existing patterns with Rural Character options were <br />considered. Areas considered developable were then identified in the basin. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN /OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS <br />A survey of the area was conducted using the suitability analysis previously - <br />mentioned and the concepts listed below to determine opportunities and constraints <br />3 <br />