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Current State <br />Lands located within Groveland’s utility service boundary currently comprise approximately <br />34,000 acres. The City’s Comprehensive Plan calls for a minimum of 60% of these parcels <br />to be protected as conservation or working agricultural lands. Groveland’s Parks Master Plan <br />envisions conservation lands as a key component of the City’s interconnected park system. <br />Additionally, the City is working to protect the night sky from excessive light pollution with <br />its Dark Sky Lighting Initiative. A study is needed to identify the City’s most important <br />parcels for preservation. The City currently has no conservation parks and no designated <br />conservation lands. A partnership with the County focused on prioritized purchases of <br />conservation parcels could be a fruitful outcome of the upcoming Joint Planning Agreement <br />(JPA) process. <br />Goal Statement <br />Preserve and enhance our natural environment to connect people to nature, bring vitality <br />to Groveland and ensure shared stewardship of our lands. <br />Objectives <br />1.Identify and preserve historic buildings, landmarks, and districts and the natural and <br />agricultural lands within the city’s utility service area that should be prioritized for <br />preservation. Core Values: Intentionality and Vitality <br />2.Establish a Joint Planning Agreement with Lake County to preserve natural and <br />agricultural lands through, but not limited to, Comprehensive Plan policy updates, <br />a transfer of development rights program, and land acquisition. <br />Core Values: Intentionality and Vitality <br />3.Develop and enhance the City’s programs to preserve our natural systems and green <br />infrastructure, including removal of non-native exotic vegetation, wetland preservation <br />and water and mineral conservation. <br />Core Values: Intentionality, Connectivity, Vitality, and Knowledge <br />4.Expand opportunities for people to responsibly interact with our surroundings by <br />activating more of our natural spaces through educational events and partnerships <br />with agri-civic visionaries, encouraging people to engage with and appreciate these <br />preserved environments. Core Values: Connectivity, Vitality, and Knowledge <br />5.Adopt Dark Sky Lighting Ordinance and achieve International Dark-Sky Association <br />Community designation. Core Values: Connectivity and Vitality <br />STRATEGIC PRIORITY <br />6 <br />Preservation and Conservation <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: ED255D72-EB5F-464C-83B6-643F4B19812A