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52 <br /> Open space within conservation subdivisions <br /> Developments proposed for areas identified in the Natural Heritage Inventory should use by-right <br /> conservation subdivision design to protect significant natural features. <br /> Conservation subdivisions are required to protect 50%of the site as open space. Most of the open space <br /> (80%) should consist of features identified as a primary conservation areas. Secondary conservation areas <br /> and other open space can be included only after primary conservation areas comprise 80% of required <br /> open space. <br /> Primary conservation areas are defined in order of priority as floodplains;riparian buffers;jurisdictional <br /> wetlands and their buffers; other water bodies; slopes greater than 25%and at least 5000 square feet in <br /> size; mature hardwood forests at least 1 acre in size; wildlife corridors,wildlife habitats, and other <br /> important sites. <br /> Secondary conservation areas are defined in order of priority as mature forests at least 12,000 square feet <br /> in size; slopes greater than 20%unless identified as a primary conservation area; large,healthy individual <br /> trees; and some pedestrian trails. Other conservation areas include,but are not limited to,naturally <br /> vegetated areas, or areas re-vegetated to appear naturally vegetated,that are not primary or secondary <br /> conservation areas. <br /> PLANNING &COLLABORATION <br /> The Durham Comprehensive Plan explicitly recognizes the need for the planning department to prevent <br /> habitat fragmentation by"... develop[ing] a plan to interconnect open and green spaces where possible, <br /> including many of the larger areas designated for open space in open space plans and large undeveloped <br /> large tracts to reduce isolation resulting from fragmentation." <br /> The comprehensive plan directs that: <br /> • "The City Parks and Recreation Department and the County Engineering and Environmental <br /> Services Department shall coordinate park development and open space protection programs with <br /> the Eno River State Park and the Eno River Association." <br /> • "The City-County Planning Department, City Parks and Recreation Department and the County <br /> Engineering and Environmental Services Department shall coordinate Durham's open space plans <br /> with other jurisdictions' plans and other regional open space initiatives." <br /> • "The City and County shall continue coordination with the surrounding jurisdictions of Cary, <br /> Chapel Hill,Morrisville,Raleigh, Orange County, and Wake County in planning efforts..." <br /> • "Durham City and County shall support State open space efforts, such as the...Mountains to Sea <br /> Trail,by coordinating their open space preservation efforts with the State." <br /> • "The County Engineering and Environmental Services Department shall work collaboratively <br /> with the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission,local land trusts,the City Department of <br /> Parks and Recreation, and other community organizations to increase the amount of open space <br /> preserved." <br /> TRANSPORTATION <br /> The comprehensive plan supports the need to work with NCDOT to build wildlife passages under or over <br /> roads. The Durham Urban Open Space Plan recommends using riparian corridors as greenways to <br /> increase connectivity across the urban part of Durham. <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> Orange County's unified development ordinance and the following plans were reviewed: Orange County <br /> Comprehensive Plan 2030(Land Use and Natural& Cultural Systems elements) (2008,updated 2012),A <br /> A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity 39 <br />