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71 <br /> • Incorporate landscape conservation and corridor protection objectives into planning department <br /> strategic plans. <br /> • Educate staff on the importance of landscape conservation and corridor protection and the use of <br /> conservation planning tools and approaches. <br /> • Fund staff with relevant expertise to serve both county and municipal efforts to achieve landscape <br /> corridor protection(see also coordination strategies below). <br /> For integration with existing land use planning and zoning tools, data, and definitions: <br /> • Evaluate corridor maps and priorities identified in this project with respect to existing planning <br /> tools, including: <br /> o Land use and zoning districts or overlays aimed at natural area,natural resource, <br /> environmental, or open space protection. <br /> o Maps of development constraints,whether regulatory, incentivized, or voluntary. <br /> o Defining criteria for districts, overlays, and constraints. <br /> • Where possible,update districts, overlays, and definitions to better incorporate or synchronize <br /> with landscape corridor protection priorities. Examples include: <br /> o Consider formally adding all or part of the priority corridor areas identified in this project <br /> to an existing resource protection overlay, as a separate category defined for corridor <br /> protection. <br /> o Consider revising open space as well as primary and secondary conservation area <br /> requirements and definitions to include high-priority corridor areas and, in general, <br /> natural open space that is contiguous within and between parcels or development project <br /> boundaries. <br /> • Where possible or necessary, create a separate land use or zoning overlay, or protection category <br /> within an overlay,to enable landscape corridor protection. <br /> For integration with development standards and decision-making processes: <br /> • Revise development standards and incentives to promote effective landscape corridor protection <br /> in development proposals. <br /> o Consult the Green Growth Toolbox and other references based on best available science <br /> for recommended standards and incentives. <br /> • Integrate landscape corridor identification and planning into the development proposal and <br /> review process, including in the initial site selection process(or as early as possible). <br /> • Coordinate planning and development review processes with land conservation or open space <br /> programs and priorities. Possible strategies to ensure an effective communication and advisory <br /> structure include: <br /> o Designate a staff liaison to land conservation or open space programs to ensure <br /> consultation, coordination, and efficiency in pursuing landscape corridor protection <br /> objectives. <br /> o Ensure that conservation data are regularly updated, available, and promoted for use <br /> within planning processes. <br /> o Create a development review advisory committee to provide regular input on <br /> development proposals from departments outside planning,including land conservation <br /> or open space programs. <br /> o Empower a citizen/expert advisory board to advise planning staff on landscape <br /> conservation and corridor protection considerations. <br /> 58 A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity <br />