Purpose of article

The purposes of conservation developments are:

• • (1) To conserve open land, including those areas containing unique and sensitive natural features such as woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplains, wetlands, aquifers and their recharge areas, and agricultural lands, by setting them aside from development;

  • (2) To preserve historical and archaeological resources;

  • (3) To provide greater design flexibility and efficiency in the siting of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce length of roads, utility runs, and the amount of paving required for residential development;

  • (4) To provide for a diversity of lot sizes, building densities, and housing choices to accommodate a variety of age and income groups, and residential preferences, so that the population diversity of the community may be maintained;

  • (5) To implement adopted municipal policies to conserve a variety of irreplaceable and environmentally important resources as set forth in the comprehensive plan;

  • (6) To provide reasonable incentives for the creation of a greenway system within the town;

  • (7) To implement adopted land use, transportation and community service policies, as set forth in the comprehensive plan;

  • (8) To protect areas of the town with productive agricultural soils for continued or future agricultural use by conserving blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient farm operations;

  • (9) To create neighborhoods with direct visual and/or physical access to open land, with amenities in the form of neighborhood open space, and with a strong neighborhood identity;

  • (10) To provide for the maintenance of open land set aside for active or passive recreational use, stormwater drainage or conservation lands;

  • (11) To conserve and create scenic views and preserve the rural character of the town;

  • (12) To provide a buffer between new development and existing streets and neighborhoods.

(Ord. No. 06-06, § 4, 4-10-2006)