Laserfiche WebLink
Planning Commission Report to the Council, April 2008 Page 5 <br /> B. Residential clusters shall be located to minimize negative impacts on the natural, scenic, <br /> and cultural resources on and adjacent to the site and to avoid or minimize conflicts <br /> between incompatible uses. <br /> C. Residential clusters shall avoid encroaching on rare plant communities, high quality <br /> sites, or endangered species identified by the Department of Natural Resources. <br /> D. Whenever possible, open space shall connect with existing or potential open space lands <br /> on adjoining parcels and local or regional recreational trails. <br /> E. Residential clusters should be sited to achieve the following goals, to the extent <br /> practicable. <br /> i. Minimize impacts to prime farmland soils and large tracts of land in agricultural <br /> use, and avoid interference with normal agricultural practices. <br /> ii. Minimize disturbance to woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, steep slopes, bluffs. and <br /> mature trees. <br /> iii. Prevent downstream impacts due to runoff through adequate on-site stormwater <br /> management practices. <br /> iv. Protect scenic views of open land from adjacent roads. Visual impact should be <br /> minimized through use of landscaping or other features. <br /> v. Protect archaeological sites and existing historic buildings or incorporate them <br /> through adaptive reuse. <br /> F. The Planning Commission may require landscaping around the cluster to reduce off-site <br /> views of residences. <br /> 4. Conservation Parcel Design Standards. A conservation parcel shall be designated as part of <br /> the development. Each development shall contain a contiguous conservation parcel <br /> comprising 45% of the land area to be subdivided. <br /> A. The uses within the open space shall be accessible to the residents of the development. <br /> These uses may also be available to the general public providing the proper approvals <br /> are received. The required conservation parcel shall be undivided and restricted in <br /> perpetuity from future development. <br /> B. The following areas or structures may be located within the open space area and shall be <br /> counted toward the overall open space percentage required: <br /> i. parking areas for access to and use of the open space developed at a scale limited <br /> to the potential users of the open space. <br /> ii. privately-held buildings or structures provided they are accessory to the use of the <br /> open space. <br /> iii. Shared septic systems and shared potable water systems. <br /> C. Road rights of way shall not be counted towards the required minimum open space. <br /> D. No more than 50% of the required conservation parcel size may consist of water bodies, <br /> flood plain, or wetlands. <br /> E. Any portion of the conservation parcel designed to provide plant and animal habitat shall <br /> be kept as intact as possible, and enhanced or restored as appropriate. Trails and roads <br /> shall be designed to avoid fragmenting these habitat areas. <br /> F. Accessible open space in the upland portion of the conservation parcel may be made <br /> available for recreational uses such as trails, play fields, or community gardens, but shall <br /> be designed and located so as to avoid impacts on sensitive natural and cultural <br /> resources. <br /> G. Where appropriate, a pathway system connecting open space areas to neighborhood <br /> residents and connecting these areas to neighborhood streets and to planned or <br /> developed trails on adjacent parcels shall be required and identified in the development <br /> plan. <br /> 5. Ownership and Maintenance of Common Facilities. The designated common open space and <br /> common facilities may be owned and managed by one or a combination of the following <br /> 14084 Baxter Drive, Suite 7 I Baxter, Minnesota 56425 1 218.828.3064 I www.communitygrowth.com <br />