For all development activities in the Intensely Developed Areas,
the applicant shall identify any environmental or natural feature
described below and meet all of the following standards:
A. Development activities shall be designed and implemented to minimize
destruction of forest and woodland vegetation;
B. All roads, bridges, and utilities are prohibited in a Habitat Protection
Area, unless no feasible alternative exists. If a road, bridge, or
utility is authorized, the design, construction, and maintenance shall:
(1) Provide maximum erosion protection;
(2) Minimize negative impact on wildlife, aquatic life, and their habitats;
and
(3) Maintain hydrologic process and water quality.
C. All development activities that must cross or affect streams shall
be designed to:
(1) Reduce increases in flood frequency and severity that are attributable
to development;
(2) Retain tree canopy so as to maintain stream water temperature within
normal variation;
(3) Provide a natural substrate for stream beds; and
(4) Minimize adverse water quality and quantity impacts of stormwater.
D. All development and redevelopment activities shall include stormwater
management technologies that reduce pollutant loadings by at least
10% below the level of pollution on the site prior to development
or redevelopment as provided in Critical Area 10% Rule Guidance Manual
— Fall 2003, and as may be subsequently amended.
For the alteration, cutting or clearing of forest or developed
woodlands, the Town shall apply the following criteria:
A. No more than 85% of any forest or developed woodland may be removed
from forest use. The remaining 15% shall be maintained through easements,
restrictive covenants or similar instruments reviewed by the Town
Attorney; and
B. If no forest exists on proposed development sites, these sites shall
be planted to provide a forest or developed woodland cover of a least
15% of the total site area. The developer shall designate, subject
to the approval of the Town, a new forest area on a part of the site
not forested. The afforested area shall be maintained as forest cover
through easements, restrictive covenants or similar instruments reviewed
by the Town Attorney.
C. To the extent practicable, new development shall use cluster development
as a means to reduce impervious areas and to maximize areas of natural
vegetation.
D. Development activities shall be designed and implemented to minimize
the destruction of forest and developed woodland vegetation.
E. Within the Critical Area, protection for forests and developed woodlands identified as Habitat Protection Areas in Article
XVII of this chapter shall be provided; and
F. Outside the Critical Area, large forested tracts and the habitats
of rare, threatened, and endangered species shall be priority areas
for the conservation for forest.