11/03/2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • Amending Growth Management Policy page 14 5. Maintain and when feasible, improve the City's water resources. Policies General 3. Integrate new development to the natural characteristics of the land to enhance the development through the preservation of attractive natural amenities (i.e., wetlands, waterways, wooded areas, slopes, etc.). Consider new development regulations that serve to preserve unique natural areas. 5. Promote greenway planning to protect environmentally sensitive areas of the City, to preserve natural area and open space, and to define neighborhoods: a. Generally define greenways in the Comprehensive Plan. More detailed definition of greenway boundaries will occur through the City's Environmental Survey /Management Plan and the development process. b. Greenways should be of a size and configuration to protect the natural amenities within the greenway, provide wildlife corridors and provide linkages to the Chain of Lakes Regional Park, other designated greenways, natural areas, and other cities. c. Greenways will be protected through the implementation of the City's Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan, conservation easements and development regulations including zoning, subdivision, shoreland, floodplain, and wetland preservation. d. Uplands within greenways may be preserved through voluntary donation, conservation easements, park land dedication or the transfer of development rights to the areas of the City more suitable for development. e. The City needs to develop a policy on design, ownership, maintenance and funding of greenways. Some greenways might not have trails. f. Pursue available grant programs designed to assist the City's acquisition and development of local greenways. g. Restore greenways where necessary to improve their ecological health. h. Ensure that greenways serve all community residents through the protection of view sheds and the provision of pedestrian trails within the greenway corridor. Pedestrian trails will be located and designed within the greenways in a manner that will not degrade the natural features of the greenway. Create an awareness of the value and importance of greenways through community education, volunteerism in greenway maintenance, and citizen stewardship activities. Vegetation 5. Promote the use of native grasses, forbes, shrubs and trees in development site restoration. Storm Water/Wetlands /Drainage 2. Restrict or prohibit development on wetlands, floodplains and other natural features that perform important environmental functions in their natural state. Where desirable and practical, maintain such natural features in a condition for appropriate storm water system or recreational uses.