12/19/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Legend for map on the last page Legend Htuh Eeoingtcal Vale Zone Protected lone Ecological Enhancement (all areas outside other two zones) j (Q Lakes This zone consists of largely upland areas considered under various natural vegetative cover types, such as oak savannas, mesic forests, and prairie remnants. This zone refers to areas of the city that fall outside the other two zones. Developing an Ecologically -Based Greenway System Greenway Zones and Their Interrelationship with Community Development As the above map illustrates, three zones are identified within the greenway system. The following considers each of these. Protected Zone: This zone largely consists of water bodies, wetlands and parks that are protected from development under current regulatory controls. Under protected status, no development will occur. High Ecological Value / Greenway Trail Corridor Zone: This zone consists of largely upland areas as defined under various natural vegetative cover types, such as oak savannas, mesic forests, and prairie remnants. The zone should be viewed as an area where ecological protection opportunities are very high and that protection of these values should be a foremost consideration in the development process. It is within this zone that protection strategies such as buffer systems, conservation easements, and trusts, and so forth can be used to protect higher value natural resources. Also included in this zone are lineal corridors that Zink the higher quality natural areas together and provide space for the proposed city-wide greenway trail corridor. Currently, development in the high ecological value zone is allowed in accordance with development requirements as stipulated by city codes and ordinances. Beyond these regulatory requirements, the ecological values of these lands are not substantively protected. In addition, land ownership rights and economic development pressures preclude the possibility of arbitrarily limiting development in this zone. Given this, fostering a conservation approach to development is the most advantageous way of preserving the key ecological values in this zone while at the same time allowing development to proceed in an economically viable fashion. Ecolog ical Enhancement Zone: This zone refers to areas of the city that fall outside the other two zones. Typically, this includes lands that are defined under agriculture designation and thus do not currently exhibit high ecological value, but offer opportunities for significant ecological enhancements as part of future land use decisions. An example of this is transitioning some agriculture fields into prairie communities as part of a conservation development. Also included under this zone are areas already developed, such as a residential subdivision, where ecological enhancements are still possible, albeit perhaps on a more limited basis. The main objective of this zone is to articulate that the opportunities to expand the footprint of high quality natural areas, and thus the greenway system, within the city are very extensive and that sound ecological protection strategies should not be limited only to areas that currently exhibit higher ecological qualities. Quite to the contrary, under the mantra of a conservation development approach to planning, protecting and enhancing the ecological values of all lands should be considered whenever development occurs in the community. Further, every attempt should be made to link these newly created natural areas to the larger greenway system as depicted on the map wherever opportunity to do so exists. This linkage should be both in the form of a natural landscape features as well as linear trail corridors that allow for human access and appreciation of these natural amenities. Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conservation Development City of Lino Lakes 4.3