24.13.5 Tree Preservation.  The building and grading envelope should be configured such that the existing tree canopy, and the number of larger, more mature trees on the site, are preserved to the extent feasible.

 

24.13.6 Vegetation, Landscaping, and Habitat.  Plans for development should consider any characteristics of the area that make it unique or significant in the conservation of flora and fauna including threatened, rare, and endangered species. Existing deep-rooted vegetation, including trees, bushes and ground covers, should be removed only in cases where necessary for buildings, other structures, roads, driveways, parking, and minimal yards.  The thinning of limbs of individual trees is preferred over tree removal or tree topping as a means to provide a view corridor. Plant materials that blend with the mountainside or ridgeline should be used. Landscape schemes that are rough, natural or subdued in character are encouraged. Extensive areas of exotic plants and sod are discouraged where they would be visible from public rights-of-way other than nearby portions of the road immediately providing access to the site, from public lands or from lower elevations.

 

24.13.7  Historic and Archaeological Resources.  Plans for development should consider the preservation of significant state historical and archaeological resources (defined as properties on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places) within areas subject to the requirements of this Ordinance Article.  Cemeteries and gravesites should be protected and family members should be assured reasonable access.  Anyone developing properties containing roads, trails and other travel ways connecting to national forests and other public lands should assure continued public access.

 

24.13.8 Sensitive Natural Areas. Plans for development should comply with requirements concerning sensitive natural areas contained in this Article and the Polk County Subdivision Ordinance, if any, and shall should be prepared in such a manner as to avoid any negative effects of development activities on sensitive natural areas.

 

24.13.9 Clustering of Buildings and Building Locations.  Buildings and other structures should be clustered where possible to reduce land disturbance and removal of vegetation.  Clustered buildings should be sited with different floor elevations to achieve height variation.

 

24.13.10  Building Setbacks.  Setbacks should be used to protect natural features of the mountainside and ridgeline terrain.  All other setbacks including, but not limited to, those from streams, creeks, springheads and property lines, shall be met as required by this Article and other Polk County ordinances, except that, as provided in Section 24.11.4, the Administrator may relax front lot property line setback requirements to accommodate proximity of buildings and other structures to the access road so long as they do not encroach into rights-of-way.

 

24.13.11  Shared Driveways and Parking.  Combinations of collective private driveways, shared parking areas and on-street parallel parking bays should be used where possible to minimize land and soil disturbance, impervious surface coverage, and the removal of vegetation.

 

24.13.12 Lighting.  Outside lighting should be provided by full cut-off or fully shielded fixtures and muted and directed so that light does not spill over on to neighboring properties.  It is desirable to reduce the amount of light emanating from a development on a mountainside or ridgeline, since lighting from buildings and other structures located on mountainsides or ridgelines can be highly visible at night and may affect the night character of the community.  High-pressure sodium lights are prohibited.

 

24.13.13  Building Pads.  For subdivisions, building pads (i.e., building and grading envelopes) should be varied in elevation above or below road level to avoid the appearance of monotonous, flat, level pads.

 

24.13.14  Step-Down Design.  Single-family dwellings and other structures should “step down” the hillside or mountainside to limit the amount of grading required. Large building pads and footings should be split into more than one (i.e., split-level homes that step down the hillside) where possible to allow the building pad and building or other structure more closely to follow the existing slope of the land. Building and other structure footprint coverage should be minimized where possible by using multiple-level (two or more stories) buildings and other structures.  The visible mass of larger buildings and other structures should be reduced by utilizing below-grade rooms cut into the natural slope.

 

24.13.15 Surface Water Drainage Measures.  Natural drainage flows should be maintained wherever possible and developers and landowners are encouraged to use the best technology available to reduce the effects of increased flow, including cisterns, rain barrels, rain pockets, rain gardens and cross culverts and dips diverting water into ephemeral wetlands or small holding areas.

 

116.    24.18  Fourth line – Where provisions of this or any other ordinance…

 

117.    Article 25.  Deleted Article – Replaced with Reserved.

 

118.    26.1  Purpose and Applicability.  The intent of the Land Preservation Overlay district (LPO) is to preserve open space, rural community, rural character, agricultural lands, forest lands, and natural and cultural features on in the development of major subdivisions, while also permitting full-equity development in the form of compact residential areas carefully located and designed to concentrate density.  The Land Preservation Overlay district shall apply to all any parcels located in the RE-1, RE-5, and AR-5 zoning districts, a portion of which are located within 500 feet of a public water system as measured along a public right-of-way.

 

119.    26.1.1.  To preserve areas of the County with productive soils for continued agricultural and  forestry use by preserving blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient operations blocks of land with productive soils, large enough, to encourage agricultural and forestry uses.

 

120.    26.1.9.  To create compact neighborhoods accessible to open space amenities and with a strong identity.

 

121.    26.3.2.4(C).  Outside of a MRPO area,  The building envelope of an open space lot may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total lot area, or such lesser amount as may be specified by other applicable regulations, and shall not include protected open space.

 

122.    ARTICLE 27.  Added note to contents page as follows: See Appendix A for definitions or words and phrases in quotes.  Inserted quotes around all words within Article 27 which were listed in Appendix A.

 

123.    27.1 Establishment of Watershed Areas/Watershed Overlay Districts.

The purpose of this Article is to list and describe the “watershed” areas herein adopted.  For the purposes of this Article, Polk County is hereby divided into the following areas, as appropriate, which are considered overlay zoning districts.