Required of all major subdivisions and any cluster subdivision are as follows.
(A) The layout of any subdivision shall be determined after preparing the required site analysis.
(B) The detailed site analysis will be done in order to identify the site’s most significant environmental, historic, cultural and natural resources. The site analysis will include the following.
(1) Vegetation. Characteristics of a vegetation survey related to land use will describe principal, predominant and significant vegetation, by type, condition, age, use and general or specific location. Features in the survey will include trees and shrubs, agricultural fields, treelines, native vegetation, orchards, groves, woodlots, pastures, wetlands, forests and grasslands. The vegetation survey shall indicate any significantly large trees or endangered plant or animal species that may reside on the site and is protected by law.
(2) Historical, archaeological and cultural resources. Historical resources located within the proposed golf course development must be identified on the plat. Sources such as the County Historical Survey (1991), state registers and to federal registers such as the National Register of Historic Places shall be utilized in identifying these resources. The historical survey is important for noting structures and areas that must be protected as designated landmarks.
(3) Adjacent land use patterns. Land use on adjacent properties shall be identified. Features such as, but not limited to, roads, rice dams, traditional settlement areas, cemeteries, clusters of structures, parks, marinas and logging areas shall be shown.
(4) Hydrography. All water features including streams and sensitive areas on the site, such as wetlands and riparian corridors must be located. The purpose of locating these features is to limit disturbance of soil and vegetation that affect water quality features. Hydrography shall be used to determine where water required wetland buffers and other requirements such as drainage easements will be located. Wetland buffers of 50 feet are required on all saltwater marshes, and 35 feet on all freshwater wetlands. All water bodies, rivers, streams, drainage channels, marshes or wetlands, floodplains and aquifers must be inventoried or identified.
(5) Wildlife habitat areas. The purpose of identifying wildlife habitat areas is to assess the ecological conditions of the landscape and to provide continuation of these habitat areas. Features of this survey shall include the presence of any threatened or endangered species, natural areas vital to wildlife species and habitat areas that are connected to larger undisturbed natural habitat (connected habitat system). Through this method, the study will develop key points or areas that should be left undeveloped, then define those areas most suitable for development.
(Ord. 20-8, passed 12-7-2000)