Relative standards address complex issues for which absolute standards are inappropriate. They encourage or discourage certain kinds of performance in developments through the use of the point- scoring system described herein.
(A) Importance factors.
(1) This chapter assigns an importance factor to each relative standard.
(2) Importance factors range from one to five and reflect the importance of the standard to which they are assigned in implementing the comprehensive plan and in comparison with other relative standards.
(3) An importance factor of one is assigned to the least important relative standards and an importance factor of five to the most important.
(4) Importance factors may be changed by amendment of this chapter only.
(B) Point assignment. Point assignment provides a systematic technique for assessing the implementation of the relative standards. A positive point assignment reflects the successful implementation of a relative standard, while a negative point assignment reflects a failure to implement a relative standard. Points shall be assigned to each development on the basis of its performance on each relative standard using these guidelines:
(1) Minus two points shall be assigned where there is essentially no effort to implement the standard;
(2) Minus one point shall be assigned where there is an inadequate attempt to implement the standard;
(3) Zero points shall be assigned where the standard is not relevant or there is only minimally adequate implementation of the standard;
(4) Plus one point shall be assigned where there is a successful effort to implement the standard; and
(5) Plus two points shall be assigned where there is an outstanding effort to implement the standard.
(C) Relative standards. Relative standards may be designed to use the full point range described here or strictly to discourage (using only negative point assignments) or encourage (using only positive point assignments) certain kinds of performance.
(D) Score. The importance factor of each relative standard is multiplied by the points assigned to obtain a score.
(E) Cumulative score. Scores on individual relative standards are summed to calculate a cumulative score. If that cumulative score is not zero or greater, the application for a permit shall be disapproved.
(Ord. 2007-8-13, passed 3-11-2019)