A. Purpose: The purpose of protecting prairie remnants is to:
1. Preserve the value of prairie remnants for holding soil in place, absorbing pollutants and taking up large amounts of moisture. These functions are particularly important when prairie remnants are located along streambanks, adjacent to wetlands or on areas of highly erodible soil.
2. Protect and enhance the function of prairie remnants to provide wildlife habitat, ecological diversity and environmental education opportunities in an urban setting.
B. Environmental Review Required: A sensitive areas development plan for property containing regulated prairie remnants must include evidence demonstrating that all regulations of this section will be met. Such plan must include the following:
1. Delineation of all regulated prairie remnants on the property; and
2. Delineation of a construction area limit and specification of associated restrictions.
C. Prairie Remnant Regulations:
1. Development of properties containing prairie remnants one acre in size or larger that are not associated with other sensitive features will be designed to retain the maximum amount of prairie remnant possible, while not precluding reasonable, beneficial use of the property.
2. Prairie remnants associated with other sensitive features, such as stream corridors, wetlands, steep slopes, woodlands or a stand of significant trees will be treated as environmental assets, and will be considered no build areas to the extent possible, and used for buffers, filter strips along waterways, or neighborhood open space. (Ord. 05-4186, 12-15-2005)