The purpose, and intent of this subchapter is to preserve the township's rural landscape, natural resource areas, farmland and other large areas of open land while permitting residential development, located and so designed to reduce the perceived intensity of development. Specific objectives are as follows:
(A) To maintain and protect the township's rural character by preserving important landscape elements;
(B) To provide for greater design flexibility in the sitting of dwellings and other development features than would be permitted by the application of standard regulations in order to minimize the disturbance of rural landscape elements and overall aesthetic value of the landscape;
(C) To increase flexibility and efficiency in the sitting of services and infrastructure by reducing street length, utility requirements, drainage requirements and the amount of paving required for residential development where possible;
(D) To create groups of dwellings with direct visual and physical access to common open space;
(E) To permit active and passive recreational use of common open space by residents of the development or by the public;
(F) To reduce erosion and sedimentation by retaining existing vegetation where possible;
(G) To allow for the continuation of agricultural uses in those areas best suited for the activities and when the activities are compatible with adjoining residential uses;
(H) To permit various means for owning common open space and for protecting it from development in perpetuity; and
(I) To maintain and protect the township's rural character by preserving important landscape elements.
(Ord. 06-14-Z, passed 10-3-2006; Ord. 06-14, passed 10-17-2006)