§ 2.10.5. Calculation and design of greenspace.

The following standards shall govern the calculation and design of greenspace in the RNC (Residential Neighborhood Conservation) District:

A.

The allotted greenspace shall comprise at least thirty (30) percent of the total land area excluding the undevelopable areas as identified in subsection B. No part of any single-family detached residential lot, private street, private drive, or street right-of-way, front yard setback, nor any area utilized for side-to-side building separation except when used for a path or sidewalk connection to greenspace, shall count towards greenspace.

B.

Land containing any of the following features shall not be included for the purposes of calculating whether a site plan and any subsequent development meets the greenspace requirement:

1.

Streams and stream buffers;

2.

Wetlands;

3.

Rock outcroppings;

4.

Slopes steeper than 1:2 slope;

5.

Sites of archaeological significance;

6.

Floodplains; or

7.

Areas intended to be dedicated for right-of-way as shown on the scaled site plan submitted in compliance with section 2.10.4.

C.

For properties ten (10) acres or less, at least fifty (50) percent of the allotted greenspace shall be in an area or areas that each measure a minimum two hundred (200) square feet. For properties greater than ten (10) acres, at least fifty (50) percent of the allotted greenspace shall be contiguous and shall be a minimum width of fifty (50) feet. Paths, bike paths and trails do not have to comply with the minimum width requirements set forth in this subsection.

D.

Greenspace may consist of and be designed for the following uses only:

1.

Natural undisturbed areas;

2.

Active recreation areas;

3.

Community gathering places;

4.

Trails and greenways;

5.

Bikeways and paths;

6.

Asphalt or concrete bikeways and paths with a maximum width of eight (8) feet;

7.

Landscaped stormwater management facilities, which are constructed as part of an on-site stormwater mitigation site design feature and which are graded such that no safety fencing is required;

8.

Mature wooded areas; or

9.

Specimen trees as defined in chapter 14 of this Code.

E.

No impervious surface, except (1) areas used for active recreation, (2) historic building(s) or historic site(s), and (3) asphalt or concrete bike paths and paths with a maximum width of eight (8) feet, may be considered in the greenspace calculation. Paths that require grading must not damage critical root zones of specimen trees.

F.

Preserved historic buildings or sites may be included in greenspace if intended to be for the common use and benefit of all residents of the subdivision.

G.

All dwelling units shall be provided with safe, convenient access to all greenspaces throughout the development in the form of a pedestrian circulation system consisting of structurally improved pedestrian path(s) and/or sidewalk(s), which shall be a minimum width of five (5) feet and shall be connected so that there are no breaks in the walkable surface of the pedestrian circulation system, except where the path or sidewalk connects to a greenspace. All greenspaces shall have a minimum of two points of pedestrian access.

H.

Greenspace shall connect with other greenspace areas and trails on adjacent property where possible.

I.

Active recreation areas may be included in greenspace and shall be required in any RNC (Residential Neighborhood Conservation) District that contains one hundred (100) or more units. A conservation subdivision located in an RNC (Residential Neighborhood Conservation) District that contains between one hundred (100) and two hundred (200) units, inclusive, shall include an active recreation area of at least one (1) acre in size. A conservation subdivision located in an RNC (Residential Neighborhood Conservation) District that contains more than two hundred (200) units, shall include a minimum of either a single active recreation area of at least two (2) acres in size or two (2) active recreation areas that are each at least one (1) acre in size. No active recreation area may be located within any wetland, stream buffer, or rock outcropping.

( Ord. No. 15-06 , 8-25-2015)