Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/02/2017

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"dividing of land into three or more parcels." This is also the typical threshold for a major subdivision in most local ordinances. Likewise, developments or improvements involving river -dependent commercial and industrial uses are also exempt from the provisions of this rule, as these types of development typically take place on large sites that are unsuitable for open space preservation or public access. Subpart3. Project information. In order to assure an adequate evaluation of the impacts of proposed development or redevelopment within the MRCCA on the natural resource assets of the corridor, the local government will be required to obtain adequate data from the project developer. This subpart specifies that this information must be provided and reviewed by the local government prior to project authorization. The specifics of these requirements are provided in proposed Minn. R. 6106.0080, subpart 6. Subpart4. Design standards. Local ordinances are required to include design standards and other tools that are intended to achieve or heighten protection or restoration of primary conservation areas — those areas containing key resources and featuring important to the character of the MRCCA. These design standards and tools include incentives for alternative design standards such as conservation design. Incentives are intended to encourage developers to employ conservation design or other innovative development methods, such as transfer of development rights from sensitive to less sensitive lands, which will afford greater protection to the public assets within the MRCCA. • Protection of primary conservation areas during development and redevelopment. Because of the importance of the remaining primary conservation areas within the MRCCA, local governments are required to protect those areas as open space. The proposed rule recognizes, however, that in some circumstances protection of a primary conservation area may unduly burden a developer, particularly where the primary conservation area encompasses the majority of the parcel. This subpart, therefore, sets protection thresholds or a maximum percentage of land in a parcel that must be protected as open space to conserve primary conservation areas. The percentage of land that must be conserved as open space is tied to the conditions in and nature of each district. (See Table 2.) Table 2: Percentage of Open Space by District Corridor District Maximum % of Open Space Required Rationale for Maximum Rural and Open Space (CA-ROS) 50% District includes the majority of remaining primary conservation areas and potentially developable land. River Neighborhood (CA -RN) 20% District is largely developed; open space percentage is similar to existing open space patterns. River Towns and Crossings (RTC) 10% District is largely developed or already preserved as public parkland. Separated from River (SR) 10%* District is largely developed or already preserved as public parkland; fewer 64