Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/08/2018

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System Protection - Strategy 1: Local comprehensive plans may need to be changed if planned land uses would have a negative impact on current or planned regional park lands or facilities. The Council may require plan modifications to local comprehensive plans, updates, or amendments if they: • will more likely than not have adverse and substantial impacts on the current or future intended uses of the Regional Parks System lands or facilities, or • are likely to have adverse and substantial impacts on lands that are officially recommended for acquisition in an adopted policy plan There is a strong case for intervention in situations where potentially adverse land uses are proposed after a site for a Regional Parks System facility has been adopted by the Council in the System Plan section of this policy plan. Local governments will be notified of any changes to the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan following Council adoption of the changes and will be given nine months to bring local plans and ordinances into conformance with the Council's plan. The Council will review local comprehensive plan amendments and environmental documents to ensure that Regional Parks System sites and facilities are protected from land uses or projects that: • represent substantial departures from the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan, or • are likely to have a substantial impact on the Regional Parks System Substantial departures from the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan or impacts on the Regional Parks System may include, but are not limited to: • Plans that don't acknowledge the presence of the Regional Parks System unit • Projects that create safety issues for Regional Parks System users • Projects that impair the use and enjoyment of the Regional Parks System unit due to excessive noise, air pollution or water pollution, and • Projects that interfere with the operation and maintenance of the Regional Parks System unit Where appropriate, the Council will initiate or accept for initiation a metropolitan significance review of specific projects if it is necessary to help protect the Regional Parks System. A project that is consistent with a Council -approved local comprehensive plan is exempt from metropolitan significance reviews for metropolitan system effects. In accordance with the Council's Thrive principles, increasing population densities in urban areas is preferable to scattered developments throughout the rural and agricultural areas of the metropolitan region. Increasing population densities adjacent to urban Regional Parks System units is not a detriment to those units if the urban development is designed in ways that are sensitive to areas that enjoy scenic views and the natural features of the Regional Parks System unit, and do not interfere with the operation and maintenance of the unit. The Council will work cooperatively with local governments