§ 24-85. Purpose.

This article establishes provisions for clustered development in order to facilitate the retention of natural resources, open space (a minimum of forty (40) percent of the total project site must be dedicated as permanent open space to qualify as a Clustered Development), and wildlife habitat; avoid hazardous areas; and further implement the goals and policies of the General Plan. Figure 24-85-1 (Clustered Development Concept) illustrates the clustered development concept for a prototypical thirty (30) acre subdivision. Specific objectives of these provisions are to:

A.

Provide an incentive to create quality residential developments, particularly where special conditions exist that prevent the attainment of the maximum permitted density of a property that could otherwise be attained through conventional subdivision design;

B.

Require the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas (e.g., wetlands and special-status species habitat), productive agricultural and timber lands, and important cultural and scenic resources;

C.

Facilitate innovative development concepts that achieve greater consistency with the Butte County General Plan;

D.

Provide permanent open space for a variety of natural resource purposes;

E.

Preclude additional development that may conflict with neighborhood quality of life;

F.

Provide increased open space which may include active and passive recreation features that reduce demand for public park land; and

G.

Reduce infrastructure requirements by reducing the length of streets and water and sewer lines and by potentially reducing street width requirements.

FIGURE 24-85-1 CLUSTERED DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

(Ord. No. 4062, § 1, 9-10-13)