A. Greenway Land Requirements
1. Minimum Land Requirement for Greenways: The minimum amount of land required for greenways within a Cluster Conservation Subdivision shall be 40% of the Adjusted Tract Area determined in Section 208-1604(B) of this Article, plus the total acreage of constrained land calculated in Section 208-1604(B). A worksheet for calculating the minimum amount of Greenway Land is attached as Appendix D. The amount of acreage calculated under this section does not necessarily dictate the location of the Greenway Land to be set aside.
B. Uses Permitted within Greenway Areas
The following uses are permitted within greenway land areas:
1. Conservation of open land in its natural state (for example, woodland preserve, game preserve, wildlife sanctuary, fallow field, or managed meadow);
2. Agricultural and horticultural uses, including raising crops, and associated buildings, but excluding residences that are specifically needed to support an active, viable agricultural or horticultural operation. Specifically excluded are commercial livestock operations and any uses involving the raising of animals;
3. Woodlots, arboreta, and other similar silvicultural uses; Uses Permitted within Greenway Areas
4. Pastureland for horses used solely for recreational purposes. Equestrian facilities shall be permitted but may not consume more than one-quarter of the minimum required greenway land.
5. Forestry, in keeping with established best management practices for selective harvesting and sustained-yield forestry.
6. Neighborhood greenway uses such as village greens, commons, picnic areas, community gardens, trails, and similar low-impact passive recreational uses specifically excluding motorized off-road vehicles, rifle ranges, and other uses similar in character and potential impact as determined by the Board.
7. Active non-commercial recreation areas, such as playing fields, playgrounds, courts, and bikeways, provided such areas do not consume more than 25% of the minimum required greenway land or five acres, whichever is less. Playing fields, playgrounds, and courts shall not be located within 100 feet of ABUTTING properties. Parking facilities for the same shall also be permitted, and they shall generally be gravel-surfaced, unlighted, properly drained, provide safe ingress and egress, and contain no more than ten parking spaces.
8. Water supply systems and stormwater detention areas designed, landscaped, and available for use as an integral part of the Greenway.
9. Easements for drainage, access, sewer or water lines, or other public purposes;
10. Underground utility rights-of-way. Above-ground utility and street rights-of-way may traverse conservation areas but shall not count toward the minimum required greenway land.
1. Greenway Land shall be laid out in general accordance with the Township's Natural Resource Composite Map (in the Comprehensive Plan) to ensure that an interconnected network of greenway will be provided. The required Greenway Land shall consist of a mixture of Primary Conservation Areas (PCAs), all of which must be included, and Secondary Conservation Areas (SCAs). The process for delineating Greenway Land is described in Section 174-302(D)(1) of the Subdivision Ordinance.
2. Fragmentation and narrow corridors of Greenway Land should be avoided. No area of Greenway Land shall be less than 10,000 square feet or less than twenty (20) feet in width.
3. Whenever possible, Greenway Land within the Conservation Subdivision should connect to existing or potential conservation areas on adjoining parcels.
4. Greenway Land shall generally remain undivided and may be owned and maintained by a homeowners' association, land trust, another conservation organization recognized by the township.
5. Buffers for Adjacent Public Parkland: Where the proposed development adjoins public parkland, a natural greenway buffer at least one-hundred-fifty (150) feet deep shall be provided within the development along its common boundary with the parkland, within which no new structures shall be constructed, nor shall any clearing of trees or understory growth be permitted (except as may be necessary for street or trail construction). Where this buffer is not wooded, the Board may require vegetative screening to be planted, or that it be managed to encourage natural forest succession through "no-mow" policies and the periodic removal of invasive alien plant and tree species.
1. No portion of any building lot may be used for meeting the minimum required greenway land in the cluster option.
2. Pedestrian and maintenance access shall be provided to greenway land in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Each neighborhood shall provide one centrally located access point per 15 lots, a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet in width.
(b) Access to greenway land used for agriculture may be appropriately restricted for public safety and to prevent interference with agricultural operations.
