§ 20-1551. Purpose.

The Bluff Creek Watershed Area and the development within it have a major influence on environmental quality in the city and the region. Development within the corridor must be designed with utmost sensitivity to the environment and the development pattern must be of a quantity and quality other than what might occur in the absence of specific standards. The purpose of the district is to:

(a)

Protect the Bluff Creek Corridor, wetlands, bluffs, and significant stands of mature trees through the use of careful site design, protective covenants, sensitive alignment and design of roadways and utilities, incorporation of natural features, landscaping, techniques outlined in the city's surface water management plan, and the practices delineated in the city's surface water management plan.

(b)

Encourage a development pattern that allows people and nature to mix spanning multiple ecosystems. Development in the corridor should be ecologically designed and built around natural features such as trees, wetlands, and bluffs. Significant natural features should impact development rather than development impacting significant natural features. The natural qualities of the corridor should be preserved to ensure sufficient habitat area for wildlife.

(c)

Promote innovative development techniques such as cluster development and open space subdivisions to measurably reduce the amount of impervious cover compared to traditional development practices resulting in significant portions of a site being retained as permanent, protected open space.

(d)

Foster the creation of a greenway connecting Lake Minnewashta Regional Park and the Minnesota River Valley. The greenway will serve as an uninterrupted pedestrian trail, bikeway system, and wildlife corridor affording opportunities for recreation, education, physical fitness and nonmotorized transportation.

(e)

Encourage cost effective site development. Open space design practices can reduce infrastructure engineering and construction costs because of lot configurations, shortened streets, and reduced utility runs. Long term cost savings can also be realized by the City of Chanhassen associated with infrastructure maintenance costs.

(f)

Implement the policies and recommendations found in the Bluff Creek Watershed Natural Resources Management Plan. The terms, definitions and appendices found in the management plan are incorporated herein.

(Ord. No. 286, § 8, 12-14-98; Ord. No. 445, § 6, 2-12-07)