This article shall apply to major and minor subdivisions, as defined in §
168-4, that occur or are proposed to occur within the geographic limits of the Town in the areas designated as Preservation Residential as shown in the Comprehensive Plan.
The review procedures for major subdivisions located in the preservation residential land areas as designated in the Comprehensive Plan shall be the same as in Article
II, §
168-5, except as follows:
A. Concept review. In addition to review procedures defined in Article
II, §
168-5C(1), the concept review shall have the following procedures:
(1) The subdivider/owner is encouraged to show the general location and provide a general description of any known environmentally sensitive areas requiring delineation in the preliminary plat, §
168-5C(2), or further identification in the resources inventory, §
168-17.
(2) The subdivider/owner is encouraged to present more than one alternative
concept to the Plan Commission and Town Board illustrating how the
development of the concept has considered any environmentally sensitive
areas in placement of house pads, roads, open space and lot lines.
B. Preliminary plat review. In addition to review procedures defined in Article
II, §
168-5C(2), any development proposed under this article shall also include, at the time of preliminary plat:
(1) A resource inventory as defined in §
168-17;
(2) A site analysis as defined in §
168-18; and
(3) A development plan showing the layout of proposed open spaces, house
sites, roads and lot lines. See Appendix B.
C. Final plat review. Final plat review for any development proposed under this section shall follow the procedures defined in §
168-5C(3).
Any development proposed under this article shall include a
resource inventory map. The purpose of the resource inventory map
is to ensure that the important site features have been adequately
identified before the creation of the site design. The inventory:
A. Shall be prepared by qualified ecologists on behalf of the applicant.
B. Shall be prepared by the Town's consultants if the applicant is unable or unwilling to prepare the inventory. The applicant will be charged a fee for this service as established by the Town Board in accordance with the provisions of Article
V of this chapter.
C. Can be done in any combination of features as long as each individual
element can be distinguished and relationships between elements can
be determined.
D. Exhibit is to be presented on an aerial photograph at a scale of
no less than one inch equals 100 feet and include the following:
(1) Vegetation inventory of the site identifying:
(a)
Woodland, brush, hedgerows, grasslands, pasture, row crop, non-row
crop and standalone trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of
eight inches or more.
(b)
Vegetative types shall be classified as generally deciduous,
coniferous or mixed, native grasses or flowers and described by plant
community, relative age and condition.
(c)
Trees to be removed for roads, drives, buildings, drainage or
other purposes shall be identified.
(d)
The location of the above-listed items should be shown on the
map.
(2) A written description of existing wildlife habitat and the likely
species of birds, mammals, amphibians, fish and reptiles present.
The presence of rare or endangered species shall be noted.
(3) Visual resources, showing views onto the tract from surrounding roads
and public areas, as well as views within the tract. Photographs,
artistic renderings, computer-generated graphics or similar methods
may be used to demonstrate the viewsheds.
The resource inventory shall be the basis for an analysis of
the site to determine primary conservation areas, secondary conservation
areas, potential development areas and open space areas. Each site
analysis shall be mapped at a scale of no less than one inch equals
100 feet. Each area shall be differentiated so that relationships
between the areas can be determined.
A. Primary conservation areas. Primary conservation areas consist of
any of the following features:
(1) All wetlands designated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
including a minimum seventy-five-foot buffer.
(2) Floodplains and floodways. The calculated back-to-back 100-year design
storm shall be used to compute floodplain. Otherwise, alluvial soils
shall be used as derived from the NRCS Digital Soil Survey for the
county.
(3) All lakes, ponds, rivers and streams (perennial and intermittent),
including a minimum seventy-five-foot buffer measured from the ordinary
high water mark (OHWM) as determined by the St. Croix County Land
and Water Department or Wisconsin DNR.
(4) Natural drainage patterns on and immediately adjacent to the site
and other watercourses that are deemed to contain running water during
spring runoff or during storm events. A twenty-five-foot buffer measured
out from each side from a line connecting the lowest points of the
drainage and/or watercourse shall be included.
(5) Closed depressions, including a minimum seventy-five-foot buffer.
(6) Slopes equal to or greater than 20% where the horizontal interval
of measurement is equal to or greater than 50 feet.
(7) Rare, threatened or endangered species habitat or resources.
(8) Identified native prairie sites.
(9) Archeological sites, burial sites and mounds as listed at the Wisconsin
State Historic Preservation Office, on the Wisconsin Architecture
and Historic Inventory (AHI) or on the National Register of Historic
Places.
(10)
Identified deciduous forests.
B. Secondary conservation areas. Secondary conservation areas consist
of any of the following features:
(1) Identified deciduous, coniferous and mixed woodlands.
(2) Hedgerows and rock or boulder fences or walls.
(3) Grasslands, pastures, meadows and identified prairie.
(4) Significant farmsteads and farm buildings, important historic sites,
buildings, structures or features of note as listed at the Wisconsin
State Historic Preservation Office, on the Wisconsin Architecture
and Historic Inventory (AHI) or on the National Register of Historic
Places.
(5) Other significant natural and geologic features and scenic viewsheds
such as ridgelines and scenic views into the site, peaks and rock
outcroppings, particularly those that can be seen from public roads.
(6) Slopes between 12% and 19.9%.
(7) Wildlife habitats and corridors.
(8) Standalone trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of eight
inches or more.
(9) River and stream valleys.
C. Potential development areas. Development areas that do not comprise
either primary or secondary conservation areas shall be the first
priority for placing new development on the site.
D. Open space areas.
(1) Open space shall consist of primary and secondary conservation areas, plus any additional nonconservation areas necessary to meet open space requirements defined in §
168-20E(4). Open space shall be restricted in perpetuity from further subdivision and/or land development by deed restriction, conservation easement, or other agreement in a form acceptable to the Town Board and duly recorded in the office of the County Register of Deeds. The legal instruments detailing the ownership of the open space shall be submitted with the preliminary plat and shall be recorded with the Register of Deeds upon final plat approval. Open space areas shall be undeveloped acreage adjacent to subdivision lots and/or accumulated and grouped within a subdivision. Open space areas in the primary and secondary conservation areas and in nonconservation areas may be used for nonmotorized trails (walking, skiing, cycling), wildlife habitat, forests, prairies, parks, farmland, farmland buffers, stormwater management facilities, and other similar undeveloped uses. Open space areas in non conservation areas may also be used for equestrian, recreational uses, picnic areas, community gardens, compost areas (for subdivision residents only), turf areas for informal play, common areas such as greens or squares, ballfields, playgrounds, swimming pools or beaches, tennis or basketball courts, common buildings, sewage disposal systems, essential services, e.g., utility substations, and other similar types of uses as approved on a case-by-case basis by the Town Board.
(2) If the proposed subdivision is suitable for subdivision and if the entire parcel proposed for subdivision consists of primary and/or secondary conservation areas, then the land designated as open space within the parcel may be used for the following: sewage disposal systems; essential services - utility substations; and any other similar type of use deemed reasonable, appropriate, and the same or similar to other uses in this section by the Town Board; in addition to the uses allowed in §
168-18D(1) above which are for nonmotorized trails (walking, skiing, cycling), wildlife habitat, forests, prairies, parks, farmland, farmland buffers, stormwater management facilities, and other similar undeveloped uses.
(3) Open space areas may not contain:
(c)
Any other similar type of use deemed not allowable because it
is not reasonable, appropriate, or the same or similar to other uses
in this section on a case-by-case basis by the Town Board.
In addition to subdivision standards defined in Article
III, §§
168-7 through
168-10, any development proposed under Article
IV shall adhere to standards defined in §
168-20.