17.18.050 STANDARDS AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

These standards are provided to ensure that any development proposed wholly, or in part, within a sensitive area recognizes the physical and environmental constraints of the development site. These standards shall supplement, and are in addition to, other development standards provided by this code, state, and/or federal code or rule. At the time of application, provide a development plan for the property that addresses and includes the following: A. Nondevelopable: As applicable, provide a description of all impacts and mitigation regarding development activities that will or are likely to impact any nondevelopable areas on the property. 1. Wetlands: No building, structure, construction, excavation, or landfilling shall occur on any area determined to be a jurisdictional wetland without the approval and necessary wetlands permit(s), as required by the U.S. army corps of engineers. Where potential wetlands exist, wetland delineation may be required. 2. Steep Slopes: No building, structure, construction, excavation, or landfilling shall occur on any area determined to be a steep slope. 3. Natural Waterways And Open Water: All proposed development adjacent to year round or ephemeral natural waterways or open water, shall be subject to the following, but excluding bridges, boat ramps, culverts, dams, trestles, and similar structures: a. A minimum setback of fifty feet (50') for all structures and one hundred feet (100') for all on site septic systems shall be required. Said setbacks may be increased or reduced, if necessary, as determined by the planning commission to reasonably address the possibility of any stream or water pollution. b. Any work within thirty feet (30') of the top of bank shall obtain a state or federal approval and/or permit. c. The ordinary high water mark as determined by Cache County shall be the point of reference as to the edge of the waterway. d. The introduction of concentrated sources of pollution into the waterways is prohibited including, but not limited to, septic tanks, untreated sewage, commercial and residential garbage, manure, dead animals, waste, and other hazardous materials. B. Potentially Developable: 1. Moderate Slopes: Any development proposed for areas identified as a moderate slope shall require a geotechnical report as defined by this chapter. 2. Ridgelines: No structure, accessory structure, satellite dish, deck, patio or removal of significant vegetation shall occur in the ridgeline setback, except as provided below: a. If any portion of a legal existing parcel of record falls within the ridgeline setback, any development on that parcel shall make every effort to place all development on the most suitable portion of the lot taking into consideration the standards of this title. b. All disturbance and development shall stay out of the ridgeline setback to the maximum extent possible. If, due to the location, size and configuration of the parcel, that is not possible, the land use authority may approve an exception in keeping with the purpose and standards of this chapter. 3. Floodplain, Floodway, And/Or Manmade Water Conveyance Systems: See title 15,chapter 15.28 of this code. Areas that are shown to have the potential for flooding originating from a manmade water conveyance system (canal) shall follow the standards identified in section 15.28.540 of this code for AO/AH zones. 4. Important Habitat Areas: Strategies that preserve important habitat and prevent fragmentation are encouraged. When new development is proposed within important habitat areas, mitigation methods shall be designed and implemented, including, but not limited to, those listed below: a. Construction shall be organized and timed to minimize disturbance of federally listed species occupying or using on site and adjacent habitat areas. b. If the development site contains or is within five hundred feet (500') of a habitat area, and the sensitive areas analysis shows the existence of a federally listed species, the development plan shall include provisions to ensure that any habitat contained in any such area shall not be disturbed or diminished, and to the maximum extent feasible, such habitat shall be enhanced. c. If the development site contains existing habitat areas that connect to other off site habitat areas, to the maximum extent feasible the development plan shall preserve such habitat area connections. If habitat areas lie adjacent to the development site, but such habitat areas are not presently connected across the development site, then the development plan shall, to the extent reasonably feasible, provide such connection. Such connections shall be designed and constructed to allow for the continuance of existing wildlife movement between habitat areas and to enhance the opportunity for the establishment of new connections for movement of wildlife. d. If federally listed wildlife or flora that may create conflicts for future occupants of the development is known to exist in areas adjacent to or on the development site, then the development plan must include provisions to minimize these conflicts to the extent reasonably feasible. e. Facilitate wildlife movement across areas dominated by human activities by: (1) Maintaining connectivity between open space parcels on adjacent and nearby parcels and subdivisions such that the result will be a larger contiguous area of open space; (2) Locating roads and development away from natural travel corridors used by wildlife, such as riparian areas; (3) Minimizing fencing types that inhibit wildlife movement where appropriate; (4) Minimizing the visual contrast between human dominated areas, including individual lots, and less disturbed terrain in surrounding areas, for example, by retaining or planting native vegetation and trees around a house or accessory building and maintaining consistent grading between developed and habitat areas. f. Mimic features of the local natural landscape in developed areas by: (1) Retaining predevelopment, high quality habitat, including large patches of natural, vegetated areas that have not yet been fragmented by roads or residential development; (2) Minimizing levels of disturbance to trees, the understory vegetation, and other structural landscape features during construction; (3) Designing house lots in a fashion consistent with local natural habitats, for example, by preserving and landscaping with natural, native vegetation; (4) Reclaiming disturbed areas, such as degraded landscapes, roadsides, and other infrastructure disturbances by using seed and other selective plantings. 5. Geologic Hazards: For those areas determined by review to contain geologically unstable conditions, development may be permitted by the county upon the review and approval of a geotechnical report identifying the following: a. The accurate location of all geologic hazards including, but not limited to, faults, landslides, steep slopes, unstable soils, etc. b. The location and description of proposed changes to the site, including any grading and excavation, vegetation removal, the location and profiles of proposed roadways, the location of proposed utility lines, the location of existing and proposed buildings and structures, and the location of all other proposed site features. c. The identification of measures and actions proposed to mitigate the risks from earthquakes, landslides, and soil disturbance including a schedule of the sequence for the installation of planned mitigation actions, including anticipated starting and completion dates. d. No critical facility (excluding transportation lines or utilities which by their nature may cross active faults or structures) designed for human occupancy shall be built astride a geologic hazard. The planning commission may increase building setback requirements where information from a geotechnical report indicates conditions warrant a greater setback distance. 6. Wildfire Hazards: As applicable, provide a description of all impacts and mitigation regarding development activities that will or are likely to impact and/or be impacted by wildfire hazards on the property. Measures to mitigate wildfire hazards and risks may be required based on the recommendation and review of the Cache County fire district. 7. Historic, Prehistoric, And Cultural Resources: Any sites and/or structures determined to have historical or archaeological significance to the community, the region, or the state of Utah shall require the review of, and comment from, the state historic preservation office (SHPO). This includes properties eligible for the national register of historic places.