Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Hazard Mitigation

Transfer of Development RIghts

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

The county’s comprehensive plan includes information on a variety of environmental resource designations. These resource designations include environmental conservation areas, high biodiversity areas, natural landmarks, state and county natural areas, critical wildlife habitats, and wetlands and riparian areas. Additionally, an open space element outlines the importance of protecting the unique geological and biological diversity found in the county and outline possible preservation tools, made possible by funds generated through an open space sales and use tax.

Hazard Mitigation

The county’s comprehensive plan includes a Natural Hazards element. It provides extensive background on the conditions that affect hazard risk in the county and lists policy recommendations that address hazard mitigation generally as well as mitigation of geologic, erosion, flooding, wildfire, radiation, seismicity, and extreme weather hazards (NH 1.01–8.01).

Transfer of development rights

The county’s comprehensive plan includes extensive policy recommendations for its transfer of development rights (TDR) program within the Plains Planning Area. This planning area prioritizes agricultural, sensitive ecosystem, and designated open space preservation. This section of the plan provides specific recommendations for TDR regulations and establishes criteria for sending sites (PPA 3.01 et seq.).