Environmentally Sensitive Areas

The city’s zoning code aims to protect environmentally sensitive areas and to incentivize landowners to protect sensitive areas. It includes information on designation criteria, site planning, minimum standards, regulated activities, exemptions, and incentives for developments to incorporate protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas (§10-22-4 et seq.). It identifies floodplains, sensitive groundwater areas, stormwater management areas, wetlands, sensitive geological features, forest, system connections, habitats, and upland prairies as sensitive areas. Additionally, it identifies incentives to protect privately owned land for development, including conservation easements and allowances for wetlands (§10-22-9).