In a recent government meeting, officials discussed proposed changes to development incentive tools aimed at promoting open space preservation in rural areas. The focus was on the rural Planned Residential Development (PRD) and the floor area option tool, both of which currently incentivize property owners with at least 35 acres to conserve land while allowing for increased density.

The proposal suggests shifting from using gross site area to base site area for determining eligibility for these tools. Currently, gross site area includes the entire property, while base site area would exclude certain features such as roads, bodies of water, and steep slopes greater than 30%. This change could significantly impact the number of properties eligible for these incentives.

For instance, one example highlighted a property that, under the current gross site area calculation, qualifies for additional dwelling units due to its conservation efforts. However, if the proposed base site area calculation were applied, the property would no longer meet the eligibility criteria, as much of its area would be excluded from the calculation.

Another example illustrated a property on Vogel Hill, which also stands to lose eligibility under the new proposal due to the exclusion of steep slopes and roads from the site area. Officials expressed concerns that this change could undermine the original intent of the tools, which is to encourage land conservation.

The discussion underscored the complexities involved in determining site eligibility, as assessing steep slopes and other features often requires professional evaluation, potentially creating additional barriers for property owners seeking to utilize these incentives. The meeting concluded with a call for further consideration of how these changes might affect land conservation efforts in the region.