I-03: Habitat Exchange – Above Green

For each hectare of development, an equal amount of land away from the Community must be set aside in perpetuity through the Living Future Habitat Exchange Program or an approved Land Trust organization.

EXCEPTIONS

LCC I03-E1 05/2016 - Conservation and Parks Organizations

Communities that are primarily a park and communities with nonprofit owners whose mission is to preserve and protect natural habitats may comply through either of the following paths:

A) Purchase, by the owner, of a new area of land that is placed into a conservation easement in perpetuity. The new land area must be part of, or contiguous with, a minimum of 100 acres of intact, high value ecosystems also in a conservation easement set aside in perpetuity.

B) Allocation, as a part of this community, of an area of the owner’s existing property into a new conservation easement in perpetuity (cannot be an existing conservation easement). The new easement must be part of or contiguous with a minimum of 100 acres of intact and high value ecosystems that are set-aside in perpetuity.

C) Protection, within the five years prior to construction of the community, of at least 1000 acres of land to be protected in perpetuity through direct purchase, advocacy, or fundraising efforts.

A community pursuing alternative compliance paths must provide the following documentation for the required acreage:

An official receipt and contract
Documentation that the easement is part of or contiguous with no less than 100 continuous acres protected in perpetuity from development
Documentation of provisions for ongoing stewardship
A land-use site plan indicating the area of projected development within the context of the larger community boundary. Adjacent property functions should also be noted.

(Related to LBC I03-E1 01/2013 Conservation and Parks Organizations)