§ 7.4. Open space and conservation areas.

Open space shall be designated as either primary conservation areas or secondary conservation areas and shall be configured to create or maintain a network of open space.

7.4.1.

Primary conservation areas. Primary conservation areas form the core of the open space to be protected. Active recreation areas are prohibited in primary conservation areas. Primary conservation areas, as defined by this ordinance, include the following:

A.

Cemeteries;

B.

Habitats for endangered or threatened species as defined by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources;

C.

Wetlands identified by the National Wetlands Inventory maps prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the County Soil Survey prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, or a certified wetlands delineation using data from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers;

D.

Alluvial soils identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 100-year floodplain;

E.

Lakes (natural and man-made), rivers, streams, existing ponds, stormwater management ponds/facilities designed in accordance with the Fulton County Subdivision Regulations, creeks, including but not limited to blue line tributaries and state waters;

F.

Riparian zones equal to any required stream buffers and improvement setbacks;

G.

Existing slopes greater than 25 percent on average with a site area greater than 5,000 square feet identified as part of a site analysis conducted by a registered engineer, land surveyor or landscape architect and calculated using topographic maps from the Fulton County GIS system or from a topographic survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor.

7.4.2.

Value of primary conservation areas. Because primary conservation areas are either protected or sensitive environmental areas, only 50 percent of the acreage of a primary conservation area may be counted as open space.

7.4.3.

Secondary conservation areas. Secondary conservation areas consist of undeveloped (unconstrained) but buildable land and protected (constrained) lands. Secondary conservation areas, as defined by this ordinance, include the following:

A.

Farmlands (fields, pastures, meadows);

B.

Woodlands and buffers except riparian buffers;

C.

Historic and/or archaeological sites as identified by the Fulton County Historic Resources Survey;

D.

Passive recreation areas, public and private, to include pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian trails, picnic areas, community commons or greens, and similar areas;

E.

Existing active recreation areas and facilities, public and private, to include parks as identified by the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, playing fields, and playgrounds. Recreation areas with impervious surfaces (e.g., tennis courts, basketball courts and pools) and golf courses shall be excluded.

F.

Alternative wastewater treatment facilities as approved by the department.

7.4.4.

Value of secondary conservation areas. With the exception of new active recreation areas and facilities, 100 percent of secondary conservation areas may be counted as open space. Because new active recreation areas may be cleared and graded and therefore reduce natural resources and wildlife habitats, only 50 percent of new active recreation areas and facilities may be counted as open space.