Lake County Comprehensive Plan Evaluation & Appraisal Report ...

Limit growth within the Wekiva River Protection Area and Wekiva Study Area throughcoordinated greenway plans, clustering of development, density credits and densityincentives close to municipalities which result in permanent protection of open space,allowing only low to very low density development, and conservation subdivision designstandards.The proposed Future Land Use Element will:• Limit density with Future Land Use categories specific to the Wekiva River ProtectionArea and Wekiva Study Area.• Maintain the long-term viability of these natural resources.• Preserve and protect the Wekiva River Protection Area and Wekiva Study Area,recognizing them as natural resources of critical state and regional importance.• Prohibit all development inconsistent with the provisions of the Wekiva River ProtectionAct and the Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act.• Regulate the use of land within the Wekiva River Protection Area and Wekiva Study Areain order to concentrate development farthest from surface waters and wetlands of theWekiva River System and require special protection of springsheds to minimize impactson water quantity and quality.• Require clustering of development and permanent protection of open space to protectnatural resources including recharge areas, karst features, habitat, wildlife, andcorridors for wildlife movement.The proposed Conservation Element will:• Show the Wekiva River Protection Area and Wekiva Study Area, the Wekiva River, itstributaries, and waters on maps and GIS coverages prepared for use in regulatorydecisions by the County.• Protect and restore, to the maximum extent possible, sensitive areas within andadjacent to all springsheds, including springs, seeps, recharge areas, sinkholes, caves,and other karst features.• Require development to be clustered on the least sensitive portion of the developmentsite and establish undisturbed buffer areas around karst features with an aquiferconnection.• Limit irrigated turf grasses and landscape areas to no more than 50% of all pervioussurface areas, including residential lots.• Adopt regulations that protect and conserve wetlands• Require a site analysis for all new development within the Wekiva River Protection Areaand Wekiva Study Area in order to protect natural resources where they exist to themaximum extent possible.• Require management plans for significant natural habitats meeting certain criteria thatare to be protected as a result of development projects.• Prohibit all new mining within the Wekiva River Protection Area and Wekiva Study Area.• Participate in local, regional, state, and federal programs to protect and manageenvironmentally-sensitive lands through acquisition and establishment of conservationeasements.2008 Evaluation and Appraisal Report – Lake County, FloridaSeptember 23, 2008 28