The purpose this zoning district is to protect natural, historic and community resources within the City of Griffin by promoting open space development within our jurisdictions. It also aims to serve as a tool for water quality and watershed protection and to enhance the visual and esthetic value of land in the City of Griffin by providing for and promoting the development of residential subdivisions that conserve open space and integrate natural features into site design. Specifically, the district intends:

1.

To provide for the preservation of greenspace as a nonstructural stormwater runoff and watershed protection measure.

2.

To provide a residential zoning district that permits flexibility of design in order to promote environmentally sensitive and efficient uses of the land.

3.

To preserve in perpetuity unique or sensitive natural resources such as groundwater, floodplains, wetlands, streams, steep slopes, woodlands and wildlife habitat.

4.

To permit clustering of houses and structures on less environmentally sensitive soils which will reduce the amount of infrastructure, including paved surfaces and utility easements, necessary for residential development.

5.

To reduce erosion and sedimentation by minimizing land disturbance and removal of vegetation in residential development.

6.

To promote interconnected greenways and corridors throughout the community.

7.

To promote contiguous greenspace with adjacent jurisdictions.

8.

To encourage interaction in the community by clustering houses and orienting them closer to the street, providing public gathering places and encouraging use of parks and community facilities as focal points in the neighborhood.

9.

To encourage street designs that reduce traffic speeds and reliance on main arteries.

10.

To promote construction of convenient landscaped walking trails and bike paths both within the subdivision and connected to neighboring communities, businesses, and facilities to reduce reliance on automobiles.

11.

To conserve scenic views and reduce perceived density by maximizing the number of houses with direct access to and views of open space.

12.

To preserve important historic and archaeological sites.