Natural features such as trees, views, natural terrain and water bodies shall be preserved whenever possible in any development.

Natural fertility of the soil shall be preserved and on-site soil shall be disturbed as little as possible. Top soil moved during the course of construction shall be redistributed evenly over the tract after construction is completed, with said areas then stabilized by approved seeding, sodding and plantings.

Where development is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream, the stream corridor protection requirements of Subsection 145.3 shall apply. In order to protect the public from hazardous conditions and for flood or erosion control purposes, the approving authority may require a drainage ditch, stream, or other watercourse to be piped or paved.

During the design, planning and construction of any development, a conscious effort shall be made to preserve existing vegetation on the site. The approving authority may, at is discretion, require special vegetation protection techniques, including snow fencing, to minimize site disturbance during construction. The approving authority shall reserve the right to require the transplanting of unique or extraordinary trees that would otherwise be destroyed by site development.