(A) Purpose. The purpose of this district is to satisfy the visual and psychological needs of the community for light and air, and permit beneficial low-impact recreational uses and outdoor education that minimize disruption of the land’s natural systems and are not detrimental to the natural characteristics of the land.

(B) Permissive uses.

(1) Natural areas designated for outdoor education, low-impact recreation, wildlife/habitat enhancement and conservation, natural and cultural resource preservation;

(2) Land undergoing restoration;

(3) Regional preserves;

(4) Lakes, waterways, flood water storage areas, and other public facilities for handling flood water, all designed in such a way as to be considered a visual and/or physical amenity in the community;

(5) Land that serves as a buffer, protecting the public from natural hazards;

(6) Structures and facilities incidental to the above uses; provided, that such incidental buildings do not cover more than five percent of the ground area;

(7) Amenities and improvements supporting the above uses including drinking water fountains and spigots, trash and dog waste receptacles, tables and benches, bicycle racks, and regulatory and interpretive signs;

(8) Unpaved service roads, permeable parking lots with 25 spaces or less, fencing six feet in height or less, trails and trail corridors, and public utilities necessary for the protection, development and use of the open space area.

(C) Conditional uses (requiring use permit).

(1) Development, including public utilities, roads other than unimproved service roads, drainage structures other than those necessary for resource protection, amphitheater, visitor center, interpretive center, botanical garden, arboretum, garden open to the public, parking lot with more than 25 spaces, and other uses as specified in resource management plans or master plans.

(2) Applications for conditional uses must demonstrate that:

(a) The proposed development is in accord with the letter and intent of the comprehensive plan regarding open space, open space master plans and applicable resource management or master development plan.

(b) The proposed development complies with subsections (A) and (B) of this section.

(Ord. 18-20)