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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> Maintenance, usage, and funding issues associated with the acceptance of non - developable parcels <br /> have been discussed. This discussion has shown that these lands can be quite valuable to the City <br /> as natural park areas and wetlands, or a burden upon the City if important negative factors are <br /> overlooked. A need for a system to evaluate a parcel considered for acceptance based on these <br /> issues discussed has been demonstrated. <br /> From this discussion three main conclusions are made: <br /> 1.) Endeavor to leave undevelopable lands in private stewardship. <br /> Based on availability of Government Agency funding and resources and the recognition of a trend <br /> toward a continued decrease in each of these areas, public agencies in general will not be in a <br /> good position for acquiring and maintaining open space/ natural areas. Acquisition of these areas <br /> will result in added maintenance and operation costs. Thus, the best path to follow at this time <br /> would be to encourage private stewardship of these undeveloped parcels. There are several <br /> possibilities which may achieve this goal. <br /> a.) Incorporate natural / open space areas into lots within subdivision. <br /> This would place the natural / open space area in private property ownership as part of a <br /> developed lot. The natural resource portion of the lot would be preserved through conservation <br /> setbacks and/or CC &R's as well as through public education, encouragement of pride of <br /> ownership, and incentive programs. <br /> b.) Natural / open space areas designated as Common Areas in PUD and subdivisions. <br /> This method would involve the implementation of development standards which would require <br /> the integration of natural values and functions with those of the development, or subdivision. The <br /> natural resource area would be designated as a "common" area set aside for the benefit of, and <br /> ownership by, all members of the development. Under this situation, maintenance and operation <br /> of the natural area would be the responsibility of the development homeowners association. <br /> c.) Natural / open space areas as separate parcels held in trust or private ownership by <br /> �� \J conservation groups. <br /> The natural resource area would be a separate parcel which would be owned or entrusted to a <br /> „ non -profit conservation group such as The Nature Conservancy. Another way to achieve this <br /> option would be through partnerships with corporate sponsorship in which funding for acquisition <br /> and maintenance would be provided by a corporate sponsor. <br /> . N .0)\ <br /> 1;> 4 ,\‘' <br /> ,„ <br /> \ k‘ 1 \ <br /> v N <br /> v <br />