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Show wowwessv mers TE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 February 1, 2007 Ridgeline Protection an Important Element Responsible Sensitive Land Ordinances Compiled by Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News s Ogden Valley residents begin the process of adopting a sensitive land ordinance, they would do well to remember the importance of ridgeline protection as a critical element of any responsible zoning ordi- nance. Ridgeline protection ordinances are usually adopted to safeguard and minimize the visual impact of proposed activities as viewed form public highways, parks, or other areas accessible to the general public. Visual impacts may include, but are not limited to, unnatural gaps, cuts, projections, or other obviously artificial alternations of existing natural tree lines, ridgelines, prominent topographic features, or rock formations. allow for re-growth of remaining vegetation. Often ridgelines are also areas that support wildlife resources—habitat, breeding ground, foraging area, and migratory pathways, etc. In these cases, steps are usually taken to protect these resources, including the restriction of the size of lawn areas or other clearing, and restrictions on clear-cutting to certain seasons of the year or to certain areas, patterns, methods of removal, or the application of other restrictions that will minimize the impact on wildlife and wildlife habitats. Ridgelines may also represent sensitive areas in that they are often located in conjunction with prime quality groundwater and potential groundwater recharge areas that e d to be protected for the safety of users In these cases, it is wise to downstream. and maintenance of sedimentation and erosion control structures and devices is also critical. Steps to protect the stability of the ridgeline to minimize the cutting and filling of slopes; requiring reforestation or landscaping of quarries upon reaching finished grade or of other areas disturbed by development or clear-cutting; and requiring that driveways, roads and other improvements requiring grading shall be approximately parallel to existing contours will minimize the impact to the environs As the Ogden Valley Community considers and participates in the public process that is now transpiring in the development ofa sensitive lands ordinance, they will do well to remember the importance of protecting the ridgelines that encircle them on every side, and remember that once disturbed or changed, the entire community, including future posterity, and visitors to the Valley will have to live with the impact in perpetuity—not only visually, but also environmentally. Identity Theft Protection As identity theft crimes continue to escalate, this short informational video prepared by the Sheriff's —— of Broward County, Florida is worth the two or three minutes it akes can the video by visiting tak ac <www.sheriff. orp/videos/psa cartheft.htmI> Example of ridgeline building. Ridgeline ordinances may call for guidelines restricting the use of construction materials that by their color, reflectiveness, finish, size, or orientation disrupt the natural or historic character of a ridgeline. A ridgeline ordinance may also provide guidelines governing size, height, shape, and location of buildings; and the height, intensity, coverage, and glare from proposed lights. Such safeguards may also include the restriction on the removal of native trees, and other natural vegetation, and require supplemental landscaping, restrict structure colors and reflectivity of windows and roofs, require buffers and setbacks from redlines, restrict exterior lighting, place limits on height and mass of structures, and require utilities to be installed below ground. me communities require that necessary clear-cutting occur in a staggered or other pattern that reduces the visual impact of such cuttings, and may further require that clearcuttting be staged over a period of time to require analysis of possible impacts of the proposed activity near ridgelines on groundwater quality and recharge areas. In order to minimize such impacts, zoning administrators may require restrictions on the size or location of septic systems, the use of biofilters, detention ponds, retention ponds, and other methods of storm water management and runoff that will protect surface and subsurface waters for the water users below. The regulation of storage, handling or usage of hazardous materials or waste, including, but not limited to,fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and other restrictions or limitations that may be deemed necessary is also part of a responsible zoning ordinance. That the stability of the ridgeline is protected and that erosion potential be kept to a minimum by minimizing changes to the existing topography, preserving existing vegetation, requiring the re-vegetation of disturbed areas, and requiring the installation 2007 Valley Phone Book Now Available OREN, As SALLEY The Ogden Valley Business Association (OVBA) is pleased to oGat eg provide the latest edi- tion of the OVBA 2007 Phone Book in this issue of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS. i OVBA would like to send a sincere thank you to the advertisers in this local publication for their support and commitment to commerce in the Ogden Valley community. This is the Ogden Valley Business Association’s 2nd edition of the Ogden Valley Phone Book, and with each issue, we hope to provide more of the key information that the community needs and wants. Please feel free to provide us with your input, suggestions, listing changes, and/or advertising needs for the next edition. Email your ideas and/or comments Nanci Lifer at <nan@ovba.org> OVBA is dedicated to serving the Ogden Valley community and its businesses by enhancing the quality of life for citizens of Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon through the promotion and development of community and economic resources including the arts, culture, agate health, human services, tourism, and c munity service. Gray Cliff Lodge will be open February 14 for :- Valentine’s Day = MOVE2MOUN Real Estate from Snowbasin to Powder Mountain— and Everything in Between Jacqueline “Jaci” Hoff REALTOR’ jaci@move2mountains.com * mobile: 801.920.8853 * www.move2mountains.com WI Geek Please join us for our Open House in the The Highlands | at Wolf Creek Resort f. ie 3917 N Elk Ridge Trail Eden, UT 84310 Feb. 17th, 24th and Mar. 3, 2007 Noon to 6 PM For more information or directions call 801-745-2218 RESORT 4 SSRESTAURANT ‘5 miles up beautiful Ogden Canyon 508 Ogden Canyon,Ogden, UT PROPERTIES, wc 392-6775 Make your day special with us. Call for reservations. |