RIVERBEND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT JANUARY 15, 2008 Environmental Consulting & Design, Inc.

Description of Request  FLUM Amendment Size: 2,067 acres  Total Site Size: 2,237 acres  Change Land Use from Agricultural 3 to Agricultural 2  Represents increase of 103 dwelling units  Site Design: Compact, cluster development  Maintains rural character of the County while providing for sensible growth and environmental protection  Preserving 1,311 acres along Ochlockonee River, an Outstanding Florida Water

Surrounding Area  Add area of disturbed areas

Current Future Land Use Agricultural 3 (1:20) Agricultural 2 (1:10) Leon County Rural (1:10) Rural Residential (1:1) Agricultural 1 (1:5)

Proposed Future Land Use Agricultural 2 (1:10) Leon County Rural (1:10) Rural Residential (1:1) Agricultural 1 (1:5)

Conceptual Site Plan  acre lots  Gross Density of 1 unit per acres  1,311 acres permanently conserved  28,500 Linear feet of river preserved  30,275 Linear feet of nature trails  50 foot wetland buffers  Provides 2 acres of Neighborhood Commercial Uses

Environmental Protection  Protects 1,311 acres of uplands, wetlands and floodplain by providing a perpetual Conservation Easement which exceeds County standard of 30 year protection  Protects 59% of the site  Easement may be granted to County, Conservation Group, Land Trust, State Agency  Provides Management Plan for Conservation Easement Area funded by the Homeowners Association

Low Impact Development Techniques  Minimization of Impervious Surfaces  Through use of clustered design and shared driveways  Limitations on the amount of turf and fertilization  Firewise Community Planning Practices  Water Conservation  Bioretention Areas or ‘Rain Gardens’  Grass Swales  Permeable Pavements  Rain Barrels or Cisterns  Narrower Street Widths  Educational Programs  Allow residents to fully understand the purpose and function of LID components  Native Vegetation

Proposed Advanced Septic Systems

Benefits of Riverbend  Intent is to preserve the rural character and promote rural economic activity while discouraging urban sprawl  Permanently protects over 1,300 acres in a conservation easement  Cluster design protects Ochlockonee River and other environmentally sensitive lands  Captures economic growth from Leon County  Improves tax base of County from $5,450 to $656,773  Proximate to the Town of Havana

Staff Concerns  Public Recreation access  Existing access maintained  Possible additional land for public use  Need  “Recognized pressure for development” as a result of border effects of Leon County  Existing and planned subdivisions in this area are not sufficient to meet future growth needs  Site Suitability  Converts 59% of site from intensive silviculture to permanent conservation  Traffic  Level of Service not degraded in Gadsden or Leon County

RIVERBEND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT JANUARY 15, 2008 Environmental Consulting & Design, Inc.