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Protect Natural Floodplains
If you are interested in receiving tax deferrals for preserving agricultural, horticultural, and forest spaces, please see Lynchburg's Land Use Deferral Program.
Protecting Natural Floodplains is a key focus of Lynchburg's Comprehensive Plan 2013 -2030, adopted by City Council on January 14, 2014. The Plan lists the following goals for these atypical areas:
NS-1.3 (pg. 27) Provide incentives (e.g. stormwater credit program, etc. ) for the private preservation of environmental resources, including, but not limited to:
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Preservation of significant wooded open space;
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Dedication of greenway, trail and open space easements;
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Preservation of unique or critical habitats;
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Protection of floodplains and riparian buffers;
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Implementation of “Green” building and site design practices; and
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Environmental remediation or retrofits.
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Minimizing fill or development within 100-year floodplains and wetlands, except as required for water resources management and passive recreational projects;
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Limiting development of steep slopes adjacent to streams, floodplains and wetlands;
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Protecting unique and critical habitats;
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Protecting and enhancing scenic resources, such as City parks and trails, the old City Cemetery, the riverfront and Point of Honor; and
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Eradicating invasive plant species.
Designing with Nature
Designation of Resource Conservation Areas
Like other communities in Virginia’s Piedmont region, rivers, stream valleys, and hillsides have had a profound influence on the development of the City’s form. The City was founded at a convenient crossing along the James River, the downtown was built on high ground above the floodplain, and later development extended outward from the core along roads following the ridge lines—Rivermont Avenue, Fort Avenue, and Campbell Avenue. Neighborhoods developed on the high ground, and railroads—and later highways—followed the contours in the lowlands.
As the City approaches build-out, pressure to develop adjacent to and within sensitive areas will increase. To ensure that the natural function and beauty of the City’s remaining natural areas are conserved, the City should carefully evaluate development proposals and employ a range of strategies to accommodate infill while protecting resources. These strategies may include incentives such as density bonuses for resource protection or dedication, site development flexibility for clustering, acquisition of critical lands, requirements for best management practices, stormwater fee credits or other approaches that accomplish the plan’s goals to facilitate infill development while protecting or enhancing the function of natural areas. (pg. 62, pg.77)
Natural Systems
Finally, the City itself could become actively involved in natural resource protection and management. When the City constructs a building, a parking lot, a road, or a park, for example, it should strive to protect wooded areas, steep slopes, and floodplains to the extent feasible. The City should use green building techniques and demonstrate well-landscaped stormwater management facilities that not only serve as best management practices, but also provide visually pleasing amenities. The construction of Heritage High School and the Juvenile Detention Group Home will continue the standard of City buildings that are built with sustainable guidelines. Citizens in public meetings voiced a great deal of support for City establishment of a greenway program to expand the James River Heritage Trail and the Blackwater Creek Natural Area and to establish similar areas along other City streams. The greenway program should promote the purchase and accept donations of open space for resource protection along streams. The City could also use environmental performance standards to obtain the dedication of stream valley open space for the greenway program in developing and redeveloping areas. (pg. 119)