18600 W Observatory Rd, New Berlin, WI 53146

Rural Conservation Single-Family Residential District

The Rural Conservation Single-Family Residential District is intended to conserve significant open space, both upland and lowland, consistent with the preservation goals and policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan, and in a manner that respects the equity of landowners and the ability of developers to subdivide land at a density not to exceed one dwelling unit per five acres as applied pursuant to Section 275-33 G. Density bonuses may be granted pursuant to Section 275-33 I. In conformance with the City's Comprehensive Plan and with state enabling legislation, the purposes of this section also include: To conserve open land, including those areas containing unique and sensitive natural features such as woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplains and wetlands, by setting them aside from development; To provide design flexibility and efficiency in the siting of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce length of roads, utility runs, site grading, and the amount of paving required for residential development; To reduce erosion and sedimentation by the retention of vegetation and the minimization of development on steep slopes; To promote the infiltration of stormwater on site, thereby helping to recharge groundwater supplies; To provide for a diversity of lot sizes and building densities to accommodate a variety of age and income groups and residential preferences, so that the community's population diversity may be enhanced; To implement adopted City policies to conserve a variety of irreplaceable and environmentally sensitive resource areas, including provisions for reasonable incentives to create a conservation system for the benefit of present and future residents; To minimize impacts on environmental resources sensitive areas such as wetlands, floodplain, and steep slopes and disturbance of natural or cultural features such as mature woodlands, hedgerows and tree lines, critical wildlife habitats, historic buildings, and fieldstone walls, as well as to provide opportunities to enhance or restore existing resources that have been diminished or degraded through past land management practices; To protect areas of the City with productive agricultural soils for continued or future agricultural use, horticultural use, or other conservation use; To create neighborhoods with direct visual access to open land, with amenities in the form of neighborhood open space, and with a strong neighborhood identity; To provide for the conservation and maintenance of open land within the City to achieve the above-mentioned goals and for active or passive recreational use by residents; and To conserve scenic views and elements of the City's rural character by limiting views of new development from existing roads.