PRINCIPLE NO. 15 Specify Management of Open Space
Clearly specify how community open space will be managed and designate a sustainable legal entity responsible for managing both natural and recreational open space.
Notes:
A survey of local open space design regulations conducted by Heraty (1992) revealed that open space requirements were poorly defined in most communities. Less than a third required that open space be consolidated, only 10% required a specific portion of the open space to be maintained as natural areas, and only a few specified allowable uses for open space areas. In addition, community associations and residents often lack financial, legal, or informational resources to maintain different types of common areas.
Open space maintained in a natural condition has a minimal annual maintenance cost, and communities should encourage developers to retain as much natural open space as possible. Communities should explore more reliable methods to assure that responsibility for open space management can be met within a development by creating a community association or shifting responsibility to a land trust or park through a conservation easement.