§ 4-301. Purpose.

The purpose of the environmentally sensitive areas development review process is to:

(1) identify, prioritize, and protect environmentally sensitive areas during the initial stages of the development review process;

(2) ensure that the disturbance, protection, and restoration of environmentally sensitive areas are in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations;

(3) establish levels of protection for environmentally sensitive areas that vary with the priority ranking of each feature or combination of features;

(4) guide site development so that negative impacts to the environmentally sensitive areas are avoided or minimized to the greatest extent possible;

(5) encourage the use of innovative development techniques and provide flexibility in the planning process to protect the environment;

(6) establish levels of protection for existing sensitive areas and institute requirements for the restoration of sensitive areas found to be prematurely destroyed or altered; and

(7) protect the development from forces of nature.