EC 9.8320(4): The PUD is designed and sited to minimize impacts to the natural environment <br />by addressing the following: <br /> <br />(a) Protection of Natural Features. <br />1. <br />preservation of significant natural features to the greatest degree attainable <br />or feasible, including: <br />a. Significant on-site vegetation, including rare plants (those that are <br />proposed for listing or are listed under State or Federal law), and <br />native plant communities. <br />b. All documented habitat for all rare animal species (those that are <br />proposed for listing or are listed under State or Federal law). <br />c. Prominent topographic features, such as ridgelines and rock outcrops. <br />d. Wetlands, intermittent and perennial stream corridors, and riparian <br />areas. <br />e. Natural resource areas designated in the Metro Plan diagram as <br />-adopted natural <br />resource inventory. <br /> <br /> Staff Findings <br /> <br />The subject property is within the Willamette Greenway boundary, and as noted previously, an <br />adopted Goal 5 water resource conservation area is located east of the subject property, on <br />the City parklands. (Refer to Attachment A.) There is no natural resource area designated in the <br />Metro Plan or any other adopted natural resource inventory that includes protected resources <br />on the subject property. The available information indicates that the subject property does not <br />contain any rare plant or animal species, prominent topographical features, wetlands, streams, <br />or riparian areas. With regard to significant natural features, the applicant states that the site is <br />primarily a meadow, consisting of a cover crop of short grass with scattered fruit and fir trees. <br />Tree preservation is evaluated below. <br /> <br /> Hearings Official Conclusions <br /> <br />The Hearings Official <br />those findings by this reference. The record does not appear to contain any argument that rare <br />plant or animal species exist on the subject property. Mr. Mark Conley submitted several plant <br />lists and letters which show a great deal of thought and time expenditure attempting to catalog <br />the plant and animal species that are on the subject property. PT-5, PT-6, PT.R-11. However, <br />the Hearings Official cannot find an argument that the species listed are rare plants or animal <br />species which might trigger protection under EC 9.8320(4)(a). <br /> <br />(b) Tree Preservation. The proposed project shall be designed and sited to preserve <br />significant trees to the greatest degree attainable or feasible, with trees having <br />the following characteristics given the highest priority for preservation: <br /> <br /> <br />Hearings Official Decision (PDT 13-1, WG 13-1) 15 <br /> <br /> <br />