EXHIBIT R Page 197 <br />Findinga <br />2415. While development and in-filling have decreased the amount of open space (and <br />associated vegetation and wildlife habitat) within the urban service area, the compact <br />urban growth form has protected open space on the urban fringe and in rural areas within <br />the Plan Boundary. <br />Compact urban growth results in pressure on open space within the current tffbafi ~~e-e <br />area UGB.- Programs for preserving quality open space within the projected *a s~ =e_e <br />area-UGB become more important as the area grows. . <br />X51. Open space provides many benefits in an urban area, including: retention of habitat for <br />wildlife; filtration of polluted water, absorption of storm runoff flow; protection of scenic <br />quality; provision of recreation opportunities; reduction of atmospheric temperatures, and <br />personal well-being. <br />2l Urban agriculture, in other words, backyard and community gardens, and interim use of <br />vacant and underdeveloped parcels, provides economic, social, and environmental <br />benefits to the community. <br />Policies <br />61 Agricultural production shall be considered an acceptable interim and temporary use on <br />urbanizable land and on vacant and underdeveloped urban land where no conflicts with <br />adjacent urban uses exist. <br />3-C.20 Continued local programs supporting community gardens on public land and programs <br />promoting urban agriculture on private land shall be encouraged. Urban agriculture <br />includes gardens in backyards and interim use of vacant and underdeveloped parcels. <br />24C.21 When planning for and regulating development, local governments shall consider the <br />need for protection of open spaces, including those characterized by significant <br />vegetation and wildlife. Means of protecting open space include but are not limited to <br />outright acquisition, conservation easements, planned unit development ordinances, <br />streamside protection ordinances, open space tax deferrals, donations to the public, and <br />performance zoning. <br />Eloise (Goal 6) <br />Findings <br />2-9-1a Noise sources of a nuisance nature (such as barking dogs, lawn mowers, loud parties, <br />noisy mufflers, and squealing tires) are best addressed through nuisance ordinances rather <br />than land use policies. <br />3020. Major sources of noise in the metropolitan area are airplanes, highway traffic, and some <br />industrial and commercial activities. <br />Exhibit B: Proposed amendments to Chapter III-C, Environmental Resources Element, Page 19 of 24 194 <br />Laurel Ridge lf'cdaa (£vg-(t~e-Springfield Metropolitan Plan (Metro Plan). Page 516 <br />