Title 18 Counties

18-5-402. Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Conservation design process" means a planning process adopted by a county to offer a land use option for residential purposes that differs from traditional thirty-five (35) acre divisions of land described in W.S. 18-5-303(b) using cluster development and density bonuses to preserve open space through: (A) Protection of wildlife habitat and critical areas; or (B) Enhancement and maintenance of the rural character of lands with contiguity to agricultural lands suitable for long range farming and ranching operations. (ii) "Cluster development" means any division of land that creates parcels containing less than thirty-five (35) acres each, for residential purposes, provided: (A) One (1) or more parcels are being divided pursuant to a county conservation design process; (B) An area within the county equal to not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total area of the parcel, as defined in W.S 18-5-302(a)(x), being divided is reserved at the time of the development for the preservation of open space in furtherance of one (1) or more of the objectives described in paragraph (i) of this subsection; (C) Unless otherwise provided through a density bonus, the gross overall density shall not exceed one (1) residential unit for each seventeen and one-half (17 1/2) acres; and (D) Land set aside to preserve open space or to protect wildlife habitat or critical areas shall not be developed in any way that changes its open space designation for at least sixty-five (65) years from the date the cluster development is approved and shall be governed by the provisions of W.S. 18-5-403(b)(ii). (iii) "Density bonus" means a land use design incentive that encourages optimized preservation of open space by allowing a gross overall density of two (2) or more residential units for each thirty-five (35) acres; (iv) "Open space" means an area of land or water that is substantially free of structures, impervious surfaces, roads and other land-altering activities and does not include lands used for private recreation such as golf courses and residential yards, areas devoted to parking, vehicular traffic, nonagricultural private use or any other use which does not significantly lend itself to the furtherance of one (1) or more of the objectives described in paragraph (i) of this subsection. "Open space" includes lands used for agricultural activities; (v) "Private recreation" shall not include nature trails or hiking trails; (vi) "Residential unit" means a structure or part of a structure containing dwelling units, including single family or two-family houses, multiple dwellings or apartments. Residential units do not include transient accommodations such as transient hotels, motels, tourist cabins, boarding or rooming houses or dormitories.