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protected from obstruction or development that is out of scale or incompatible with their <br />surroundings. <br />(6) Landscaping should strengthen ecosystems. Landscaping for public and private <br />development should incorporate native and drought -tolerant vegetation appropriate to local <br />conditions and contribute to ecological function, resilience, and visual quality. <br />(7) Connected landscapes should support both ecology and livelihoods. The County should <br />encourage the preservation of large, connected open spaces and green infrastructure, <br />including agricultural, ranching, and forest lands that function as working landscapes and <br />contribute to environmental health, recreation, and scenic continuity. <br />(8) Working landscapes require active stewardship. Forests, agricultural lands, ranchlands, <br />and open spaces should be managed as living systems, including through practices such as <br />vegetation management, controlled access, game management, and restoration, to maintain <br />ecological function and reduce long-term risk. <br />(9) Access must be balanced with long-term stewardship. Scenic and environmental <br />resource protection should be carried out in ways that maintain appropriate public access, <br />consistent with safety, cultural practices, and long-term care of the land. <br />(10) County actions should model responsible stewardship. Through its own projects, <br />facilities, and public investments, the County should demonstrate responsible design, long- <br />term care of the land, and sound stewardship practices. <br />Section 3-2-2. Actions. <br />(a) Effective protection begins with understanding what exists. The planning department <br />shall identify and map significant scenic resources, view corridors, working landscapes, <br />and environmentally sensitive areas, and ensure that this information informs zoning, <br />subdivision, and permitting decisions. <br />(b) Design standards should reflect the surrounding landscape. The planning department <br />shall develop and maintain clear standards or guidelines for site design, building <br />placement, and landscaping that reduce visual impacts, respect surrounding context, and <br />protect sensitive environmental features. <br />(c) County lands should demonstrate best practices in stewardship. The department of <br />public works and the department of parks and recreation shall prioritize the care, <br />restoration, and long-term maintenance of County -owned open spaces, parks, and shoreline <br />areas, using appropriate native vegetation where practicable. <br />(d) Land use regulations should encourage thoughtful development patterns. The planning <br />department shall review existing regulations and recommend amendments that support <br />clustered development, protect scenic and natural features, and preserve open space and <br />working landscapes. <br />(e) The County should restore lands under its care where damage has occurred. The <br />office of sustainability, climate, equity, and resilience shall coordinate efforts to restore <br />21 <br />