20.450.020 List of Open Space Districts.
A. NA: Natural Areas. The Natural Areas District is intended to protect and preserve properly functioning habitat conditions to support the natural ecosystem of an area. Uses and activities to maintain and/or enhance the ecosystem and passive uses and activities are appropriate for these areas.
B. GW: Greenway. The Greenway District is intended to preserve, conserve, and enhance natural features to support water quality, habitat, public access, and education, contributing to Vancouver’ s quality of life. Passive and low impact, low-intensity uses and activities are appropriate for these areas. The Greenway District consists of a set of greenways. Some are regulated individually to achieve their special purposes.
1. GW-Lettuce Fields Greenway District (Figure 20.450-1). The Lettuce Fields Greenway District implements the Lettuce Fields Subarea Plan. The Lettuce Fields Greenway District is intended to effect (1) establishment of a continuous greenway throughout the District and the preservation and enhancement of its open space character; (2) enhancement and maintenance of the environmental conditions of the district, including fish and wildlife habitat; (3) provision of physical as well as visual public access to the publicly-owned lands of the district, including development of a pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting to established or planned trails on the east and west; (4) provision of environmental education opportunities; (5) enhanced stormwater and flood plain management; and (6) other passive or low-intensity, low-impact uses which further the public interest as stated in this section.
Figure 20.450-1. Lettuce Fields Greenway District
2. GW-Vancouver Lake Greenway District (Figure 20.450-2). The Vancouver Lake Greenway District is intended to encourage the preservation of agricultural and wildlife use on land which is suited for agricultural production, and to protect from incompatible uses agricultural areas that are highly valuable seasonal wildlife habitat. The district provides for activities which can be considered accessory only to agricultural, game, or wildlife habitat management, or recreational uses. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict normal agricultural practices.
Figure 20.450-2. Vancouver Lake Greenway District
3. GW: General Greenway District. The General Greenway District is intended to encourage preservation, conservation, and enhancement of natural areas in dispersed locations outside of the Lettuce Fields Greenway District or the Vancouver Lake Greenway District.
C. Park. The Park District is land that has been or is intended to be developed to provide for moderate- to high-intensity recreational activities in addition to passive or low-intensity recreational experiences. Environmental preservation, conservation, and enhancement are also objectives in the development and maintenance of park districts. Park districts will generally consist of neighborhood, community, and regional parks as defined by the Vancouver Urban Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plans. (Ord. M-4402 § 3(M), 2023; Ord. M-3643, 2004)