Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 8-7 Definition of Preservation Areas

A. Intent. The protection and maintenance of existing natural resources.

B. Purpose. Preservation areas are lands that contain visually significant ridgelines, biotic communities of high significance, geologic constraints and cultural resources. These lands have been judged viable for permanent preservation in a natural state with little or no modification; they have also been amassed in a manner which, overall, has been judged to be more protective of natural resources than could be achieved on an incremental basis with individual development projects.

C. Permitted uses. Passive public recreation (such as tent camping, hiking, biking, and equestrian trails), biotic gardens, cattle grazing, scientific research and the public uses compatible with the natural amenities of these lands; transportation corridors, arterial highways, utilities, transition zones, fuel modification, habitat enhancement, drainage and flood control facilities and other infrastructure designed so as to minimize any adverse environmental impacts. All residential, commercial, and industrial uses are strictly prohibited (preservation areas in Planning Area 12 are exempted from this commercial prohibition). Passive recreation activities such as riding, hiking, picnicking and camping may be operated as a regional park concession by a limited commercial venture under contract to the City.

(Code 1976, § V.E-705; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94)