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City of BiddefordCity of Biddeford

Protecting Quality of PlaceProtecting Quality of Place

Through ConservationThrough Conservation

November 20, 2008November 20, 2008

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www.placeeconomics.com

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Want to Be Part of Sustainable Development? Go to Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford, Maine. Never heard of it? Well, I guess that's not surprising, it's a town of only 22,000, 15 miles south of Portland, Maine. But it is one of the oldest towns in New England, with the first sawmill having been built there over 350 years ago.

Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm

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Biddeford’s Future Success Biddeford’s Future Success Depends on its Natural AssetsDepends on its Natural Assets

•Despite population size, Biddeford still Despite population size, Biddeford still supports some of the highest biodiversity in supports some of the highest biodiversity in York CountyYork County

• Choice’s made in the Choice’s made in the next 10 yearsnext 10 years will will likely determine future biodiversitylikely determine future biodiversity

• Strategic Open Space protection Strategic Open Space protection isis key key component of future Quality of Place = component of future Quality of Place = Biddeford’s future economic advantageBiddeford’s future economic advantage

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Maine’s Comprehensive Maine’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Conservation Strategy Strategy

(Wildlife Action Plan)(Wildlife Action Plan)

Identifies 213 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN).

Local habitat conservation efforts informed with Beginning with Habitat are key to implementing state goals

Biddeford includes habitat for 70% of SGCN, 17 of 21 key habitat types, and a Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Significance

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Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeMaine Natural Areas ProgramMaine Audubon SocietyDepartment of TransportationState Planning OfficeThe Nature ConservancyUS Fish and Wildlife ServiceMaine Coast Heritage Trust

Funded by Environmental Protection Agency, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Wildlife Restoration Funds, Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Loon Plate Fund, Betterment Foundation, Maine Community Foundation

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What is Beginning with Habitat (BwH)?What is Beginning with Habitat (BwH)?

Purpose:To provide the most up-to-date wildlife and plant habitat information available for use in Comprehensive, Open Space and Conservation Planning.

BwH is…

A landscape based approach to achieve

meaningful conservation of all native species

on a developing landscape.

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Habitat loss and fragmentation together make up the single biggest threat to

Maine’s wildlife…

9…and threaten Maine’s economy and our “way of

life.”

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Brookings: “All Maine regions are now growing…southern regions remain the state’s fastest-growing areas.”“York County is now increasing its population by 1.6 percent per year, over 50 percent as fast as the nation.”

Maine is Growing Rapidly

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Brookings: “In fact, every one of Maine’s 16 counties is now experiencing net gains of people from outside the state.”

“Not surprisingly, York County led the state with a net inflow from other states of over 9,000 residents between 1999 and 2004.”

Maine is attracting more people than ever.

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Loss of rural acreage second only to Virginia

The Way Maine is Growing Threatens our “Quality of Place”

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Poorly planned development is…

• Displacing Rural Industries

• Increasing the Cost of Services

• Creating a Loss of Home Town Identity

There Implications for our towns…There Implications for our towns…

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From Maine GAP, 1997

Maine’s richest areas of biodiversity are also the

most threatened.

……and for our Plants and Wildlifeand for our Plants and Wildlife

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“Yet, we are careless with this powerful economic asset today. We let our open spaces get fenced off. We let our downtowns and historic buildings deteriorate. We let our scenic landscapes get cluttered. We let our best and most unique asset lose its special quality.

Preserving and enhancing our Quality of Place is a new kind of economic development challenge. We need new economic development tools to respond.”

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But, while residential development trends are expected to continue, workforce demographics are projected to change.

= greater competition to attract workers= greater competition to attract workers

The Future Workforce Challenge

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Keeping and attracting skilled people are the keys

to Maine’s economic future.“In the new economy, skilled workers,

entrepreneurs, tourists, and retirees do not have to locate in Maine, they may go anywhere. Where they choose to work, visit, and live depends on their personal preferences and the appeal of their destination.”

Local Open Space Planning is the Critical Starting Point

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A Paradigm Shift in Economic Development Theory

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Open Space Conservation & Downtown Revitalization go hand in hand

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……but Kennebunk stands out!but Kennebunk stands out!

Biddeford includes habitat for 70% of Species Biddeford includes habitat for 70% of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), 17 of of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), 17 of

21 key habitat types, and a Focus Area of 21 key habitat types, and a Focus Area of Statewide Ecological SignificanceStatewide Ecological Significance

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Focus Areas of Statewide Ecological Significance

Biddeford is in a great position to leverage state, federal, and private $$$

Biddeford/Kennebunkport Vernal Pool Complex

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The BwH Vision for Biddeford

• Well-distributed protected core habitat blocks that harbor rare spp. and provide habitat for common spp.

• Interconnected with enhanced riparian buffers and terrestrial corridors

• In a well thought out network of green space that is responsive to local recreation needs

The Benefits? Quality of Place, water quality protection, traditional outdoor recreation, rural production, future habitat resiliency

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Riparian areas provide habitat for

50-75% of Maine’s vertebrate

species.

Protecting riparian habitats protects

water quality and helps maintain

habitat connections across the

landscape.

Map 1 illustrates the natural hydrologic connections between

surface water features

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• < than 60% forest cover, brook trout disappear

• > 10% impervious aquatic invertebrate diversity halves

Current Aquatic Challenges

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Future Aquatic Challenges

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Strategies for Conserving Water Resources Strategies for Conserving Water Resources and Riparian Areasand Riparian Areas

• Amend local shoreland zoning ordinance to exceed minimum standards to better protect water resources

• Revise “stream” definitions in local ordinances to better protect 1st order streams

• Designate growth areas and / or overlay zones to protect water quality

• To serve as a starting point for planning habitat connections and recreational trail corridors

• Identify local public access needs to waters

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Map 2 highlights rare, threatened and endangered species and

important and sensitive habitats.

Provides information to secure

a future for rare plants, animals

and habitat types.

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Strategies for Preserving High Value Strategies for Preserving High Value HabitatsHabitats

• Designate critical natural resources as Critical Resource Areas in the Future Land Use Plan.

• Require the planning board to incorporate BwH maps and info into their project review process to better screen for “rare and unique natural features” locations and to inform follow up w/ Regional Biologist

• Explore conservation subdivision approaches and overlay districts to minimize future fragmentation of high value habitats

• Through an open space plan, prioritize locations for open space and local land acquisition efforts based on concentrations of high value habitats

• Inform landowners and promote voluntary protections

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Map 2 highlights large undeveloped and un-

roaded areas in town.

Conservation of large blocks

serves as the umbrella

approach to conservation.

Large blocks contribute to local

rural character, support

recreational opportunities

(hunting, fishing), help maintain

natural resource based industry

(farming, forestry) and help

protect aquifers.

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• Designate rural zones or overlay districts where conservation subdivision approaches are promoted

• Prioritize open space protection and land acquisition efforts that protect habitat and traditional forestry uses, and recreation

• Promote enrollment in current use tax programs (open space and tree growth)

Strategies for Maintaining Large BlocksStrategies for Maintaining Large Blocks

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Building a Landscape

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