kane county green infrastructure planning · wetlands, floodplains . oak woodlands . inai, nature...

Kane County Green Infrastructure Planning

Kane County Board

November 26, 2013

Dennis Dreher, Geosyntec Consultants

- 300+ Organizations working to preserve and enhance regional natural resources & biodiversity - Sustainable Watershed Action Team – SWAT - A Chicago Wilderness project Funded by The Boeing Company

Chicago

Wilderness

and Partners

GI Projects

In Progress

Completed

6/28/13

Collaborating

Completed

4/30/13

Pending

In Discussion

Project Purposes

• Develop a countywide green infrastructure map and plan – In support the relevant recommendations of

the Kane County 2040 Plan – Consistent with the goals of the regional

Green Infrastructure Vision • Engage local governments through the Kane

County Planning Cooperative in plan development – Broaden countywide awareness of green

infrastructure planning and protection – Encourage municipal buy-in

How Do We Define Green Infrastructure?

• Interconnected network of natural areas and open spaces that: – Conserves natural ecosystem

functions – Sustains clean air and water – Provides trails and other

benefits to people and wildlife

Green Infrastructure – A Technology Focus

• Products, technologies, and practices that use natural systems – or engineered systems that mimic natural processes – to enhance overall environmental quality and provide utility services

• Green vs. grey infrastructure – E.g., a bio-swale vs. a storm sewer

Implementing Green Infrastructure at Varying Spatial Scales

At the regional scale…

• The Chicago Wilderness consortium and CMAP developed a 3-state Green

Infrastructure

Vision for biodiversity conservation

CMAP GoTo 2040 Plan Goal: Increase Conservation Open Space from

250,000 to 400,000 acres

At the county/community scale…

• Incorporate GI principles into plans and ordinances

• Identify greenways and wildlife corridors

• Plan walking trails and bike paths linking subdivisions and regional trails

St. Charles Park District Comprehensive Master Plan

• Identifies natural area goals and objectives

• Uses the goals, objectives and green infrastructure maps to generate land preservation and acquisition strategy

Land Acquisition Strategy

At the neighborhood

scale… • Incorporate

“conservation design” into new developments

• Find creative ways to: – infiltrate runoff – protect natural areas – create greenway & trail

connections

Settlers Ridge – Sugar Grove

At the site/lot scale…

• Incorporate natural landscaping and stormwater best management practices in parks, school grounds, residences – Applicable to both new

projects and retrofits • Protect, restore, and

manage natural areas

Permeable Paving

Kane County GI Mapping Process

• Worked with County GIS experts and natural resource agencies to develop a comprehensive natural resources inventory/map – Kane County Development and Water Resources – Kane County Forest Preserve District – NRCS/SWCD – Illinois Nature Preserves Commission – Illinois DNR – The Conservation Foundation – Watershed Groups – Campton and Dundee Townships

Streams, Wetlands,

Floodplains

Oak Woodlands

INAI, Nature Preserves, T&E, and

High Quality Streams

Forest Preserves,

Public Open Space, Private Open Space

Recommended Core GI

Mapping Layers

16 “Core” Map Layers

Core Green Infrastructure Map

• Public Open Space • Private Open Space • Environmental

Resource Area

• Regional Trails • Class III

Groundwater Recharge Areas

Campton Hills Area

Geneva – St. Charles Area

Questions?

Kane County 2040 Green Infrastructure Plan

1939 aerials

+

2011 aerials

=


• Comments

• Goals, Objectives

& Actions

June 7th, 2013


Goals

Kane County will be a leader and role model in the area of green infrastructure within the County and throughout the region.

1. foster public

awareness,

education, and

support

2. review ordinances to

allow conservation

design


Goals

Kane County will protect the local water supply and improve water quality

1. promote the

importance of a

sustainable water

supply

2. promote green

infrastructure best

management

practices


Goals

Kane County will continue to preserve its natural resources

1. recognize the

importance of climate

change mitigation

and adaptation.

2. protect and enhance

the Fox River and

Kishwaukee River

watersheds


Goals

Kane County will continue to incorporate multi-modal non-motorized transportation options within the Green Infrastructure system.

1. promote the

importance of

walkability and

bikeability

2. recognize the

importance of

encouraging non-

motorized modes of

transportation

3. promote connectivity


.


. • Background

– What is Green Infrastructure?

– Hubs, Links, Sites and Buffers

– Regional, Community

Neighborhood and Site

– Cost Effectiveness


.

• Developing the Kane County 2040 Green Infrastructure Plan

– Introduction

– Green Infrastructure Mapping Process

– Kane County Planning Cooperative

• Kane County & Green Infrastructure

– Regional Green Infrastructure Vision

– Kane County 2040 Plan

– Kane County Stormwater Management

Plan and Stormwater Ordinance

– Watershed Planning

– Open Space & Green Infrastructure in

Kane County


. • Implementation Strategies – Acquisition by public agencies

– Conservation Easements

– Land Use Planning & Zoning

– Conservation Development

– Links or Greenway Connections

– Trails, Bikeways & Water Trails

– Landscape Retrofits & Restoration

– Farmland Protection

– Neighborhood and Site BMPs

– Kane County Planning Cooperative

– Planning Workshops


. • Appendices – Strategic Conservation Makes Economic

Sense- Local Green Infrastructure Case

Studies

– Meeting Notes

– Green Infrastructure Map Core Layers

– Green Infrastructure Map Mapping Rules

– Additional Water Resources Elements

– Ordinance Checklist for Municipalities

– References/Additional Resources

– Kane County Green Infrastructure Map


.

Public Comment

• Add 4th goal addressing walkability/bikeability • Add information about Growing for Kane • Add information about Integrated Water Resource

Planning • Add reuse of gray water as a Best Management

Practice


. • Union/Virgil Ditches

Watershed Planning

• Forest Preserve

Acquisition

• Ag Preservation

• Big Rock Comp Plan


. Timeline • Nov. 13 - Regional Planning Commission • Nov. 14 – Energy & Environment Committee • Nov. 26 – Committee of the Whole • Dec. 10 – County Board


. Questions?

kane county green infrastructure planning · wetlands, floodplains . oak woodlands . inai, nature...

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