ohio balanced growth program

Ohio Balanced Growth Program

Overview – Watershed Planning and Best Local Land Use

PracticesKirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State University

balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

Balanced Growth in Ohio

• Linking Land Use and Water Resources

• Planning Framework– Document– Projects– Planning Process

• Best Local Land Use Practices- Recommendations for local government

- Case Studies- Statewide Program


Land Use & Lake Erie

• Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan – 2000– Outlined serious land use problems that

diminish the health of the lake, and limit its benefits to the people of Ohio

• Balanced Growth Blue Ribbon Task Force– 2002-2004


Balanced Growth Blue Ribbon Task Force

•2004 – Reported to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission on how to:

“develop strategies that will balance the protection of Lake Erie with continued economic growth”


Linking Land Use and Lake Erie

A Planning Framework

Best Local Land Use Practices


Balanced Growth Watershed Planning

•voluntary•locally led•incentive-based•support through alignment

of state policies and programs


Watershed Planning Partnerships

• Piloted in 2006 for 3 years with OWDA $– Pilot Watersheds

• Chagrin River (Chagrin River Watershed Partners)

• Chippewa Creek (Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization)

• Swan Creek (Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments)

• Upper West Branch of Rocky River (Medina SWCD)

– It was a test: Will it work?– All four of the initial projects received full state

endorsement by 9/09: Yes, it can work.


Not pictured: Big Creek (Cuyahoga)


Ohio’s Balanced Growth Program

• Planning Framework: collaborative planning -- resolving WHERE development and conservation belong

•PDA•PCA•PAA•Locally determined


Review and Endorsement

– “significant” local support prior to endorsement: 75% of…

• population • land area • number of communities


Balanced Growth Strategy

• State activity to update and improve Balanced Growth Program

• Action Items adopted at June 23, 2010 Lake Erie Commission meeting– Draft Balanced Growth Strategy is also available

• Highest priority action: updating and enhancing the special incentives available to participating communities with state endorsed Watershed Balanced Growth Plans


Special Incentives

These 16 programs contain specific special incentives for Balanced Growth participating communities.

Red: extra points on applications Blue: special consideration in application processGreen: percentage point discounts

There are 17 additional state programs that have been proposed to include special incentives.

• Ohio New Markets Tax Credit • Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund –

Sustainable Reinvestment Pilot Track

• Water Supply Revolving Loan Account

• Clean Water Act Section 319 Implementation Grants

• Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) of the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund

• Water Pollution Control Loan Fund• Ohio Coastal Management

Assistance Grant Program• Land & Water Conservation Fund• Nature Works• Watershed Coordinator Grant

Program• Market Development Grant• Lake Erie Protection Fund• Section 208 Planning (State Water

Quality Management Plan) • Dam Safety Loan Program• Fresh Water Loan Group• Community Assistance Loan

Program


Linking Land Use and Lake Erie

A Planning Framework

Best Local Land Use Practices


• Location of development for minimum impact• Management and control of storm water and

erosion• Protection of stream and wetland areas so

they can do their job as storm water infrastructure

• Protection of scenic, historic and natural resources to help retain our “great place”

Local Governments Can Have a Big Impact on Watershed and Community Quality


Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

1. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

• Have a comprehensive plan that meets minimum standards; update it every 3 to 5 years


2. COMPACT DEVELOPMENT

• Apply Compact Development where appropriate



Compact Development

• Residential, commercial or mixed use

• Strong neighborhood design

• Pedestrian walkability

• Range of housing choices

• Range of transportation choices


3. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

Adopt storm water management and erosion control regulations for design and construction



4. STREAM AND WETLAND SETBACKS

• Provide as appropriate through floodplain or zoning provisions



Stream And Wetland Protection

• Distance driven, similar to front and side yard set backs

• Improves storm drainage infrastructure function of creeks and waterways, protects property from flooding

• Width determined by drainage area of the sub watershed, or wetland category

• Typical provisions apply (variances, grandfathering, enforcement)


5.CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT

• Apply Conservation Development, with adequate standards, where appropriate



Conventional Conservation Development

•40-50% Permanent Open Space•Quality Open Space•Resource Protection•Appropriate Development Intensity


Stream setback in a conservation development


6. MEADOW PROTECTION

(NATURAL AREAS ESTABLISHMENT)

• Allow natural meadows, succession under controlled conditions



Development Incentives

• Lower costs• Increase revenues• Reduce risk


Development Costs


Reducing Development Costs

• Reduce Road, utility, sidewalk, curb/gutter requirements

• Reduce stormwater requirements (LID)

• Streamline review processes• Provide flexibility for the designer• Reduce cost per unit for streets

(higher density)


Increasing Development Revenues

• Allow density bonuses (moderate – 10%)

• Allow range of product types and sizes

• Allow conservation development – lot bonuses for site amenities, open space access


Reducing Development Risk

• “By Right” PUD approvals

• Consistent development approvals

• Allow a range of products/types: encourage development of the Right Product in the Right Place


Streamlined Review Process

1) Concept Plan• All agency

reviews2) Preliminary

Plan

3) Final Plat


Decision Making Process for Site Planning in the Lake Erie BasinGuiding Principles:

– Design to established project objectives– Integrate existing water and terrestrial resources into

site design– Fix “dysfunctional” streams– Focus on controlling the flow – pollution control will

follow• “Start at the Source” to manage runoff• Control all runoff per site conditions: infiltrate &

evapotranspirate & detain– Use “Triple bottom line” approach to identify multi-

objective benefits: community & environment & financial

Step 2: Develop Site Layout Plan

Step 3: Site and Select Storm Water Controls

Step 1: Define Project Objectives and Performance Standards

START

STOP

Step 4: Assess Cost Effectiveness of Site Layout

Acceptable Site Layout?

NO

YES

Step 5: Prepare Final Improvement Plan


Balanced Growth Watershed Plans and Development Incentives

• Provides for coordinated decision making, consistency among jurisdictions

• Reduces risk – improves knowledge about communities’ priorities

• Gives well-located development projects a competitive advantage for program incentives

• Provides support for regulatory incentives such as compact development, conservation development, PUD by-right approvals


Best Local Land Use Practices – Resources Available

• Web site www.balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

• Best Local Land Use Practices document – issues, guidance, recommendations

• Model and Example regulations• Education and technical workshops• Case studies• DVD for elected officials and business

interests• Ongoing technical assistance


BLLUP - Next Steps:

• Detailed Review of BLLUP Recommendations

• Complete Ohio Regions interviews• Research on economic

costs/benefits• Case studies database• (continuing) Technical Assistance


Gail HesseExecutive DirectorSandra Kosek-SillsEnvironmental [email protected]

www.Ohiodnr.com/owrc Kirby Date, AICPBest Local Land Use PracticesProgram [email protected]

ohio balanced growth program

Documents

ohio lake erie commission

govlinking land use

ohiolinking land use

serious land use problems

protection of lake erie

state endorsement

collaborative planning

additional state programs