planning and zoning to protect water quality in …...planning and zoning to protect water quality...

PLANNING AND ZONING TO

PROTECT WATER QUALITY

IN THE SAGINAW BAY

WATERSHED

A Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

Working Together to Achieve

Improved Water Quality

Second Local Government Workshop

November 9, 2011

Funding

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) by U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Project Team

• Planning & Zoning Center (PZC) at Michigan

State University (MSU)

• East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG)

• Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy (SBLC)

Advisory Assistance

• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

(DEQ)

Introduction

To protect water quality in the Saginaw

Bay by preventing future water pollution

through:

1. Education

2. Collaboration

3. Coordination

4. Technical assistance

5. Action by local government

6. Action by land owners

7. Action by water quality advocacy

organizations and other local

organizations

Project Purpose

Water Quality

Organizations

Local Governments

Citizens

Project Study Area

The Saginaw Bay Watershed:

• Michigan’s largest

watershed (8,709 square

miles)

• Associated with 22 counties

• Drains approximately 15%

of Michigan’s total land area

• Pilot sub-watersheds:

• Pigeon River

• Pinnebog River

• Cass River

• Rifle River

Cass River Sub-Watershed Communities Invited to

Workshop:

• Elmwood Township

• Elkland Township

• Village of Cass City

• Greenleaf Township

• Austin Township

• Village of Ubly

• Minden Township

• Wheatland Township

• Argyle Township

• Evergreen Township

• Novesta Township

• Paris Township

• Almer Township

• Ellington Township

• City of Caro

• Indian Fields Township

• Everything upstream ends up

downstream, including

contamination (sediments,

nutrients, pesticides, human and

animal waste, etc.);

• Human and animal health

impacts;

• Potential loss of recreational

opportunities; and

• Healthy watersheds are necessary

for a healthy economy.

Why be Concerned About Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay and Your Local Rivers?

Rifle River flowing into

Saginaw Bay

http://cohnphoto.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html

• Saginaw River/Bay is one of 14 AOCs in Michigan

• Includes all 22 miles of the Saginaw River & Saginaw Bay

• Designated an AOC by EPA since 1988

Background Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern (AOC)

May 16, 2011

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/sb/modis.html

• Of the 14 Impairments criteria, Saginaw River/Bay includes10:

1. Restriction on fish and wildlife consumption

2. Eutrophication or undesirable algae

3. Degradation of fish and wildlife populations

4. Beach closings

5. Degradation of aesthetics

6. Bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems

7. Degradation of benthos lakebed ecosystem

8. Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations

9. Restriction of dredging activities

10. Loss of fish and wildlife habitat

Background Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern (AOC)

• The GLRI program identifies goals, objectives, measurable

ecological targets, and specific actions for each of the

following five focus areas:

1. Cleaning up toxics and AOCs;

2. Combating invasive species;

3. Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds

from polluted run-off;

4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and

5. Tracking progress and working with strategic partners.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

Implementing the AOC Plan

Pigeon River Corridor Sediment Reduction Project

• Pigeon River Inter-county Drain Drainage Board

• $1,723,235

Shiawassee Flats Wildlife and Fish Habitat Restoration

• Dept. of Interior – US Fish and Wildlife

• $785,492

Van Hove Coastal Wetland Restoration

• Ducks Unlimited Inc.

• $129,249

Upper Great Lakes Stream Connectivity and Habitat Initiative

• Dept. of Interior – US Fish and Wildlife

• $876,786

GLRI Projects Largest Federal Investment in the Great Lakes in Two Decades

Fish Passage at the Frankenmuth Dam

• City of Frankenmuth

• $400,000

Rifle River Watershed Nonpoint Implementation Project

• Huron Pines

• $495,000

Western Lake Huron, MI

• The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

• $600,000

GLRI Projects Largest Federal Investment in the Great Lakes in Two Decades

Source: http://greatlakesrestoration.us/

• Developed in 2008 by the Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment Technical Committee (members consisting of various federal, state, and local agencies and organizations)

• ―The RWA provides a brief assessment of the Cass River watershed’s natural resources, resource concerns and conservation needs.‖

The Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment (RWA)

―Nonpoint source pollution is the primary pollution threat facing the

water resources of the Cass River Watershed. Nonpoint source

pollution is any pollutant carried off the land by water or wind and

deposited into surface water.‖ Can include sediment, fertilizer,

pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, vehicle lubricants, etc.

Your Local Watershed Plans

Issues

• Eroding stream banks

• Poor road / stream crossings

• Storm runoff

• Cropland erosion

• Loss of riparian & wildlife

• corridors

• Loss of wetlands

• Channelization

• Septic effluent

• Crop fertilizers

• Livestock waste

• Thermal pollution

• Lack of proper zoning

• Invasive species

The Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment (RWA)


Goals for Improvement

• Institute responsible land use protection and public policy to protect parcels within the watershed that provide groundwater recharge, key wildlife habitats, headwater stream protection, important wetland functions, coastal areas, etc.

• Identify sites contributing to water quality problems and work with producers to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs).

• Identify sites that are unnaturally adding sediment to the river system and implement a system of Best Management Practices where possible.

• Increase and develop citizen involvement/public awareness and responsible use of the watershed through stewardship and education.


• The Saginaw Bay Resource Conservation &

Development Council (RC&D) received

funding from the Michigan DEQ.

• Primary Objectives:

1. Organize committees comprised of key

stakeholders to identify and prioritize

water quality issues;

2. Evaluate and summarize watershed

information to identify and prioritize

specific areas for water quality

improvements.

3. Submit a Watershed Management

Plan for the Cass River Watershed that

meets Federal and State criteria to

receive future project funding to

improve water quality.

Cass River Watershed Plan

• Reaching out! Learning what is important to watershed

residents (in terms of water quality), and inviting

participation.

• Conducting a wetland assessment, to determine where

the most suitable areas are for wetland protection and

restoration.

• Creating an action plan to pay for education and

installation costs for improving water quality and current

land management practices


What is happening now:

• The final watershed management plan will be

completed December, 2012

• It belongs to everyone

• Any non-profit, educational institution, or

government agency can apply for funding to

implement the plan

• Typically, Conservation Districts take the lead

on implementation in partnership with other

community agencies and volunteers.


• Cass River Greenway is an effort organized group of

local volunteers, assisted by professional resources

and municipal leaders, working to enhance

recreational opportunities and the environmental well-

being of the Cass River Corridor.

• Goals Developed by the Cass River Greenway

Committee:

• Develop recreation opportunities on the Cass River

an along its corridors

• Encourage preservation of wildlife habitat and

critical natural lands

• Improve water quality of the Cass River

• Promote good environmental stewardship practices

• Develop eco-tourism opportunities for our area.

Cass River Greenway

• Develop Watershed Protection Planning & Zoning

Assessment Tool to evaluate water quality protection

measures and applied it to Huron County (and 99 other

jurisdictions).

• Identify strengths and weaknesses in regard to water

quality protection.

• Develop Best Management Practices Guidebook for Local

Governments.

• Provide appropriate recommendations and sample

language to 100 local governments.

What PZC at MSU is Doing

• FREE consulting!

• Assistance in meeting statutory requirements.

• Offer expert advice for future plans.

• Help improve local plans and regulations in regard to water

quality.

• Strengthen relationships between your community and the

entire Saginaw Basin.

What PZC Offers

WATER QUALITY PROTECTION

THE FUNDAMENTALS

Hydrologic Cycle

Water for drinking,

irrigation, industry

• Key components of ecosystems.

• Area of land that drains to a common outlet.

• Water running downhill to the lowest point.

What is a Watershed?

• In the past, the worst water quality problems were from

point-source pollution. Legacy of this remains.

• Today, non-point source pollution:

Soil, fertilizers and pesticides that runs off crop land.

Septic waste discharges.

Storage of potentially contaminating elements in

floodplains.

Sediment from construction sites, drainage systems,

and paved surfaces and rooftops.

Warmed surface water from paved and un-shaded

surfaces.

• Weak collaboration among responsible parties.

Big Picture Problems

Soil Erosion: An Old and Ongoing Problem

Photo courtesy of Michigan State Archives

Basic Principles of Water Quality

Protection

1. Keep toxic materials out of streams and lakes

2. Keep sediment out of streams and lakes

3. Keep heated stormwater out of streams and lakes

4. Reduce impervious surfaces—allow for natural

infiltration

5. Slow and reduce the volume of water entering

streams

6. Protect groundwater from harmful discharges

Reduce Impervious Surfaces— Allow Maximum Infiltration

Source: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/mudcreek/6394

ADAPTED FROM SCHUELER, ET. AL., 1992

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION

DEGRADED

PROTECTED

IMPACTED

Waterway Health and Imperviousness

WA

TE

RS

HE

D I

MP

ER

VIO

US

NE

SS

(%)

High imperviousness leads to abnormal stream

flow (flashiness)—too high and too low

Photos MDEQ

A look that needs to be encouraged

Photo MDEQ

Photo MSU LPI

DEGRADED

• Sediment from roads, construction sites and exposed soils: Carry away nutrients (reduces

fertility of farm fields and increases aquatic plant growth in streams, lakes and the Bay)

Potential to carry toxics (pesticides, bacteria, heavy metals, etc.)

Stifles aquatic life; diminishes microorganisms necessary for healthy fisheries

Reduces capacity of drains and impoundments.

Keep sediment out of lakes and streams

• Thermal Pollution (heated runoff from paved surfaces, lawns & un-shaded stormwater detention basins):

Disrupts biological processes;

Most common non-point source pollutant;

Dramatically changes the biology of streams and lakes (fish and organisms fish feed on are adapted to certain temperatures).

Keep warmed stormwater out of

streams and lakes

Technique: Essential Elements

Goals and Objectives for Water Quality

Local Master Plan should incorporate strategies to

protect water quality, including:

• Inventorying and monitoring

• Education

• Ordinances

• Implementation


Environmental Inventory

Including, but not limited to: • Watercourses— streams, lakes, wetlands

• Vegetation (may be included in land cover map)

• Slopes

• Soils

• Protected areas— state game areas, parks and forests

When data is available, include a qualitative assessment of these resources and acknowledge potential threats to them.

If plans have already been developed for these resources, then the master plan should reference them.

Environmental Inventories: What to include… • Base map (roads, rail lines, section numbers, community boundaries,

water bodies and the drainage system)

• Topography

• Soils by type, plus separate maps of:

Hydric (wetlands type)

Steep slopes

Prime farmland

Sand, gravel and other minerals at or near the surface

• Groundwater vulnerability (sandy soils and relative depth from surface to aquifer)

• Land cover depicting:

Lakes & streams

Forests

Wetlands

Farmland

Scrub/shrub and old fields

Developed land

Environmental Inventories (continued)

Regulated natural features: • Regulated wetlands

• Environmental areas

• Steep slopes (for soil erosion

and sedimentation)

• Inland lakes & streams

• Designated natural rivers

• Floodplains

• High risk erosion areas

Natural habitat elements: • Habitat types

• Sites with known threatened or endangered plants or animals

• Assessment of biological diversity

• Pre-settlement vegetation

• Undisturbed areas


Coordinated Permitting • A simple, effective way to ensure that new land uses undergo a

thorough review by all relevant authorities and that due diligence is

done.

• Ties the process of State (and other jurisdictional) permitting to

local zoning. Local zoning actions should be done in coordination

with agencies that have the technical wherewithal, the statutory

responsibility and the ability to absorb any liability for the decisions

made.

• Planning commission should ―approve conditionally‖ or require

proof of other permits at the time of application.

• Development proposals that do not meet both state environmental

standards, and local zoning standards should not approved.

DEQ: Environmental Permit Information

Checklist

Technique: Essential Elements Coordinated Site Plan Review

• Site plan review is one of the most powerful natural resource protection tools, if utilized to its full potential.

• Easily enforced and helps to identify conflicts with the surrounding environment long before they occur.

• Do not approve permit applications until all appropriate entities have reviewed the site plan. Possible entities include:

Local planning commission

Building Department

County Health Department (septic and well review)

Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Authority

Road Commission (access management)

State & Federal authorities

“Sediment accounts for more than 2/3 of all pollutants entering U.S.

waterways. Estimates indicate up to $13 billion per year are spent in the

U.S. to directly mitigate the off-site impacts of erosion and sediment.”

Technique: Essential Element

Earth Change Activity (regulated under

Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Act

Technique: Essential Element Earth Change Activity (regulated under Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Act

• Soil erosion is a natural process; however, earth change activities can intensify the rate of this process and make bad conditions worse if precautions are not taken.

• ―Earth change‖ means a human-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities, which may result in, or contribute to, soil erosion or sedimentation of the waters of the state. Earth change does not include the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production. --MDEQ

• Requiring a ―grading plan‖ as an element of site plan review as well as requiring a land use permits before engaging in earth change activities.

Technique: Essentials Accumulation & Disposal of Waste (Junk &

Yard Waste) and Other Materials

• Junk (such as old vehicles) can leak hazardous materials and

contribute to non-point source pollution

• Proper storage, containment and disposal procedures are

essential

Develop goals and objectives for proper disposal in Master Plan

Enforce through ordinances

Photo: Friends of the Rouge Photo: Jackson Citizen Patriot

Technique: BMPs

Parcel Splits • The primary environmental issues associated with land

divisions and plats relate to:

Lot width

Depth

Buildable area of lots (includes constraints like wetlands)

Accessibility

• Proper review and approval of land divisions and plats

can dramatically reduce future problems associated with

use of the lots.

Example: Preventing Unbuildable Lots

Unbuildable lots in a floodway Division of land within wetlands should

not result in creation of unbuildable lots

Land Division Alternatives

• The best proactive measures a community can take to prevent the creation of lots that do not undermine the integrity of the environment and are ―buildable‖, are listed below: Adopt and consistently administer land/subdivision regulations

Technique: BMPs

Try to persuade landowners who propose to create ―unbuildable‖ lots not to do so.

File a notice with the County Register of Deeds that runs with parcels, if unbuildable lots are created.

Open Space PUD conserves wetlands for natural stormwater

retention in Ann Arbor, MI

Technique: BMPs Stormwater Management

• Require site construction to include a plan for managing stormwater

and calculate amount of runoff to manage

• During construction, use recommended BMPs for sediment control,

including techniques like silt fencing

• Retain stormwater on-site to avoid

overwhelming streams (causing

flooding or erosion) and neighboring

properties

• Provide educational opportunities for

property owners to understand

benefits of stormwater management

and BMPs

Technique: BMPs

Impervious Surface Reduction = less

pavement and rooftops

• Create and enforce maximum lot coverage percentages for each

zoning district

• Encourage innovative parking lot design

• New construction and reconstruction includes approaches to

increase infiltration of stormwater

• Utilize natural landscapes and native plants to mitigate stormwater

runoff; grassed lawns are less effective in doing this

• Disconnect downspouts from stormwater systems & use rain

barrels

Technique: BMPs

Impervious Surface Reduction

Traditional Parking Lot LID Parking Lot with reduced imperviousness

Technique: BMPs Protecting Groundwater

• Monitor groundwater quality

near uses with the potential to

contaminate

• Develop ordinance provisions

that attempt to prevent

discharges (e.g. elimination of

floor drains)

• Provide educational

opportunities on how to protect

groundwater

• Plug abandoned wells Source: MDEQ

Natural Feature and Drain Setbacks

Technique: BMPs

Woodlot setback

• Whenever a new project undergoes

site plan review, natural features in

the immediate vicinity should be

identified and steps should be taken

to protect them

• Setbacks from natural features,

such as lakes, streams, and

woodlots protect the health of these

resources and ensures minimal

disturbance occurs

• This distance allows adequate

space for buffer zones on more

sensitive features (such as vernal

pools and cold water streams)

Technique: Resource Protection

Resource Protection Overlay Districts • Separate statutory authority exists for local units of government to

adopt local regulations to protect the following natural resources: Wetlands Environmental areas Soil erosion and sedimentation control Inland lakes and streams Natural rivers Floodplains High risk erosion areas Sand dunes.

• All but soil erosion and sedimentation regulations can be structured

as an overlay zone. The special natural resource protection

regulations apply only in the overlay zone and are in addition to the

other applicable district regulations.


Floodplains • The land that is inundated by water as a result of a storm event is

defined as a floodplain.

• The size of the floodplain area is that described by a storm event having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, thus the term 100-year storm.

• Development and types of

activities that occur in

floodplains should be severely

restricted

Zone flood prone areas for

parks/green space

Restrict storage of

hazardous materials and

junk

Why protect floodplains? • Land in floodplains is not suitable for development despite

increasing development pressures

• Loss of wetlands in and outside floodplains exacerbates flood

events, because it decreases the ability of the watershed to hold

water

• To protect the safety and welfare of residents and their property;

reduce the liability of local governments

Technique: Resource Protection Woodland Protection and Reforestation

• Education on benefits of woodlands and forests Increasing stormwater filtration

Shading stormwater

Increasing infiltration

Recreation

Scenic beauty

Wildlife

• Master Plan inventory, goals and objectives

• Acquisition for preserves, parks

• Ordinances Photo: Huron County Nature Center


Wetland Protection, Restoration and Creation

• Protect water quality

• Reduce flooding

• Provide wildlife habitat

• Treat stormwater

• Recharge groundwater

• Preserve aesthetics

• Protect property values

associated with wetland

vistas

Site plan review works

well with large projects

and can help protect

wetlands as part of

open space zoning or

PUDs.

Technique: Public Education

Agricultural BMPs • Address soil erosion from water and

wind problems

• Help limit nutrients, chemicals and

bacteria entering public water bodies

• Prevent loss of topsoil and fertility

• Local government has limited

authority, Right-to-Farm

• Solutions

GAAMPS

Education


• Benefits of deep-rooted vegetation in water quality protection

Filters stormwater runoff

Increases infiltration

• Other benefits

Lowers land management costs

Limits fossil fuel use in management (pollution and costs)

• Acquisition of lands for preserves

• Education

• Public land owners set example

Open Lands Vegetation Management


Water Quality Monitoring • Baseline information to track improvement

or decline

• Beach water quality monitoring—generally

by County Health Departments

• Inland lakes monitoring—cooperative

program with Michigan Lakes and

Streams Association

• Surface water assessments Ralph Bednarz (Michigan DNRE) joins

CLMP volunteers for side-by-side lake

sampling, part of the quality assurance

program for CLMP data. (MiCorps

photo by Jo Latimore)


Drain Management • Move stormwater from agricultural areas

and developed areas

• County Drain Commissioners have

authority on designated county drains

• Land owners that benefit pay for costs

• Buffer strips have the potential to reduce

sedimentation, which in turn reduces the

cost of drain maintenance

• Keep drains vegetated Photo: Livingston County Drain Commission


Road & Bridge Repair and Stream

Crossings • Roads and stream crossings are a potential source of erosion

and sedimentation

• MDOT, county road commissions and other road authorities

are responsible for implementing BMPs when building and

maintaining these facilities

Outcomes • Clean water that is fishable and

swimmable, with less sediment,

fertilizers and pesticides.

• Happy users.

• Happy taxpayers.

• De-list the Bay!

Roles All major players have a role

to play, including:

• Conservation and

watershed organizations

• Local governments

• Landowners

• County agencies

• State agencies

• Federal agencies

GLRI The federal government has a major

initiative to restore and delist the Bay

as an AOC through the Great Lakes

Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Action Plan The watershed plans detail restoration and

protection efforts for each sub-watershed,

which, when implemented, helps reduce

pollution and restore damaged parts of the

watershed and Bay.

AOC Major Watershed pollution led the

USEPA to designate the Saginaw

River/Bay as an Area of Concern (AOC).

This means that water quality is severely

degraded and a large number of

beneficial uses are impaired.

Watershed Plans Watershed management plans for each of

the rivers flowing into the Bay were

prepared by local watershed groups such

as the Huron Conservation District, Huron

Pines, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and MDEQ.

RAP Saginaw Bay watershed Remedial

Action Plan (RAP) describes

methods for correcting impairments

to beneficial uses in the degraded

areas.

MAKING THE CONNECTION

Roles of Major Players

Federal Agencies EPA

o Funded GLRI and

other enhancement

activities

o Role in wetland

permits

o Education

Land Protection Grants

o NAWCA

o NCWC

o Costal Lands

Army Corps

o Dredging permits

o Wetland permits

USDA

o Fund conservation

organizations and

landowners

o Education of

farmers and other

landowners

o Rural housing

funding programs

o Conservation

innovation grants

o EQIP

State Agencies DEQ

o Support cleanup

and delisting

o Provide technical

assistance

o Apply regulations

o Education

o Link stakeholder

groups

o Orphaned Well

Program and

Resources

DNR

o Manage State

land

o Education

o Support cleanup

partnerships

o Natural Resource

Land Trust Fund

grant program

County Agencies Drain Commissioners

o Reviews Site Plans

for new

developments

o Proposals for BMP

implementation

o Stormwater

management

Health Department

o Septic tank and

other environmental

codes

Road Commission

o Manages negative

impacts from road

crossings and use

of de-icers

o Road ditch impacts

and improvements

Landowners o BMP

implementation

o Consider long

term

preservation of

sensitive

habitats

Local

Governments o Education on

BMPs and Low

Impact

Development

practices

o Local Master

Plans

o Local Zoning

Ordinances

o Enforce adopted

regulations

o Facilitate

coordination and

cooperation with

public, private

and non-profit

groups

o Tax relief for

wetland and

critical habitat

areas

Conservation and

Watershed

Organizations o Education on Best

Management

Practices (BMPs)

o Planning

o Permanent land

protection

o Wetland and their

sensitive land

preservation and

restoration

o Technical

assistance

Improving Water Quality of

Saginaw Bay Watershed

• Education on BMPs and low impact development practices.

• Local governments should identify their main issues of concern in the master plan, then create goals and objectives for resolving these issues.

• Develop and adopt regulations (in the zoning ordinance and others) that support these plans to ensure that progress will be made.

• Adequate ordinance enforcement.

• Coordinate with various stakeholders in the community to leverage resources and educate on the importance of water quality.

Local Role

Watershed Protection

Planning & Zoning Assessment Tool

Planning and Zoning Documents

I. Conformance with Michigan Planning & Zoning Enabling Acts

II. Introduction

Purpose, Methodology, Organization and Content, How to Use

Assessment, Defined Terms, and Notes

III. Background

Title of Plans, Dates Updated, Community Statistics

IV. General Questions/Provisions/Supplementary Info

County Drain Commissioner, Health Departments, and other agencies

V. Master Plan

Goals and Objectives and Growth and Development

VI. Zoning Ordinance

General, Site Plan Review, and Subdivision/Plot Regulations

Planning & Zoning Assessment

• Documents refer to a ―planning commission‖

• Plan has undergone an official 5-Year review

• Plan contains a land use component

• Plan contains an infrastructure component

• Plan includes redevelopment plans for blighted areas

• Plan contains a zoning plan component

A proposed schedule of regulations

Standards to be used when considering rezoning

Suggested boundaries of zoning district

Land use categories on future land use map relate to the zoning

map

• Plan offers recommendations for implementing proposals

• Zoning Ordinance contains or is accompanied by a zoning map and

text that states regulations for districts

Conformance with Michigan’s P&Z Enabling Acts

Master Plan Example



Zoning Ordinance Example

• To provide local units of government with

information about how land development

and other activities on the land affect

water quality.

• To provide educational materials on best

management practices that lower the

impact of land use activities on our water.

• To provide sample language for your

community’s master plan and zoning

ordinance to ensure low impact on water

quality.

Best Management Practices Guidebook

• Communities can judge the level at which they are able

to implement the approaches.

• A community may decide on the level they wish to

pursue depending on the quality of the community’s

water resources and their sensitivity to degradation.

• For example, pristine waters deserve and require high

levels of protection to keep them that way, whereas

waterways with a high natural sediment load would still

benefit from somewhat less protective measures.

Good, Better, Best Approaches

Where Communities are:

Essential Elements in Master Plan and Zoning

Ordinance

Communities with an adopted master plan 5/16

Goals and Objectives for Water Quality 1/16

Environmental Inventory 3/16

Coordinated Permitting

(With local, county, and state agencies as

appropriate for actions such as, parcel splits,

subdivision review, condominium review and

zoning review)

2/16

Coordinated Site Plan Review

(Under the Zoning Ordinance) 2/16

Earth Change Activity as Regulated under Soil

Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act 2/16

Accumulation & Disposal of Waste (Junk &

Yard Waste) and Other Material 2/16


Best Management Practices

Good Better Best

Parcel Splits for Buildable Area 1 0 0

Land Division Alternatives 0 2 0

Stormwater Management (Plan) 1 0 0

Stormwater Management (Ordinance) 1 0 0

Stormwater Management: Buffer strips

site plan review standards 0 0 0

Stormwater Management: Other site plan

review standards 0 0 0

Impervious Surface Reduction (Plan) 0 0 0

Impervious Surface Reduction

(Ordinance) 0 0 0

Natural Feature and Drain Setbacks 0 0 0

Protecting Groundwater 0 0 0


Resource Protection Techniques

Good Better Best

Resource Protection Overlay Districts

(Plan) 0 0 0

Resource Protection Overlay Districts

(Ordinance) 0 0 0

Floodplains 0 0 0

Woodland Protection and Reforestation

(Plan) 1 1 0

Woodland Protection and Reforestation

(Ordinance) 0 1 0

Wetland Protection/ Restoration/

Creation 0 0 0

Implementation Techniques 0/16

Public Education 0/16

• Update Master Plan to address the future of water quality

in your community

• Develop or improve land use regulations for preventing

pollution and

• Encourage local farmer participation in programs like the

Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program

(MAEAP)

• Partner with regional groups and neighboring

communities to ensure we’re all doing our part to protect

the overall Saginaw Bay Watershed

What Can You Do?

Your Homework Assignment

• Follow the steps laid out on the next six slides

1. Review the assessment

2. Review your water quality protection approaches

3. Compare to methods for protecting water quality

4. Select ―Good,‖ ―Better,‖ & ―Best‖ and contact us

5. PZC custom tailors MP and ZO amendments for

your community

6. Contact us with any questions at any point.

Review your community’s “Water Quality Planning and Zoning

Assessment”

• Is the assessment of your community accurate?

• If not, please make corrections and provide citations (documents

and page numbers), then return the assessment to us, as soon

as possible.

Your community has been evaluated for the presence of basic

water protection elements in your master plan and zoning

ordinance.

• Look at the blue form: Water Quality Planning &

Ordinance Approaches

Based on our criteria, your community may already fall into the

categories of ―good‖, ―better‖, or ―best‖. If this is not the case and

your community lacks a significant amount of basic protections, you

should be concerned!

• Look at the green form: Methods for Protecting Water Quality

• Compare the green form with your community’s

Water Quality Planning and Ordinance Approaches (blue form)

What modifications can you make to improve existing plans and ordinances?

Where your community has ―nothing‖, what kind of protections would you like

to see?

Share info with local land use decision makers (e.g. planning

commissioners, planning staff, city/village council) and come to a

consensus on what protections work best for your community.

Things to consider:

• Is our community meeting basic statutory requirements?

• Have you encountered issues in the past where these protections may

have helped?

• Are we cooperating with our region to solve the problems in the Bay?

• What kind of capacity do we have to implement these changes?

When you decide, contact the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU.

Based on your responses, the PZC will craft Master Plan and Zoning

Ordinance language specifically for your community.

• Is your community in the process of updating its Master Plan? This is

the perfect time to ensure your water resources are receiving

adequate attention!

• Be certain that your community is in compliance with Michigan’s most

recent planning and zoning statutes.

• Because planning and zoning cannot apply retroactively, receive

professional help and be better prepared for future development.

Phone: (517) 432-2222

Write: 310 Manly Miles Bldg.

1405 S. Harrison Rd.

East Lansing, MI 48823

E-mail: [email protected]

The Planning & Zoning Center at MSU is committed to helping Saginaw

Bay-area communities achieve a higher standard for water quality

protection and we will be available to assist you along the way.

Please contact us if you have questions regarding the project!

• Updated Master Plan to identify contemporary

environmental goals and meet statutory requirements

• Zoning Ordinance gets amended to ensure your

community is better protecting water quality

• Save $$$ on FREE professional consulting and avoid

costs in the future from potential environmental issues

Benefits of Working with Us

PZC Finishes & Distributes BMP Guidebook

Communities communicate selections to PZC

PZC prepares sample Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments for each community

PZC conducts a Technical Assistance Workshop (January) for groups of communities in each sub-watershed

PZC & EMCOG & SBLC present Basin-wide Water Quality Conference in March

PZC assists communities with the adoption process

Next Steps

Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP

Professor and Director

Planning & Zoning Center at MSU

Senior Associate Director, Land Policy

Institute

Ryan Soucy

Research Associate

Michigan State University

Land Policy Institute

Planning & Zoning Center

310 Manly Miles Building

1405 South Harrison Road

East Lansing, MI 48823

517.432.2222

[email protected]

Contact Information

Project Website

http://www.landpolicy.msu.edu/SaginawBayProject

Great Place Network

http://www.greatplacenetwork.org/