Ohio Balanced Growth Program

1. Ohio Balanced Growth Program Overview – Watershed Planning and Best Local Land Use Practices Kirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State University

2. 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

10. 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

11. 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”

12. Linking Land Use and Lake Erie Best Local Land Use Practices A Planning Framework

13. Balanced Growth Watershed Planning • voluntary • locally led • incentive-based • support through alignment of state policies and programs

14. 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.

15. Not pictured: Big Creek (Cuyahoga)

17. Ohio’s Balanced Growth Program • Planning Framework: collaborative planning -- resolving WHERE development and conservation belong • PDA • PCA • PAA • Locally determined

18. Review and Endorsement • “significant” local support prior to endorsement: 75% of… • population • land area • number of communities

19. 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

20. Special Incentives These 16 programs contain specific special incentives for Balanced Growth participating communities. Red: extra points on applications Blue: special consideration in application process Green: 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

21. Linking Land Use and Lake Erie Best Local Land Use Practices A Planning Framework

22. 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

23. 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

24. 2. COMPACT DEVELOPMENT Apply Compact Development where appropriate Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

25. Compact Development • Residential, commercial or mixed use • Strong neighborhood design • Pedestrian walkability • Range of housing choices • Range of transportation choices

26. Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices 3. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT • Adopt storm water management and erosion control regulations for design and construction

27. 4. STREAM AND WETLAND SETBACKS Provide as appropriate through floodplain or zoning provisions Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

28. 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)

29. 5.CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT Apply Conservation Development, with adequate standards, where appropriate Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

30. Conventional Conservation Development • 40-50% Permanent Open Space • Quality Open Space • Resource Protection • Appropriate Development Intensity

31. Stream setback in a conservation development

32. MEADOW PROTECTION (NATURAL AREAS ESTABLISHMENT) Allow natural meadows, succession under controlled conditions Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

34. Development Incentives • Lower costs • Increase revenues • Reduce risk

35. Development Costs

36. 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)

37. 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

38. 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

39. Streamlined Review Process • Concept Plan • All agency reviews • Preliminary Plan 3) Final Plat

40. Decision Making Process for Site Planning in the Lake Erie Basin Guiding 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. BLLUP - Next Steps: • Detailed Review of BLLUP Recommendations • Complete Ohio Regions interviews • Research on economic costs/benefits • Case studies database • (continuing) Technical Assistance

44. Gail Hesse Executive Director Sandra Kosek-Sills Environmental Specialist lakeeriecommission@ameritech.net 419.245.2514 www.Ohiodnr.com/owrc Kirby Date, AICP Best Local Land Use Practices Program Manager 216.687.5477 k.date@csuohio.edu