DCA Office of Planning and Quality Growth 2009

1. Regionally Important Resources (RIR):Protecting the Georgia’s Most Valuable Natural and Cultural Resources DCA Office of Planning and Quality Growth 2009

2. Regionally Important Resources The INTENT • An Enhanced focus on protection and management of important natural and cultural resources throughout Georgia • Careful Consideration of, and planning for, impacts of new development on these important resources; • Improved local, regional and state level coordination in protecting and managing of these important resources

3. Regionally Important Resources The REQUIREMENTS Regional Commissions (RCs) must: • Involve Regional Stakeholders in a comprehensive effort to indentify the most important natural and cultural resources in the region • Prepare a Regional Resource Plan (RRP) A. The Plan must include the following • Regionally Important Resource Map • Guidance for Appropriate Development Practices • General Policies and Protection Measures • The Regional Resource Plan must be submitted for review and comment before it is formally adopted and implemented by the Regional Commission

4. Regionally Important Resources The REQUIREMENTS (cont.) • The Regional Resource Planmust be utilized in the subsequent development of the Regional Plan • The RRP must be actively publicized by the RC in order to coordinate activities and planning of: • Local Governments • Land Trusts • Conservation or Environmental Protection Groups and State Agencies

5. Regionally Important Resources The REQUIREMENTS (cont.) Toward protection and management of the identified Regionally Important Resources • Promulgation of RRP is discussed in section 110-12-4-.02(4).)

6. Regionally Important Resources The Designation of Regionally Important Resources Who The Regional Commissions must seek nominations for important natural and cultural resources located within the Region from the following groups: • Individuals • Interested Organizations (such as land trusts, conservation and environmental protection groups active in the region) • Local Governments • Governmental Agencies

7. Regionally Important Resources What The nominations collected will be considered by the RC in the development of the Regional Resources Map for the region. ALL nominations must include the following: • A Narrative of the resource’s value and vulnerability which addresses the regional importance of the Resources and an Indicates the degree to which the resource is threatened or endangered • A Map of the recommended resource boundaries that also identifies any municipal or county boundaries falling within the proposed resource boundaries.

8. Regionally Important Resources The Plan & The Planning Process Preparation of the Regional Resource Plan The Regional Commission must prepare a Regional Resource Plan for protection and management of the important natural and cultural resources located throughout the region

9. Regionally Important Resources The RC must seek advice from local governments and stakeholders at the appropriate points during the development of the Plan What The Plan Must Include a. Regionally Important Resources Map A detailed map of the recommended resource boundaries that included all of the important natural or cultural resources in the region. A written description of the methodology used to determine these boundaries b. Guidance for Appropriate Development Practices The RRP must include a listing of best practices to be considered by developers for designing new developments to be located within one mile of any area included on the RIR Map (The map will be utilized for reviewing Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) located within (one mile) of any area included on the on the RIR Map

10. Regionally Important Resources The list must also include standards for development within the RIR areas specific enough to enable DRIs to be reviewed for consistency with these standards c. General Policies and Protection Measures The RRP must include a list of General Policies and Protection Measures recommended for appropriate management of the areas included on the RIR map • Minimum requirements for this list should include recommended • Local government Policies • Ordinances ** to be used as guidance for local governments in planning or decision making that affects the RIR area.

11. Regionally Important Resources RCs will utilize General Policies and Protection Measures for: Reviewing local plans for consistency with regional plans • Encouraging local governments and other actors in the region to adopt protection measures, policies and enhancement activities that will promote protection of these areas included on the RIR Map

12. Regionally Important Resources The Transmittal and Review Process Upon Completion, the plan is transmitted to the Department For review • Each RC has been assigned a deadline per the Schedule for Regional Planning maintained by the Department • The Plan is subject to the Regional Hearing process which must be held once the plan has been drafted and made available for public review • Once Stakeholder comments have been addressed if any are received, the RRP must be transmitted to the Department by resolution of the Council.

13. Regionally Important Resources (3)The Transmittal and Review Process (con’t.) • The Plan is also subject to the Completeness Check which is completed within 7 days of receipt If the plan does not meet the standard for completeness, it will be deemed incomplete and shall not be accepted for further review by the Department; The Department will notify the RC of its finding Notification of Interested Parties • Once the RR Plan is complete, the Department will notify any affected parties of the Plan’s availability for review and comment

14. Regionally Important Resources Review of the Regional Resource Plan The Department shall review the Regional Resource Plan for the following criteria: • adequacy at addressing the planning requirements • Thoroughness in identifying Regionally Important Resources and a Region-wide Green Infrastructure Network ** The Department may also offer advisory comments for improving the Regional Resource Plan for consideration by the RC

15. Regionally Important Resources Final Report and Findings • Within 60 days after certification of the completeness of the Regional Resource Plan, the Department must transmit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the RC. The Report will include: • Comments submitted by interested parties that reviewed the Regional Resource Plan • The Department’s findings and Recommendations resulting from the Regional Resource Plan

16. Regionally Important Resources Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) • ADR of conflicts relating to the Regional Resource Plan may be initiated in accordance with the Rules for Alternative Dispute Resolution adopted by the Board of Community Affairs Adoption and Certification of the Regional Resource Plan • The Regional Resource Plan my be adopted after is has been found by the Department to be in compliance with requirements; • The Plan may be adopted with or without incorporating recommendations for improvement • In order to maintain eligibility for State funding the plan must be adopted prior to the deadline • Within 7 days of adoption the RC shall notify the Department that the plan has been adopted by the Council • Once the plan has been adopted and the Department notified, the RC will become certified as eligible to receive state funding.

17. Regionally Important Resources Promulgating The Plan The RC must publicize the plan within the Region as follows: • Consulting with local governments within the regions to encourage them to: • Include the areas on the Regionally Important Resource Map as conservation areas in their local comprehensive plan; • Adopt protection measures, policies and enhancements activities that will promote protection of these areas • Consult with all land trusts and conservation or environmental protection groups active in the region to encourage them to coordinate their activities to foster protection of the areas identified on the Regionally Important Resources Map

18. Regionally Important Resources FAQs • Should the RCs provide a list of nominations to the Department? Yes. The RC should provide a list of all nominations to the department with an explanation of why the resource was withdrawn, not chosen or lacked local support. • Should the RIR Map be complex and multilayered with information other than what is mentioned in the RIR Rules? No. The RIR map should be a simple based map that contains individual resources, jurisdictional boundaries, and the green infrastructure network that links these resources. • Should the RCs provide sample ordinances, policies and enhancement activities as a part of the Plan? Yes. The RC should add appropriate sample ordinances, policies and examples of enhancement activities for local government use in their comprehensive planning efforts.

19. Regionally Important Resources FAQs • How should the RC handle public involvement? The RC should involve all regional stakeholders in a comprehensive effort to identify the important natural and cultural resources in the region. • Is there a comprehensive list of sources for protection measures? The Department is researching what is available in terms of protection measures at the present.