Ohio Balanced Growth Program

1. Ohio Balanced Growth Program New Plans and Statewide Progress Kirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State University Program Manager, Best Local Practices

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

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

13. 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.

14. State of Ohio Partners Ohio Lake Erie Commission Ohio Water Resources Council Office of the Governor Public Works Commission Public Utilities Commission Ohio Water Development Authority Dept of Agriculture Dept of Development Dept of Health Dept of Natural Resources Dept of Transportation Environmental Protection Agency

15. Not pictured: Big Creek (Cuyahoga)

16. What does a plan contain? • Priority Conservation Areas • Priority Development Areas • Priority Agricultural Areas (where applicable) • Local and state participation and endorsement • Process for maintaining and updating the plan • Full Table of Contents available online

17. Priority Conservation Area • Locally designated areas targeted for protection and restoration • Critically important ecological, recreational, heritage, agricultural, and public access areas

18. Priority Development Area • Locally designated areas targeted for development or redevelopment • Maximize development potential and efficient use of infrastructure • Promote revitalization of existing urban areas

19. Priority Agricultural Area • Locally designated areas targeted for agriculture • Protect critical farmland and efficiently use infrastructure • Optional designation based on local desire

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

21. 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

22. Strategy Action Items • State Support for Watershed Planning Partnerships: Endorsed Partnerships • Funding support for implementation of endorsed plans, including dedicated resources • Special incentives on state programs such as points on competitive grant/loan programs • Technical Support from the State Assistance Work Group: access to agency personnel who can help with access to state programs • Agencies to identify rulemaking changes

23. Strategy Action Items • State Support for Watershed Partnerships: New Partnerships • Funding for planning • Expanded capacity for planning, collaboration and implementation • Endorsement process: input from state agencies

24. Strategy Action Items • Program Innovations Under Development: coordinate state programs with BGP • Urban Redevelopment Options • Sustainable Communities/Livable Ohio • Brownfields Assessments • Regulatory Mechanisms in Support of Balanced Growth: Permitting assistance/training • Public and Private Equity Sharing: local area projects such as TDR, NEOhio’s Regional Prosperity Initiative (tax sharing) • General Program Innovations: state agency training/coordination

25. Strategy Action Items • Best Local Land Use Practices • Training Program • Case Studies • Update of models/recommendations

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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Comprehensive Planning: the Key to Balance • Sets development and conservation goals in an organized fashion • Plans for long-term financial stability • Resolves tradeoffs up-front • Provides for future logical, consistent decision making • Legal stability: logical justification of decisions • Sets a framework for implementation

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

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

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

41. 4. STREAM AND WETLAND SETBACKS Adopt stream and wetland setback zoning regulations Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

42. Stream And Wetland Setbacks • Zoning setback similar to front and side yards • Improves storm drainage infrastructure function of creeks and waterways • Width determined by drainage area of the sub watershed, or wetland category • Typical setback provisions apply (variances, grandfathering, enforcement)

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

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