Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project Implementation

How do we use the FVBP to protect our natural legacy? CHANGE HOW WE DO THINGS (Behavioral) –Focus land protection efforts on Primary Conservation Areas (PCAs) –Changes of development procedures and site review –Plan at larger scale –Prioritize preservation areas

CHANGE WHAT WE CAN DO (Structural) How do we use the FVBP to protect our natural legacy? –Amend POCD to address FVBP –Subdivision/zoning changes that focus on Primary and Secondary Conservation Areas –Require applicant to fund third party review

WORK AT MULTIPLE SCALES How do we use the FVBP to protect our natural legacy? –Parcel specific information –Town wide planning –Landscape/ecosystem

Planning to Action Handbook Planning and legal background Summarized by FRWA as Action Points Should be used as a guide for planning, conservation and development.

Action Point: Acquire and maintain appropriate natural resource data.

Action Point: Plan at an ecosystem scale

Update POCD Action Point: A roadmap to achieve conservation goals.

Action Point: Align regulations with POCD goals and policies Implement zoning techniques to conserve ecologically sensitive and important areas

Action Point: Expand/Refine Open Space Programs Separate Land Use Commissions

Adopt specific ecological review standards for applicants Adopt provision for applicants to fund outside expert review Provide for pre-application review process Action Point:

Incorporate BMP’s and BDP’s into standard application review and permitting Reduce use of mitigation Action Point:

Train and Educate Land Use commissioners and Staff Increase review, compliance and monitoring effort Reach out to landowners in habitat areas to promote ecologically friendly behavior Action Point:

Parcel Level Analysis Example : Vulnerable Habitat Areas

Vulnerable Habitat Area

FVBP Working Group NEXT STEPS Create momentum for implementation: –Identify entity to “own” implementation of the FVBP. Should be a monthly agenda item. Ideal = Conservation Commission Create momentum for implementation: –Identify entity to “own” implementation of the FVBP. Should be a monthly agenda item. Ideal = Conservation Commission Help us distribute materials and identify hurdles and solutions. Create momentum for implementation: –Identify entity to “own” implementation of the FVBP. Should be a monthly agenda item. Ideal = Conservation Commission Help us distribute materials and identify hurdles and solutions. Help us coordinate presentation at meeting with combined PC/CC. Create momentum for implementation: –Identify entity to “own” implementation of the FVBP. Should be a monthly agenda item. Ideal = Conservation Commission Help us distribute materials and identify hurdles and solutions. Help us coordinate presentation at meeting with combined PC/CC.

FVBP Working Group NEXT STEPS Create momentum for implementation: –Identify entity to “own” implementation of the FVBP. Should be a monthly agenda item. Ideal = Conservation Commission Help us distribute materials and identify hurdles and solutions. Help us coordinate presentation at meeting with combined PC/CC

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