1. Ohio Balanced Growth Program Zoning and Planning for Natural Areas Management Kirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State University

2. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

11. Natural Landscapes Are Important in Development Areas Existing or new Purify air and water Reduce watershed flood impacts: Slow water down and absorb it Add value to property and community Provide peaceful settings and places to recreate Trees reduce energy needs by providing shade and windbreaks

12. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Recommendations Preserve large blocks of open space Strategize early for high priority natural areas and woodlands Get expert advice Prepare site properly for new planting Protect during construction Monitor after construction

13. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Tools for Communities Comprehensive Planning Policy Balanced Growth Watershed Planning Partnerships Land acquisition Landowner planning and conservation easements Stream, floodplain, and wetland setback ordinances Conservation development ordinances Tree and woodland protection ordinances Natural areas management ordinances Balanced Growth Resources!

14. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Comprehensive Planning Policy Objective analysis of resources community- wide Incorporates community consensus Broad policy guide, lays groundwork for zoning and other action steps

15. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Balanced Growth Watershed Plans: Voluntary, Locally-Determined Collaborative Planning A complement to local Land Use plans: Linking PDAs, PCAs, PAAs to incentives Extra points on applications Special consideration in review process Percentage point discounts Priority technical assistance Grant programs

16. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Land Acquisition: Our Public Parks and Preserves

17. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Swan Creek Metroparks land acquisition in Oak Openings

18. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Conservation Easements Private action step Property must haveconservation value Open space/forests Stream corridors Agricultural land Historic – land or façade Scenic corridors/vistas

19. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Conservation Easement Holders Communities Park Districts, SWCDs Nonprofit organizations (with public purpose) – land trusts, historic orgs., CMNH Other State and Local public agencies Western Reserve Land Conservancy

20. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Conservation Easements on Development Projects May not be tax break for developer Need willing easement holder Monitoring for encroachment a must Demonstrate and keep conservation value

21. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Provide natural landscaped area for improved absorption/filtering Apply to meadows, shrub meadows, and woodlands Reduce lawn area (runoff, pollutants) Add to aesthetic value Lower maintenance costs over time Zoning Provisions: Natural Areas Establishment/Management

22. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Checklist for code review: Natural Areas Management Exempt natural areas from mowing ordinances Allow meadows, succession, young woodland, wetlands Provide an expert Optional review body Provide community with authority to remedy problems Address education

23. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

26. Zoning code provisions: Tree and Woodland Protection 1)Pre-design assessment by certified professional NOT detailed survey initially Prioritization based on health, species, location, tolerance 2)Site design accommodates priorities 3)Construction protection 4)Post-construction monitoring

27. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Zoning Provisions: Stream, Floodplain, and Wetland Protection Prohibit development in the floodplain, with concessions made to accommodate special needs Prohibit construction of any kind within the setback width Widen the setback width to accommodate wetlands and 100 year floodplain Encourage native vegetation and trees Include monitoring, grandfathering and variance provisions

28. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov ConventionalConservation Development 40-50% Permanent Open Space Provisions for Quality Open Space Resource Protection Appropriate Development Intensity Zoning Code Provisions: Conservation Development

29. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

35. Linking Land Use and Ohios Waters A Planning Framework Best Local Land Use Practices

36. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov 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 create our great place Our Local Government Decisions Make a Difference!

37. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Best Local Land Use Practices Comprehensive Planning Compact Development Conservation Development Storm Water Management Stream, Wetland and Floodplain Protection Natural Areas Establishment Source Water Protection Woodland Protection Steep Slope Protection Transfer of Development Rights Agricultural Land Protection Brownfields Redevelopment Historic Protection Scenic Protection Access Management

38. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Resources: Bibliography 150 papers on the economic benefits of the practices Trees improve home values. Tree cover provides up to $20,000 or 10% increase in value to residential homes in urban settings. (Dimke 2008) The more forest cover there is in a watershed, the lower the treatment costs for suppliers drawing from surface water sources. For every 10% increase in forest cover in the source area, treatment and chemical costs decreased by approximately 20% (Trust for Public Land)

39. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Resources: Example Codes and Comparison Matrices

40. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Tools: Case Studies and Example Projects

41. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Resources: Technical Assistance 24 hours free technical assistance available to individual communities South Euclid: review of PUD code and available sites

42. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Resources: Toledo Botanical Garden http://toledogarden.org Your County SWCD Your Local Metroparks ODNR Division of Forestry http://ohiodnr.com/forestry Ohio Balanced Growth Program http://balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

43. balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Gail Hesse Executive Director Sandra Kosek-Sills Environmental Specialist 419-621-2040 (office) 419-357-2775 (cell) sandra.kosek-sills@lakeerie.ohio.gov Brian Hall Administrator www.ohiodnr.com/owrc Kirby Date, AICP Best Local Land Use Practices Program Manager 216.687.5477 k.date@csuohio.edu