Ohios Lake Erie Balanced Growth Program Chris Riddle – Ohio Lake Erie Commission Kirby Date – Cleveland State University.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Balanced Growth Program

Chris Riddle – Ohio Lake Erie CommissionKirby Date – Cleveland State University

“Protect and Restore Lake Erie”

Recommendation H-8: Commission a Balanced Growth Blue Ribbon Task Force, comprised of property owners, government officials, business leaders, conservationists, academia, agriculture and other stakeholder groups to be charged with advising the Lake Erie Commission on ways to:

• Develop strategies that will balance the protection of the Lake Erie watershed with continued economic growth.

Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan:

What is Balanced Growth?

Key Aspects of Balanced Growth

• Minimizes new appropriations and legislation• Only one legislative recommendation

• Maximizes incentive based initiatives

• Honors Ohio’s Home Rule tradition

• Focuses on ecological protection/restoration

Balanced Growth is a strategy to protect and restore Lake Erie and its watersheds to assure long-term economic competitiveness and quality of life.

Planning FrameworkVoluntaryIncentive BasedWatershed as the “regional scale”

Identify Priority Conservation AreasIdentify Priority Development Areas

Best Local Land Use Practices

Ohio Lake Erie CommissionBalanced Growth Initiative

Kirby Date, AICP, Countryside Program Coordinator

Location of development for minimum impactManagement and control of storm water and

erosionProtection of riparian and wetland areas so

they can do their job as “free 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

3 Model Ordinances

coastal protection

surface watermanagement

meadow protection

Best Local Land Use Practices

Comprehensive PlanningConservation Development

Compact Development

Transfer of Development Rights

Steep Slope Protection

Historic Preservation

Source Water Protection

Woodland Protection

Access Management

Brownfields Redevelopment

Scenic Protection

Agricultural Protection

Best Local Land Use Practices11 Guidance Documents

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

2. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

Adopt storm water management and erosion control regulations for design and construction

Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

3. STREAM AND WETLAND SETBACKS

Adopt stream and wetland setback zoning regulations

Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

4. MEADOW PROTECTION

Modify mowing ordinances to allow natural meadows under controlled conditions

Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

5.CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT

Apply Conservation Development,

with adequate standards, where appropriate

Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

Conventional Conservation Development

• 40-50% Permanent Open Space• Quality Open Space• Resource Protection• Appropriate Development

Intensity

6. COMPACT DEVELOPMENT

Apply Compact Development where appropriate

Top Priority Best Local Land Use Practices

2009 Training ProgramOngoing awareness sessionsExpanded technical workshopsCase studies showing costs-

benefits of Best PracticesCase studies of development

implications of Best PracticesContinued technical assistance

to local communitiesWork with OWRC on statewide

BLLUP initiative

One Maritime Plaza, 4th Floor

Toledo, OH 43604

P: 419-245-2514

E: [email protected]

W: http://lakeerie.ohio.gov

Kirby Date, AICP

Countryside Program Coordinator

[email protected]

www.countrysideprogram.org