PLANNING AND ZONING TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY IN THE SAGINAW BAY WATERSHED A Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Working Together to Achieve Improved Water Quality Second Local Government Workshop November 9, 2011
PLANNING AND ZONING TO
PROTECT WATER QUALITY
IN THE SAGINAW BAY
WATERSHED
A Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
Working Together to Achieve
Improved Water Quality
Second Local Government Workshop
November 9, 2011
Funding
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) by U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Project Team
• Planning & Zoning Center (PZC) at Michigan
State University (MSU)
• East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG)
• Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy (SBLC)
Advisory Assistance
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ)
Introduction
To protect water quality in the Saginaw
Bay by preventing future water pollution
through:
1. Education
2. Collaboration
3. Coordination
4. Technical assistance
5. Action by local government
6. Action by land owners
7. Action by water quality advocacy
organizations and other local
organizations
Project Purpose
Water Quality
Organizations
Local Governments
Citizens
Project Study Area
The Saginaw Bay Watershed:
• Michigan’s largest
watershed (8,709 square
miles)
• Associated with 22 counties
• Drains approximately 15%
of Michigan’s total land area
• Pilot sub-watersheds:
• Pigeon River
• Pinnebog River
• Cass River
• Rifle River
Cass River Sub-Watershed Communities Invited to
Workshop:
• Elmwood Township
• Elkland Township
• Village of Cass City
• Greenleaf Township
• Austin Township
• Village of Ubly
• Minden Township
• Wheatland Township
• Argyle Township
• Evergreen Township
• Novesta Township
• Paris Township
• Almer Township
• Ellington Township
• City of Caro
• Indian Fields Township
• Everything upstream ends up
downstream, including
contamination (sediments,
nutrients, pesticides, human and
animal waste, etc.);
• Human and animal health
impacts;
• Potential loss of recreational
opportunities; and
• Healthy watersheds are necessary
for a healthy economy.
Why be Concerned About Water Quality in the Saginaw Bay and Your Local Rivers?
Rifle River flowing into
Saginaw Bay
http://cohnphoto.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html
• Saginaw River/Bay is one of 14 AOCs in Michigan
• Includes all 22 miles of the Saginaw River & Saginaw Bay
• Designated an AOC by EPA since 1988
Background Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern (AOC)
May 16, 2011
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/sb/modis.html
• Of the 14 Impairments criteria, Saginaw River/Bay includes10:
1. Restriction on fish and wildlife consumption
2. Eutrophication or undesirable algae
3. Degradation of fish and wildlife populations
4. Beach closings
5. Degradation of aesthetics
6. Bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems
7. Degradation of benthos lakebed ecosystem
8. Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations
9. Restriction of dredging activities
10. Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
Background Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern (AOC)
• The GLRI program identifies goals, objectives, measurable
ecological targets, and specific actions for each of the
following five focus areas:
1. Cleaning up toxics and AOCs;
2. Combating invasive species;
3. Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds
from polluted run-off;
4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and
5. Tracking progress and working with strategic partners.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
Implementing the AOC Plan
Pigeon River Corridor Sediment Reduction Project
• Pigeon River Inter-county Drain Drainage Board
• $1,723,235
Shiawassee Flats Wildlife and Fish Habitat Restoration
• Dept. of Interior – US Fish and Wildlife
• $785,492
Van Hove Coastal Wetland Restoration
• Ducks Unlimited Inc.
• $129,249
Upper Great Lakes Stream Connectivity and Habitat Initiative
• Dept. of Interior – US Fish and Wildlife
• $876,786
GLRI Projects Largest Federal Investment in the Great Lakes in Two Decades
Fish Passage at the Frankenmuth Dam
• City of Frankenmuth
• $400,000
Rifle River Watershed Nonpoint Implementation Project
• Huron Pines
• $495,000
Western Lake Huron, MI
• The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• $600,000
GLRI Projects Largest Federal Investment in the Great Lakes in Two Decades
Source: http://greatlakesrestoration.us/
• Developed in 2008 by the Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment Technical Committee (members consisting of various federal, state, and local agencies and organizations)
• ―The RWA provides a brief assessment of the Cass River watershed’s natural resources, resource concerns and conservation needs.‖
The Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment (RWA)
―Nonpoint source pollution is the primary pollution threat facing the
water resources of the Cass River Watershed. Nonpoint source
pollution is any pollutant carried off the land by water or wind and
deposited into surface water.‖ Can include sediment, fertilizer,
pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, vehicle lubricants, etc.
Your Local Watershed Plans
Issues
• Eroding stream banks
• Poor road / stream crossings
• Storm runoff
• Cropland erosion
• Loss of riparian & wildlife
• corridors
• Loss of wetlands
• Channelization
• Septic effluent
• Crop fertilizers
• Livestock waste
• Thermal pollution
• Lack of proper zoning
• Invasive species
The Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment (RWA)
Your Local Watershed Plans
Goals for Improvement
• Institute responsible land use protection and public policy to protect parcels within the watershed that provide groundwater recharge, key wildlife habitats, headwater stream protection, important wetland functions, coastal areas, etc.
• Identify sites contributing to water quality problems and work with producers to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs).
• Identify sites that are unnaturally adding sediment to the river system and implement a system of Best Management Practices where possible.
• Increase and develop citizen involvement/public awareness and responsible use of the watershed through stewardship and education.
Your Local Watershed Plans
• The Saginaw Bay Resource Conservation &
Development Council (RC&D) received
funding from the Michigan DEQ.
• Primary Objectives:
1. Organize committees comprised of key
stakeholders to identify and prioritize
water quality issues;
2. Evaluate and summarize watershed
information to identify and prioritize
specific areas for water quality
improvements.
3. Submit a Watershed Management
Plan for the Cass River Watershed that
meets Federal and State criteria to
receive future project funding to
improve water quality.
Cass River Watershed Plan
• Reaching out! Learning what is important to watershed
residents (in terms of water quality), and inviting
participation.
• Conducting a wetland assessment, to determine where
the most suitable areas are for wetland protection and
restoration.
• Creating an action plan to pay for education and
installation costs for improving water quality and current
land management practices
Cass River Watershed Plan
What is happening now:
• The final watershed management plan will be
completed December, 2012
• It belongs to everyone
• Any non-profit, educational institution, or
government agency can apply for funding to
implement the plan
• Typically, Conservation Districts take the lead
on implementation in partnership with other
community agencies and volunteers.
Cass River Watershed Plan
• Cass River Greenway is an effort organized group of
local volunteers, assisted by professional resources
and municipal leaders, working to enhance
recreational opportunities and the environmental well-
being of the Cass River Corridor.
• Goals Developed by the Cass River Greenway
Committee:
• Develop recreation opportunities on the Cass River
an along its corridors
• Encourage preservation of wildlife habitat and
critical natural lands
• Improve water quality of the Cass River
• Promote good environmental stewardship practices
• Develop eco-tourism opportunities for our area.
Cass River Greenway
• Develop Watershed Protection Planning & Zoning
Assessment Tool to evaluate water quality protection
measures and applied it to Huron County (and 99 other
jurisdictions).
• Identify strengths and weaknesses in regard to water
quality protection.
• Develop Best Management Practices Guidebook for Local
Governments.
• Provide appropriate recommendations and sample
language to 100 local governments.
What PZC at MSU is Doing
• FREE consulting!
• Assistance in meeting statutory requirements.
• Offer expert advice for future plans.
• Help improve local plans and regulations in regard to water
quality.
• Strengthen relationships between your community and the
entire Saginaw Basin.
What PZC Offers
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Hydrologic Cycle
Water for drinking,
irrigation, industry
• Key components of ecosystems.
• Area of land that drains to a common outlet.
• Water running downhill to the lowest point.
What is a Watershed?
• In the past, the worst water quality problems were from
point-source pollution. Legacy of this remains.
• Today, non-point source pollution:
Soil, fertilizers and pesticides that runs off crop land.
Septic waste discharges.
Storage of potentially contaminating elements in
floodplains.
Sediment from construction sites, drainage systems,
and paved surfaces and rooftops.
Warmed surface water from paved and un-shaded
surfaces.
• Weak collaboration among responsible parties.
Big Picture Problems
Soil Erosion: An Old and Ongoing Problem
Photo courtesy of Michigan State Archives
Basic Principles of Water Quality
Protection
1. Keep toxic materials out of streams and lakes
2. Keep sediment out of streams and lakes
3. Keep heated stormwater out of streams and lakes
4. Reduce impervious surfaces—allow for natural
infiltration
5. Slow and reduce the volume of water entering
streams
6. Protect groundwater from harmful discharges
Reduce Impervious Surfaces— Allow Maximum Infiltration
Source: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/mudcreek/6394
ADAPTED FROM SCHUELER, ET. AL., 1992
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION
DEGRADED
PROTECTED
IMPACTED
Waterway Health and Imperviousness
WA
TE
RS
HE
D I
MP
ER
VIO
US
NE
SS
(%)
High imperviousness leads to abnormal stream
flow (flashiness)—too high and too low
Photos MDEQ
A look that needs to be encouraged
Photo MDEQ
Photo MSU LPI
DEGRADED
• Sediment from roads, construction sites and exposed soils: Carry away nutrients (reduces
fertility of farm fields and increases aquatic plant growth in streams, lakes and the Bay)
Potential to carry toxics (pesticides, bacteria, heavy metals, etc.)
Stifles aquatic life; diminishes microorganisms necessary for healthy fisheries
Reduces capacity of drains and impoundments.
Keep sediment out of lakes and streams
• Thermal Pollution (heated runoff from paved surfaces, lawns & un-shaded stormwater detention basins):
Disrupts biological processes;
Most common non-point source pollutant;
Dramatically changes the biology of streams and lakes (fish and organisms fish feed on are adapted to certain temperatures).
Keep warmed stormwater out of
streams and lakes
Technique: Essential Elements
Goals and Objectives for Water Quality
Local Master Plan should incorporate strategies to
protect water quality, including:
• Inventorying and monitoring
• Education
• Ordinances
• Implementation
Technique: Essential Elements
Environmental Inventory
Including, but not limited to: • Watercourses— streams, lakes, wetlands
• Vegetation (may be included in land cover map)
• Slopes
• Soils
• Protected areas— state game areas, parks and forests
When data is available, include a qualitative assessment of these resources and acknowledge potential threats to them.
If plans have already been developed for these resources, then the master plan should reference them.
Environmental Inventories: What to include… • Base map (roads, rail lines, section numbers, community boundaries,
water bodies and the drainage system)
• Topography
• Soils by type, plus separate maps of:
Hydric (wetlands type)
Steep slopes
Prime farmland
Sand, gravel and other minerals at or near the surface
• Groundwater vulnerability (sandy soils and relative depth from surface to aquifer)
• Land cover depicting:
Lakes & streams
Forests
Wetlands
Farmland
Scrub/shrub and old fields
Developed land
Environmental Inventories (continued)
Regulated natural features: • Regulated wetlands
• Environmental areas
• Steep slopes (for soil erosion
and sedimentation)
• Inland lakes & streams
• Designated natural rivers
• Floodplains
• High risk erosion areas
Natural habitat elements: • Habitat types
• Sites with known threatened or endangered plants or animals
• Assessment of biological diversity
• Pre-settlement vegetation
• Undisturbed areas
Technique: Essential Elements
Coordinated Permitting • A simple, effective way to ensure that new land uses undergo a
thorough review by all relevant authorities and that due diligence is
done.
• Ties the process of State (and other jurisdictional) permitting to
local zoning. Local zoning actions should be done in coordination
with agencies that have the technical wherewithal, the statutory
responsibility and the ability to absorb any liability for the decisions
made.
• Planning commission should ―approve conditionally‖ or require
proof of other permits at the time of application.
• Development proposals that do not meet both state environmental
standards, and local zoning standards should not approved.
DEQ: Environmental Permit Information
Checklist
Technique: Essential Elements Coordinated Site Plan Review
• Site plan review is one of the most powerful natural resource protection tools, if utilized to its full potential.
• Easily enforced and helps to identify conflicts with the surrounding environment long before they occur.
• Do not approve permit applications until all appropriate entities have reviewed the site plan. Possible entities include:
Local planning commission
Building Department
County Health Department (septic and well review)
Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Authority
Road Commission (access management)
State & Federal authorities
“Sediment accounts for more than 2/3 of all pollutants entering U.S.
waterways. Estimates indicate up to $13 billion per year are spent in the
U.S. to directly mitigate the off-site impacts of erosion and sediment.”
Technique: Essential Element
Earth Change Activity (regulated under
Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Act
Technique: Essential Element Earth Change Activity (regulated under Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Act
• Soil erosion is a natural process; however, earth change activities can intensify the rate of this process and make bad conditions worse if precautions are not taken.
• ―Earth change‖ means a human-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities, which may result in, or contribute to, soil erosion or sedimentation of the waters of the state. Earth change does not include the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production. --MDEQ
• Requiring a ―grading plan‖ as an element of site plan review as well as requiring a land use permits before engaging in earth change activities.
Technique: Essentials Accumulation & Disposal of Waste (Junk &
Yard Waste) and Other Materials
• Junk (such as old vehicles) can leak hazardous materials and
contribute to non-point source pollution
• Proper storage, containment and disposal procedures are
essential
Develop goals and objectives for proper disposal in Master Plan
Enforce through ordinances
Photo: Friends of the Rouge Photo: Jackson Citizen Patriot
Technique: BMPs
Parcel Splits • The primary environmental issues associated with land
divisions and plats relate to:
Lot width
Depth
Buildable area of lots (includes constraints like wetlands)
Accessibility
• Proper review and approval of land divisions and plats
can dramatically reduce future problems associated with
use of the lots.
Example: Preventing Unbuildable Lots
Unbuildable lots in a floodway Division of land within wetlands should
not result in creation of unbuildable lots
Land Division Alternatives
• The best proactive measures a community can take to prevent the creation of lots that do not undermine the integrity of the environment and are ―buildable‖, are listed below: Adopt and consistently administer land/subdivision regulations
Technique: BMPs
Try to persuade landowners who propose to create ―unbuildable‖ lots not to do so.
File a notice with the County Register of Deeds that runs with parcels, if unbuildable lots are created.
Open Space PUD conserves wetlands for natural stormwater
retention in Ann Arbor, MI
Technique: BMPs Stormwater Management
• Require site construction to include a plan for managing stormwater
and calculate amount of runoff to manage
• During construction, use recommended BMPs for sediment control,
including techniques like silt fencing
• Retain stormwater on-site to avoid
overwhelming streams (causing
flooding or erosion) and neighboring
properties
• Provide educational opportunities for
property owners to understand
benefits of stormwater management
and BMPs
Technique: BMPs
Impervious Surface Reduction = less
pavement and rooftops
• Create and enforce maximum lot coverage percentages for each
zoning district
• Encourage innovative parking lot design
• New construction and reconstruction includes approaches to
increase infiltration of stormwater
• Utilize natural landscapes and native plants to mitigate stormwater
runoff; grassed lawns are less effective in doing this
• Disconnect downspouts from stormwater systems & use rain
barrels
Technique: BMPs
Impervious Surface Reduction
Traditional Parking Lot LID Parking Lot with reduced imperviousness
Technique: BMPs Protecting Groundwater
• Monitor groundwater quality
near uses with the potential to
contaminate
• Develop ordinance provisions
that attempt to prevent
discharges (e.g. elimination of
floor drains)
• Provide educational
opportunities on how to protect
groundwater
• Plug abandoned wells Source: MDEQ
Natural Feature and Drain Setbacks
Technique: BMPs
Woodlot setback
• Whenever a new project undergoes
site plan review, natural features in
the immediate vicinity should be
identified and steps should be taken
to protect them
• Setbacks from natural features,
such as lakes, streams, and
woodlots protect the health of these
resources and ensures minimal
disturbance occurs
• This distance allows adequate
space for buffer zones on more
sensitive features (such as vernal
pools and cold water streams)
Technique: Resource Protection
Resource Protection Overlay Districts • Separate statutory authority exists for local units of government to
adopt local regulations to protect the following natural resources: Wetlands Environmental areas Soil erosion and sedimentation control Inland lakes and streams Natural rivers Floodplains High risk erosion areas Sand dunes.
• All but soil erosion and sedimentation regulations can be structured
as an overlay zone. The special natural resource protection
regulations apply only in the overlay zone and are in addition to the
other applicable district regulations.
Technique: Resource Protection
Floodplains • The land that is inundated by water as a result of a storm event is
defined as a floodplain.
• The size of the floodplain area is that described by a storm event having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, thus the term 100-year storm.
• Development and types of
activities that occur in
floodplains should be severely
restricted
Zone flood prone areas for
parks/green space
Restrict storage of
hazardous materials and
junk
Why protect floodplains? • Land in floodplains is not suitable for development despite
increasing development pressures
• Loss of wetlands in and outside floodplains exacerbates flood
events, because it decreases the ability of the watershed to hold
water
• To protect the safety and welfare of residents and their property;
reduce the liability of local governments
Technique: Resource Protection Woodland Protection and Reforestation
• Education on benefits of woodlands and forests Increasing stormwater filtration
Shading stormwater
Increasing infiltration
Recreation
Scenic beauty
Wildlife
• Master Plan inventory, goals and objectives
• Acquisition for preserves, parks
• Ordinances Photo: Huron County Nature Center
Technique: Resource Protection
Wetland Protection, Restoration and Creation
• Protect water quality
• Reduce flooding
• Provide wildlife habitat
• Treat stormwater
• Recharge groundwater
• Preserve aesthetics
• Protect property values
associated with wetland
vistas
Site plan review works
well with large projects
and can help protect
wetlands as part of
open space zoning or
PUDs.
Technique: Public Education
Agricultural BMPs • Address soil erosion from water and
wind problems
• Help limit nutrients, chemicals and
bacteria entering public water bodies
• Prevent loss of topsoil and fertility
• Local government has limited
authority, Right-to-Farm
• Solutions
GAAMPS
Education
Technique: Public Education
• Benefits of deep-rooted vegetation in water quality protection
Filters stormwater runoff
Increases infiltration
• Other benefits
Lowers land management costs
Limits fossil fuel use in management (pollution and costs)
• Acquisition of lands for preserves
• Education
• Public land owners set example
Open Lands Vegetation Management
Technique: Public Education
Water Quality Monitoring • Baseline information to track improvement
or decline
• Beach water quality monitoring—generally
by County Health Departments
• Inland lakes monitoring—cooperative
program with Michigan Lakes and
Streams Association
• Surface water assessments Ralph Bednarz (Michigan DNRE) joins
CLMP volunteers for side-by-side lake
sampling, part of the quality assurance
program for CLMP data. (MiCorps
photo by Jo Latimore)
Technique: Public Education
Drain Management • Move stormwater from agricultural areas
and developed areas
• County Drain Commissioners have
authority on designated county drains
• Land owners that benefit pay for costs
• Buffer strips have the potential to reduce
sedimentation, which in turn reduces the
cost of drain maintenance
• Keep drains vegetated Photo: Livingston County Drain Commission
Technique: Public Education
Road & Bridge Repair and Stream
Crossings • Roads and stream crossings are a potential source of erosion
and sedimentation
• MDOT, county road commissions and other road authorities
are responsible for implementing BMPs when building and
maintaining these facilities
Outcomes • Clean water that is fishable and
swimmable, with less sediment,
fertilizers and pesticides.
• Happy users.
• Happy taxpayers.
• De-list the Bay!
Roles All major players have a role
to play, including:
• Conservation and
watershed organizations
• Local governments
• Landowners
• County agencies
• State agencies
• Federal agencies
GLRI The federal government has a major
initiative to restore and delist the Bay
as an AOC through the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
Action Plan The watershed plans detail restoration and
protection efforts for each sub-watershed,
which, when implemented, helps reduce
pollution and restore damaged parts of the
watershed and Bay.
AOC Major Watershed pollution led the
USEPA to designate the Saginaw
River/Bay as an Area of Concern (AOC).
This means that water quality is severely
degraded and a large number of
beneficial uses are impaired.
Watershed Plans Watershed management plans for each of
the rivers flowing into the Bay were
prepared by local watershed groups such
as the Huron Conservation District, Huron
Pines, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and MDEQ.
RAP Saginaw Bay watershed Remedial
Action Plan (RAP) describes
methods for correcting impairments
to beneficial uses in the degraded
areas.
MAKING THE CONNECTION
Roles of Major Players
Federal Agencies EPA
o Funded GLRI and
other enhancement
activities
o Role in wetland
permits
o Education
Land Protection Grants
o NAWCA
o NCWC
o Costal Lands
Army Corps
o Dredging permits
o Wetland permits
USDA
o Fund conservation
organizations and
landowners
o Education of
farmers and other
landowners
o Rural housing
funding programs
o Conservation
innovation grants
o EQIP
State Agencies DEQ
o Support cleanup
and delisting
o Provide technical
assistance
o Apply regulations
o Education
o Link stakeholder
groups
o Orphaned Well
Program and
Resources
DNR
o Manage State
land
o Education
o Support cleanup
partnerships
o Natural Resource
Land Trust Fund
grant program
County Agencies Drain Commissioners
o Reviews Site Plans
for new
developments
o Proposals for BMP
implementation
o Stormwater
management
Health Department
o Septic tank and
other environmental
codes
Road Commission
o Manages negative
impacts from road
crossings and use
of de-icers
o Road ditch impacts
and improvements
Landowners o BMP
implementation
o Consider long
term
preservation of
sensitive
habitats
Local
Governments o Education on
BMPs and Low
Impact
Development
practices
o Local Master
Plans
o Local Zoning
Ordinances
o Enforce adopted
regulations
o Facilitate
coordination and
cooperation with
public, private
and non-profit
groups
o Tax relief for
wetland and
critical habitat
areas
Conservation and
Watershed
Organizations o Education on Best
Management
Practices (BMPs)
o Planning
o Permanent land
protection
o Wetland and their
sensitive land
preservation and
restoration
o Technical
assistance
Improving Water Quality of
Saginaw Bay Watershed
• Education on BMPs and low impact development practices.
• Local governments should identify their main issues of concern in the master plan, then create goals and objectives for resolving these issues.
• Develop and adopt regulations (in the zoning ordinance and others) that support these plans to ensure that progress will be made.
• Adequate ordinance enforcement.
• Coordinate with various stakeholders in the community to leverage resources and educate on the importance of water quality.
Local Role
Watershed Protection
Planning & Zoning Assessment Tool
Planning and Zoning Documents
I. Conformance with Michigan Planning & Zoning Enabling Acts
II. Introduction
Purpose, Methodology, Organization and Content, How to Use
Assessment, Defined Terms, and Notes
III. Background
Title of Plans, Dates Updated, Community Statistics
IV. General Questions/Provisions/Supplementary Info
County Drain Commissioner, Health Departments, and other agencies
V. Master Plan
Goals and Objectives and Growth and Development
VI. Zoning Ordinance
General, Site Plan Review, and Subdivision/Plot Regulations
Planning & Zoning Assessment
• Documents refer to a ―planning commission‖
• Plan has undergone an official 5-Year review
• Plan contains a land use component
• Plan contains an infrastructure component
• Plan includes redevelopment plans for blighted areas
• Plan contains a zoning plan component
A proposed schedule of regulations
Standards to be used when considering rezoning
Suggested boundaries of zoning district
Land use categories on future land use map relate to the zoning
map
• Plan offers recommendations for implementing proposals
• Zoning Ordinance contains or is accompanied by a zoning map and
text that states regulations for districts
Conformance with Michigan’s P&Z Enabling Acts
Planning & Zoning Assessment Tool
Master Plan Example
Planning & Zoning Assessment Tool
Planning & Zoning Assessment Tool
Zoning Ordinance Example
• To provide local units of government with
information about how land development
and other activities on the land affect
water quality.
• To provide educational materials on best
management practices that lower the
impact of land use activities on our water.
• To provide sample language for your
community’s master plan and zoning
ordinance to ensure low impact on water
quality.
Best Management Practices Guidebook
• Communities can judge the level at which they are able
to implement the approaches.
• A community may decide on the level they wish to
pursue depending on the quality of the community’s
water resources and their sensitivity to degradation.
• For example, pristine waters deserve and require high
levels of protection to keep them that way, whereas
waterways with a high natural sediment load would still
benefit from somewhat less protective measures.
Good, Better, Best Approaches
Where Communities are:
Essential Elements in Master Plan and Zoning
Ordinance
Communities with an adopted master plan 5/16
Goals and Objectives for Water Quality 1/16
Environmental Inventory 3/16
Coordinated Permitting
(With local, county, and state agencies as
appropriate for actions such as, parcel splits,
subdivision review, condominium review and
zoning review)
2/16
Coordinated Site Plan Review
(Under the Zoning Ordinance) 2/16
Earth Change Activity as Regulated under Soil
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act 2/16
Accumulation & Disposal of Waste (Junk &
Yard Waste) and Other Material 2/16
Where Communities are:
Best Management Practices
Good Better Best
Parcel Splits for Buildable Area 1 0 0
Land Division Alternatives 0 2 0
Stormwater Management (Plan) 1 0 0
Stormwater Management (Ordinance) 1 0 0
Stormwater Management: Buffer strips
site plan review standards 0 0 0
Stormwater Management: Other site plan
review standards 0 0 0
Impervious Surface Reduction (Plan) 0 0 0
Impervious Surface Reduction
(Ordinance) 0 0 0
Natural Feature and Drain Setbacks 0 0 0
Protecting Groundwater 0 0 0
Where Communities are:
Resource Protection Techniques
Good Better Best
Resource Protection Overlay Districts
(Plan) 0 0 0
Resource Protection Overlay Districts
(Ordinance) 0 0 0
Floodplains 0 0 0
Woodland Protection and Reforestation
(Plan) 1 1 0
Woodland Protection and Reforestation
(Ordinance) 0 1 0
Wetland Protection/ Restoration/
Creation 0 0 0
Implementation Techniques 0/16
Public Education 0/16
• Update Master Plan to address the future of water quality
in your community
• Develop or improve land use regulations for preventing
pollution and
• Encourage local farmer participation in programs like the
Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program
(MAEAP)
• Partner with regional groups and neighboring
communities to ensure we’re all doing our part to protect
the overall Saginaw Bay Watershed
What Can You Do?
Your Homework Assignment
• Follow the steps laid out on the next six slides
1. Review the assessment
2. Review your water quality protection approaches
3. Compare to methods for protecting water quality
4. Select ―Good,‖ ―Better,‖ & ―Best‖ and contact us
5. PZC custom tailors MP and ZO amendments for
your community
6. Contact us with any questions at any point.
Review your community’s “Water Quality Planning and Zoning
Assessment”
• Is the assessment of your community accurate?
• If not, please make corrections and provide citations (documents
and page numbers), then return the assessment to us, as soon
as possible.
Your community has been evaluated for the presence of basic
water protection elements in your master plan and zoning
ordinance.
• Look at the blue form: Water Quality Planning &
Ordinance Approaches
Based on our criteria, your community may already fall into the
categories of ―good‖, ―better‖, or ―best‖. If this is not the case and
your community lacks a significant amount of basic protections, you
should be concerned!
• Look at the green form: Methods for Protecting Water Quality
• Compare the green form with your community’s
Water Quality Planning and Ordinance Approaches (blue form)
What modifications can you make to improve existing plans and ordinances?
Where your community has ―nothing‖, what kind of protections would you like
to see?
Share info with local land use decision makers (e.g. planning
commissioners, planning staff, city/village council) and come to a
consensus on what protections work best for your community.
Things to consider:
• Is our community meeting basic statutory requirements?
• Have you encountered issues in the past where these protections may
have helped?
• Are we cooperating with our region to solve the problems in the Bay?
• What kind of capacity do we have to implement these changes?
When you decide, contact the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU.
Based on your responses, the PZC will craft Master Plan and Zoning
Ordinance language specifically for your community.
• Is your community in the process of updating its Master Plan? This is
the perfect time to ensure your water resources are receiving
adequate attention!
• Be certain that your community is in compliance with Michigan’s most
recent planning and zoning statutes.
• Because planning and zoning cannot apply retroactively, receive
professional help and be better prepared for future development.
Phone: (517) 432-2222
Write: 310 Manly Miles Bldg.
1405 S. Harrison Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823
E-mail: [email protected]
The Planning & Zoning Center at MSU is committed to helping Saginaw
Bay-area communities achieve a higher standard for water quality
protection and we will be available to assist you along the way.
Please contact us if you have questions regarding the project!
• Updated Master Plan to identify contemporary
environmental goals and meet statutory requirements
• Zoning Ordinance gets amended to ensure your
community is better protecting water quality
• Save $$$ on FREE professional consulting and avoid
costs in the future from potential environmental issues
Benefits of Working with Us
PZC Finishes & Distributes BMP Guidebook
Communities communicate selections to PZC
PZC prepares sample Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments for each community
PZC conducts a Technical Assistance Workshop (January) for groups of communities in each sub-watershed
PZC & EMCOG & SBLC present Basin-wide Water Quality Conference in March
PZC assists communities with the adoption process
Next Steps
Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP
Professor and Director
Planning & Zoning Center at MSU
Senior Associate Director, Land Policy
Institute
Ryan Soucy
Research Associate
Michigan State University
Land Policy Institute
Planning & Zoning Center
310 Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
517.432.2222
Contact Information
Project Website
http://www.landpolicy.msu.edu/SaginawBayProject
Great Place Network
http://www.greatplacenetwork.org/