Presentation 3.1: Land-Use Policy and Zoning
Feb 07, 2016
Presentation 3.1: Land-Use Policy and Zoning
Outline
• Introduction• Land-use policy and what it does• Multiple levels of policy• Policy-making process and your role• Zoning, the zoning process, and your
role• Landscape code examples• Summary
Introduction
There are a variety of tools that governments and communities can use to regulate development, natural resource use, and resource management. These tools can greatly influence wildland-urban interface issues.
Policy is one such tool.Policy is one such tool.
Land-use policy
Policy is a purposive course of action or inaction that an actor or set of actors takes to deal with a problem.
Policy…
• Determines How land and resources are used What resources require protection
• Defines Regulatory methods
Unintended consequences
Policy can help conserve and enhance natural resources…
ORIt can inadvertently lead to their
degradation.
Multiple levels
Policies can be developed at all levels of government:
•Federal•State•Local (city/county/parish)•Neighborhood
Exercise 3.1:Making the Link – Policy in the
Interface
Exercise 3.1
List policies that influence: • Forests• Water • Wildlife• Air quality
Federal policy
Examples:• Endangered Species Act• Clean Water Act• Clean Air Act
In many cases, states are responsible for implementing or regulating federal policies.
State policy
• States may create policies to supplement federal policy
• Many state governments require local governments to develop comprehensive plans for growth management
• States my also have nonregulatory guidelines (e.g., best management practices or BMPs)
Local policy
Most states delegate their land-use authority to local governments
Examples of local policies: • wetland protection ordinances• storm-water regulations• tree preservation ordinances
Neighborhood policy
• Homeowners or property owners associations rules
• Neighborhood covenants created by developers
Exercise 3.7: Guiding Neighborhood
Policy
Exercise 3.7 Discussion Questions• What opportunities for influencing neighborhood-level policy
and management did you observe? How would you approach the developer or residents in each scenario? What kinds of things could you do to gain their trust?
• What types of information would you give residents? How could you convince them of the importance of this information? How could you correct misconceptions they might have?
• How does the approach differ in Scenario 1 versus Scenario 2? Why?
• How could you continue to communicate and work with the homeowners association in Scenario 2?
Collaboration
Collaboration among agencies, stakeholders, and levels of government combines experience, authority, and resources, creating an ideal outcome.
Enlibra Doctrine
1. National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions
2. Collaboration, Not Polarization
3. Reward Results, Not Programs
4. Science for Facts, Process for Priorities
5. Markets before Mandates
6. Change a Heart, Change a Nation
7. Recognition of Costs and Benefits
8. Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries
Steps in the policy process
1. Problem identification2. Policy agenda setting3. Policy formulation4. Policy adoption5. Policy implementation6. Policy evaluation
Steps in the policy process
1.1. Problem identificationProblem identification
2.2. Policy agenda settingPolicy agenda setting3. Policy formulation4. Policy adoption5. Policy implementation
6.6. Policy evaluationPolicy evaluation
Problem identification
Natural resource professionals are …• Aware of important issues and short-
and long-term consequences Help policy makers prioritize issues
• May be aware of potential solutions Share ideas about what worked for other
communities
Providing consistent, reliable information Providing consistent, reliable information increases resource professional’s credibilityincreases resource professional’s credibility
Agenda setting
• Increase public awareness about the issue
• Encourage public involvement Distribute flyers Speak at community meetings
• Rally support Connect natural resource issues with current community priorities
Policy evaluation
Assist decision makers in evaluating the affects a policy has on natural resourcesExample:
• Policy aims to protect gopher tortoise• Resource professionals can provide data on
tortoise populations and wildlife movement• Decision makers can determine if the policy is effective
Exercise 3.2:Tracking the Policy
Process
What is zoning?
Regulations that define appropriate land uses, minimum lot sizes, and acceptable building height and setback
Zoning defined
• Divides communities into agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential land uses
• Intended to promote compatibility of land uses
Zoning in the interface
Effective zoning:• Promotes successful land-use
regulation• Promotes natural resource protection• Promote the goals of the local
comprehensive plan
Zone with care
However, zoning ordinances have historically led to development that exacerbated interface issues.
They need to be created with care.
Zoning needs your input!Zoning needs your input!
The zoning process
1. Data Gathering2. Public Notification3. Commission Review4. Commission Vote5. Public Comment6. Review for Compatibility with Plan
The zoning process
1.1. Data GatheringData Gathering
2.2. Public NotificationPublic Notification3. Commission Review4. Commission Vote
5.5. Public CommentPublic Comment6. Review for Compatibility with Plan
Potential roles for resource professionals
• Serve on the zoning commission• Provide reliable data about resource
conditions and land-use impacts for local decision makers
Your chance to help shape Your chance to help shape development and reduce development and reduce interface issues!interface issues!
Landscape codes
• Define minimum standards for planting and maintaining natural features within a community
• Dictate Design Installation Maintenance requirements
Use of landscape codes
Encourage:• Preservation• Management• Replanting of trees to protect canopy• Improve storm-water management• Conserve vulnerable habitat• Protect floodplain
Landscape ordinances in three southern communities
Protect existing trees and promote planting and maintenance of vegetation
• Mandeville, Louisiana• Collier County, Florida• Southlake, Texas
Mandeville, Louisiana
• Preserve forest character • Protect plant communities• Regulate land clearing• Require parking lot plantings• Protect large trees from removal
Collier County, Florida
• Improve community aesthetics • Promote harmony between natural
and built environments• Create micro-detention areas within
open space of a development
Southlake, Texas
• Landscape and Tree Preservation Ordinance created in 1990’s
• New construction plans must be reviewed with landscape plans for permitting
• City inspectors ensure plants are protected and planted properly
Summary
• Policy and zoning are two types of tools that guide land-use decisions in the wildland-urban interface.
• These tools affect natural resources and resource management.
• You have a crucial role to play in the development effective policy and zoning.
Credits
Photos:• Slides 9,13,16,26: Larry Korhnak• Slide 22: S.J. Krasemann/Peter Arnold, Inc. Literature:• Slide 4:Anderson 1984, and Heidenheimer, Heclo,
and Adams. 1983.• Slide 12: Kundell, Myszewski, and DeMeo 2003.• Slides 18-19: Anderson, Brady, Bullock, and
Stewart 1984.• Slide 25: Myszewski, and Kundell. 2005. • Slide 17: Western Governors Association 2003.