Ohio Balanced Growth Program
Program Overview
Sandra Kosek-Sills PhD
Ohio Lake Erie Commission
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Balanced Growth in Ohio
• Linking Land Use and Water Resources
• Planning Framework– Document– Projects– Planning Process
• Best Local Land Use Practices
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Inefficiencies Create Lost Opportunities
Inefficient land use creates a tax burden on communities, impedes redevelopment, and has an unnecessary impact on water resources - including Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and drinking water sources throughout Ohio.
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
“Growing” Communities
US Census Population 1950 – 1,389,582
US Census Population 2002 – 1,393,978
Cuyahoga Co Land Use Maps – Cuyahoga Co Planning Commission
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Land Use & Lake Erie
• Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Plan – 2000– Outlined serious land use problems that
diminish the health of the lake, and limit its benefits to the people of Ohio
• Balanced Growth Blue Ribbon Task Force– 2002-2004
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Balanced Growth Task Force
“…the development of northern Ohio often occurred without fully understanding or anticipating the impact this development would have on the natural and social environment. Thousands of individual decisions by communities accumulated to create this situation. There has been no framework for individuals and communities to come together to plan for their future and consider the cumulative impact of their development decisions on the health of watersheds.”
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Linking Land Use and Lake Erie
A Planning Framework
Best Local Land Use Practices
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Balanced Growth Watershed Planning
•voluntary•locally led•incentive-based•support through alignment
of state policies and programs
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Balanced Growth Planning Framework
• Decision-making about how local and state policies and investments should be made in the context of watersheds.
• Detailed guidance for regional planning by local communities grouped by watershed
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Watershed Planning Partnerships
• Piloted in 2006 for 3 years with OWDA $– Pilot Watersheds
• Chagrin River (Chagrin River Watershed Partners)
• Chippewa Creek (Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization)
• Swan Creek (Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments)
• Upper West Branch of Rocky River (Medina SWCD)
– It was a test: Will it work?– All four of the initial projects received full state
endorsement by 9/09: Yes, it can work.
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
State of Ohio Partners
Ohio Lake Erie Commission
Dept of AgricultureDept of DevelopmentDept of HealthDept of Natural
ResourcesDept of TransportationEnvironmental Protection
Agency
Ohio Water Resources Council
Office of the GovernorPublic Works
CommissionPublic Utilities
CommissionOhio Water Development
Authority
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Not pictured: Big Creek (Cuyahoga)
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What does a plan contain?
• Designation of Priority Conservation Areas
• Designation of Priority Development Areas
• Designation of Priority Agricultural Areas (where applicable)
• Local and state participation and approval
• Process for maintaining and updating the plan– Full Table of Contents available online
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Priority Conservation Area
• Locally designated areas targeted for protection and restoration
• Critically important ecological, recreational, heritage, agricultural, and public access areas
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Priority Development Area• Locally designated areas targeted for
development or redevelopment
• Maximize development potential and efficient use of infrastructure
• Promote revitalization of existing urban areas
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Priority Agricultural Area• Locally designated areas targeted for
agriculture
• Protect critical farmland and efficiently use infrastructure
• Optional designation based on local desire
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Project Components
• GIS-based decision support system• Local government buy-in• State agency coordination• Review and endorsement process
– “significant” local support prior to endorsement: 75% of…
• population • land area • number of communities
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Balanced Growth Strategy
• State activity to update and improve Balanced Growth Program
• Action Items adopted at June 23, 2010 Lake Erie Commission meeting– Draft Balanced Growth Strategy is also available
• Highest priority action: updating and enhancing the special incentives available to participating communities with state endorsed Watershed Balanced Growth Plans
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Strategy Action Items
• State Support for Watershed Planning Partnerships– Implementation support of endorsed plans (6 items)– Planning support (7 items)
• Best Local Land Use Practices (5 items)• Program Innovations Under
Development– Urban Redevelopment Options (3 items)– Regulatory Mechanisms in Support of Balanced Growth
(3 items)– Public and Private Equity Sharing (3 items)– General Program Innovations (2 items)
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
Linking Land Use and Lake Erie
A Planning Framework
Best Local Land Use Practices
balancedgrowth.ohio.gov
One Maritime Plaza, 4th FloorToledo, Ohio 43604419.245.2514
Ed HammettExecutive Director
Sandra Kosek-Sills PhDBalanced Growth CoordinatorEnvironmental [email protected]
Gail [email protected]
Kirby Date, AICPBest Local Land Use PracticesProgram [email protected]