Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Innovations in Land Use Planning and Zoning
E. Heidi Ricci
Senior Policy Analyst
781-259-2172
Our Mission To protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife Shaping the Future of Your Community Aims to help communities adopt and implement tools and techniques for smart growth and sustainable development
Conservation and Development working together through
Community Planning and Involvement
3 Examples:
• Devens Redevelopment
• Regional Plans
• Innovative Zoning – Open Space Design
Devens Reuse Plan - 1994
• 1/3 of site designated for permanent preservation
• Interconnected open space linking with regional conservation areas
• Development focused on redevelopment sites
Devens Open Space & Recreation Plan History and Update Process
1994 Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley vote to approve Devens Reuse Plan.
1996 Devens Open Space and Recreation Advisory Committee (DOSRAC) formed by Joint Board of Selectmen (JBOS).
Devens Open Space and Recreation Plan completed
2002 Clarification sought on “permanently protected” open space
2003 Update of OSRP begins to:
• comply with state requirements for periodic updates; and
• clarify parcels for permanent protection
2006 Reuse Plan review process – Devens Land Use & Open Space Committee (LUOS) parcel by parcel review
2008 Revised OSRP approved
Review of Land Uses, Open Space, and Zoning 2005 - 06
• In-depth review of all zoning parcels at Devens: – Existing land use and resources
– Existing zoning
– Remaining land available including potential sites for additional housing
– Environmental remediation status summary
– Open space and historic preservation areas
– Constraints (both natural and infrastructure-related)
– Opportunities
– Relationship to adjoining uses
– Preferred and potential uses
Study Area: Open Space Context
• Landscape and
ecological Systems
– Protected open space
along the Nashua
River
– Wetlands and Vernal
Pools
– Stream Corridors
• Protect soils from
erosion
– Set aside slopes over
20%
• Assess potentially
ecologically sensitive
land
Devens Groundwater Resources
Devens Special Habitat Areas
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Blanding’s Turtle
• Wood Turtle
• Blue-spotted Salamander
• Triangle Floater
(freshwater mussel)
• Zebra Clubtail
• Arrow Clubtail
• Houghton’s Flatsedge
• Wild Senna
State-listed Rare and Endangered
Species
Devens Multi-Use Trail Network
Goals of Devens Open Space and Recreation Plan
1. Preserve Important Land Resources
2. Preserve Important Water Resources
3. Provide connections between conservation areas within and beyond Devens to facilitate movement and access by wildlife
4. Meet the diverse recreational needs of Devens and the region
5. Manage, maintain & operate active recreation facilities & open space districts
Conclusions from Devens
• Conservation and
Development can work together
• Community involvement needs
to be inclusive and ongoing
What’s next?
• Work in progress – final
disposition? Housing cap?
• Potential Wild and Scenic
River study for the Nashua River
495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan
…Includes
37 Cities and Towns
and spans multiple RPAs
• Uses a Local Perspective to Identify:
Project Process
495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan Project Process
Review of Previous Plans and Studies
Local Meetings
Community-Level Public Meetings
First Round of Regional Forums
Assessment and Identification
of Regional Priorities
Second Round of Regional Forums
Project Conclusion and Finalize Plan
Regional Screening
Local Priority Areas
Regional Screening
Regional Priority
Areas
Regional Screening - GIS
• Geographic Information System (GIS) data used to guide the screening included
Developed Land
Housing
Chapter 40R, 43D and Economic Growth
Districts
BioMAP 2
Wetlands
Floodplains
Impaired Streams
Populations meeting Environmental Justice Criteria (e.g., income, minority population,
etc.)
Wellheads
Aquifers
Surface Water Supply Protection Areas
Sidewalks, Shared Use and Bicycling
Facilities, Trails, Transit
Roadways and Interchanges
Farms
Prime Agricultural Soils
Historic Areas
Alternative Development Trends
Distributed
Growth Scenario
Regional Priorities
Growth Scenario
Regionally Significant Priority Development Areas (PDAs)
91 Regional PDAs
16,300 acres
Average: 170 acres • City/town centers
• Transit Oriented
Development
• Exceptional opportunities
for jobs and workforce
housing
Priority Preservation Areas
192 Regional PPAs, average = 111 acres
• BioMap2
• Water Resources
• Working farms and farms with prime agricultural soils are assets
• Connectivity between existing open spaces, clusters of PPAs
Central Thirteen Prioritization Project www.cmrpc.org
Saving Land and Money with
Conservation Design: An Introduction to the State’s the New Open Space Design
/ Natural Resource Protection Zoning Model Bylaw
Presentation credit: Kurt Gaertner
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
33
The Principles are intended to
guide state & local actions
Sustainable Development Principles
1. Concentrate Development and Mix Uses
2. Advance Equity
3. Make Efficient Decisions
4. Protect Land and Ecosystems
5. Use Natural Resources Wisely
6. Expand Housing Opportunities
7. Provide Transportation Choice
8. Increase Job and Business Opportunities
9. Promote Clean Energy
10. Plan Regionally
Problems with current practice:
• Special Permit Required – Discretionary
• Process often cumbersome, long, & expensive
• Large parcel size requirements
• Insufficient amount of land protected
• Less than ideal land conservation
• Dimensional standards inhibit use
Open Space Design solution
• By Right/Mandatory
• Formulaic and quick
• No minimum lot size
• [60%] of land area protected
• Strategic protection via Conservation
Analysis & Findings
• Flexible Design Standards – lot size,
frontage, setbacks, roads, etc.
• http://www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/
• Website that is user friendly, comprehensive, and
MA focused
• Integrated materials on each smart growth
technique to promote understanding and local
passage of new zoning bylaws
• Case studies show real world implementation,
many in Massachusetts communities
Why did EEA develop this bylaw and why does it want communities to adopt it?
• Reduced environmental and fiscal impact
o Reduced costs to construct/maintain roads and infrastructure
o Less impervious surface and runoff
o Protection of water supplies, habitat, greenways, productive forest, agriculture, etc.
• Advances EEA objectives while providing housing and treating landowners equitably
100 acre wooded site with field, stream, and trail before development
Two-acre zoning; conventional subdivision (34 lots, no preservation)
Natural Resource Protection Zoning (14 lots, >75% preservation)
Open Space Plans should guide land
conservation in subdivisions
Other Innovative Zoning Tools, e.g. Revitalizing Your Downtown
Tools to promote economic development in your town center
Danielle McKahn, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
www.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture www.massaudubon.org/495Toolkit www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit
For More Information
E. Heidi Ricci
Devens Enterprise Commission www.devensec.com EcoStar and the Devens Eco-Efficiency Center www.ecostardevens.com
