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
W: http://lakeerie.ohio.gov
Kirby Date, AICP
Countryside Program Coordinator
www.countrysideprogram.org