Balancedgrowth.ohio.gov Ohio Balanced Growth Program Kirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State University Chris Riddle, Ohio Lake Erie Commission

balancedgrowth.ohio.gov

Ohio Balanced Growth Program

Kirby Date, AICP, Cleveland State UniversityChris Riddle, Ohio Lake Erie Commission


What is Balanced Growth?

•Voluntary, incentive-based , & locally led

•Regional planning by watershed• It is a framework for decision-

making about how local and state policies and investments should be made in the context of watersheds.


Important Documents

• Balanced Growth Strategy– Draft updated December 2009– Most current guidance on Balanced Growth

• Planning Framework– Static document, provided the initial guidance

for the Balanced Growth Program

• Best Local Land Use Practices– Series of tools available to all communities to

assist with managing land use change


Best Local Land Use PracticesTop Priorities

• Comprehensive Planning• Storm Water Management,

Erosion/Sediment Control• Conservation Development• Compact Development• Stream and Wetland Setbacks• Meadow Protection


Case Study Project – Case Study Project – Direction and Goals from Direction and Goals from Initial Focus Group Meeting Initial Focus Group Meeting (10-28-09)(10-28-09)

• Focus case studies on typical sites• Address “buyer” expectations of “good” development• Reveal competitive advantages in alternative site layouts• Illustrate commonly used control measures• Identify mechanisms for streamlining regulatory

approvals:– Relocating / rebuilding / integrating streams and wetlands into

development – Improving degraded streams / wetlands


Decision Making Process Decision Making Process for Site Planning in the for Site Planning in the Lake Erie BasinLake Erie BasinGuiding Principles:

– Design to established project objectives– Integrate existing water and terrestrial resources into

site design– Fix “dysfunctional” streams– Focus on controlling the flow – pollution control will

follow• “Start at the Source” to manage runoff• Control all runoff per site conditions: infiltrate &

evapotranspirate & detain– Use “Triple bottom line” approach to identify multi-

objective benefits: community & environment & financial

Step 2: Develop Site Layout Plan

Step 3: Site and Select Storm Water Controls

Step 1: Define Project Objectives and Performance Standards

START

STOP

Step 4: Assess Cost Effectiveness of Site Layout

Acceptable Site Layout?

NO

YES

Step 5: Prepare Final Improvement Plan


Designing to Project Designing to Project ObjectivesObjectives

• Community Values– Health– Safety– Welfare– Esthetics

• Environmental Values– Quantity (Volume) discharges– Quality (Pollutant) discharges– Aquatic Habitat– Terrestrial Habitat– Regulations

• Financial Viability

- Property value

- Construction costs

- Marketability

- Sustainability

- Operation/Maintenance


Integrating Integrating existing existing water and water and terrestrial terrestrial resources resources into site into site designdesign Step 2c: Prepare Conceptual

Development Plan (i.e. Building Sites, Roads, Parking, Open Space)

Step 2d: Examine Opportunities to Reduce Impervious Area

Step 2a: Identify Existing Drainage Patterns and Water

Resources

Proceed from Step 1

Proceed to Step 3

Does a Stream Cross

the Project Site?

Step 2b: Define Stream Protection Requirements

NO

YES


Present “mythbusters” to Present “mythbusters” to address buyer expectations – address buyer expectations – some examples:some examples:

• Conservation Development and marketability

• Stream setbacks impacts on developability

• Narrower streets• Property value issues• Permeable pavements• Decentralized storm water management


Best Local Land Use Best Local Land Use Practices to Illustrate Practices to Illustrate through Case Studiesthrough Case Studies

• Imperviousness control (e.g., reduce, disconnect, permeable materials)

• Enhanced inlets / manholes• Vegetated filter strips and swales• Infiltration practices (e.g., rain gardens, trenches, dry

wells)• Filters / underdrains (bioretention, soil amendments,

sand, other)• Basins (wet, dry, wetland, vaults)• Stream, floodplain, and wetland enhancements / setbacks• Integrated Combinations of Practices


One Maritime Plaza, 4th FloorToledo, Ohio 43604419.245.2514Ed HammettExecutive DirectorChris RiddleEnvironmental [email protected]

Gail [email protected]

Kirby Date, AICPBest Local Land Use PracticesProgram [email protected]