PRESERVATION and PROGRESS IN THE DRAGON RUN

1. PRESERVATION and PROGRESS IN THE DRAGON RUN

2. PRESERVATION and PROGRESS IN THE DRAGON RUN COORDINATING LAND USE POLICIES AND PRACTICES PARADIGM DESIGN January 25, 2005 Work Session

3. PROJECT OVERVIEW

4. BACKGROUND

5. BACKGROUND • Memorandum of Agreement adopted in 2001

6. BACKGROUND • Memorandum of Agreement adopted in 2001 • Land Use Policy Audit completed in 2003

7. BACKGROUND • Memorandum of Agreement adopted in 2001 • Land Use Policy Audit completed in 2003 • Watershed Management Plan adopted in 2004 (3 counties)

8. BACKGROUND • Memorandum of Agreement adopted in 2001 • Land Use Policy Audit completed in 2003 • Watershed Management Plan adopted in 2004 (3 counties) • 2005: Preservation and Progress - Coordinating Land Use Policies and Practices

9. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

10. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Implement the goals & objectives of the Dragon Run Memorandum of Agreement

11. GOAL I: Establish a high level of cooperationandcommunication between the four counties within the Dragon Run Watershed to achieveconsistency across county boundaries. MISSION, GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF THE DRAGON RUN MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT MISSION: To support and promote community-based efforts to preserve the cultural, historic, and natural character of the Dragon Run, while preserving property rights and the traditional uses within the watershed. GOAL I Establish a high level of cooperation and communication between the four counties within the Dragon Run Watershed to achieve consistency across county boundaries. OBJECTIVE A Develop a plan to address the inevitable future development pressure to change the traditional use of land in the Dragon Run Watershed. OBJECTIVE B Achieve consistency across county boundaries among land use plans and regulations in order to maintain farming and forestry and to preserve natural heritage areas by protecting plants, animals, natural communities, and aquatic systems. OBJECTIVE C Provide ongoing monitoring of existing plans and planning tools in order to assess traditional land uses and watershed health and take action necessary to preserve the watershed. OBJECTIVE D Comprehensively implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality, wildlife habitat, and soil conservation. GOAL II Foster educational partnerships and opportunities to establish the community’s connection to and respect for the land and water of the Dragon Run. OBJECTIVE A Encourage experience-based education consistent with the Stewardship and Community Engagement goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. OBJECTIVE B Promote the community and economic benefits of the Dragon Run derived from its natural characteristics and traditional uses such as farming, forestry, hunting and fishing. GOAL III Promote the concept of landowner stewardship that has served to preserve the Dragon Run Watershed as a regional treasure. OBJECTIVE A Address the potential dilemma of preserving the watershed’s sense of peace and serenity by protecting open space and reducing fragmentation of farms, forests, and wildlife habitat versus the landowners rights in determining or influencing future land use. OBJECTIVE B Educate landowners about the regional importance of the Dragon Run. OBJECTIVES: A. Develop a plan to address the inevitable future development pressure to change the traditional use of land in the Dragon Run Watershed. B. Achieve consistency across county boundaries among land use plans and regulations in order to maintain farming and forestry and to preserve natural heritage areas by protecting plants, animals, natural communities, and aquatic systems.

12. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Implement the goals & objectives of the Dragon Run Memorandum of Agreement • Develop model planning policies and standards for the Dragon Run

13. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Implement the goals & objectives of the Dragon Run Memorandum of Agreement • Develop model planning policies and standards for the Dragon Run • Work with each County to adopt consistent land use policies to protect the Dragon Run and encourage compatible economic development uses

14. SCOPE & SCHEDULE

15. SCOPE & SCHEDULE PHASE 1: DEVELOPING THE MODEL DISTRICTS PRODUCTION OF DELIVERABLES KEY MEETINGS

16. SCOPE & SCHEDULE PHASE 2: WORKING WITH THE COUNTIES PRODUCTION OF DELIVERABLES ONGOING MEETINGS

17. ROLES

18. ROLES • Citizens at large: Landowners and other stakeholders Input, evaluation and consensus on recommendations • Dragon Run Steering Committee: Core group of Landowners and County officials to represent stakeholders Develop key recommendations for model districts for the Dragon Run • County Officials: Boards of Supervisors and Planning Commissions Review, evaluate and adopt recommendations for each County

19. ROLES - (cont’d) • County Staff: County Administrators, planners & others Review, refine and “customize” recommendations • Planning District Commission: SAMP Director Technical and organizational resource • Consultant: Paradigm Design - Land Use & Planning Technical “staff” to Steering Committee and Counties

20. Questions or Comments?

21. LAND USE POLICY AUDIT

22. THE LAND USE POLICY AUDIT • Comprehensive “Audit” of the 4 Counties in 2003. • Looked at: • Comprehensive Plan • Zoning • Subdivision • Chesapeake Bay & Others • Looked at both regional scale & site scale

23. THE LAND USE POLICY AUDIT FINDINGS: • Comprehensive Plans give little policy guidance about the Dragon Run • Zoning Ordinances allow some incompatible uses (auto graveyards, landfills, etc.) • Special Districts (DRCD & Chesapeake Bay) are generally “streamside” protections • Subdivision Ordinances generally control density (2-6 units maximum for Minor Subdivisions)

24. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: All Counties

25. ZONING: All Counties

26. EXISTING CONDITIONS: • 100 Year Floodplain • Wetlands • Existing Structures • Parcel Sizes

27. CURRENT POLICIES: • 5-Ac. average lot size • “By Right” development • 2-6 Lots per parcel under Minor Subdivision

28. TYPICAL FARM: • 100 Ac. farm & forest • Traditional farmstead • Fronts on Dragon Run • Ches. Bay RPA/RMA

29. CURRENT POLICIES: • 6 Lot Minor Subdivision • 4 waterfront lots (5-10 ac. each) • 2 farm lots (20-30 ac. each) • Clearing permitted outside Ches. Bay area

30. THE LAND USE POLICY AUDIT OPPORTUNITIES: • Adopt model planning districts in the Comprehensive Plans of the 4 Counties? • Adopt Zoning Overlay districts in the Counties? • Align Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances? • Develop “Owner’s Manual” for Dragon Run landowners (voluntary guidelines)?

31. TRENDS & ISSUES

32. Why change things now?

33. Why change things now? • Landowners have effectively conserved the Dragon Run to date

34. Why change things now? • Landowners have effectively conserved the Dragon Run to date • Current development pressures are low

35. Why change things now? • Landowners have effectively conserved the Dragon Run to date • Current development pressures are low • BUT - development pressures are influenced by regional, national, even global trends

36. Why change things now? • Landowners have effectively conserved the Dragon Run to date • Current development pressures are low • BUT - development pressures are influenced by regional, national, even global trends • Will the current policies / ordinances conserve the Dragon Run in the future?

37. ISSUES Why do we have these growth issues? • The causes of growth problems are regional, national and global, and yet . . .

38. ISSUES (cont’d) The solutions are mainly implemented by localities:

39. ISSUES (cont’d) • New “knowledge-based” economy allows people to live anywhere. • 70% of American households do not have school age children • Demographers now predict long-term gradual dispersal of the population into small towns and rural areas

40. ISSUES (cont’d) The edges of Metro regions are starting to merge:

41. ISSUES (cont’d) • Once an area is “discovered,” it is often beyond the power of a locality to prevent major land development • There is pressure to develop before the “land boom” dies • Growth taxes the road, water, sewage treatment systems (and the residents) • New populations bring different perceptions - vote on different priorities • New taxes on landowners mean even more pressure to “convert” rural land

42. ISSUES (cont’d) Citizens often seem to “want it both ways”- they dislike: • New roads AND traffic congestion • Dispersed growth AND density • Expensive AND cheap housing

43. ISSUES (cont’d) Dilemmas faced by scenic rural areas (e.g.Dragon Run): • Traditional industries (timber, forestry) face global commodity value declines • Welcome new sources of income - BUT don’t want changes in quality of life • Desire to see the resources protected BUT don’t want to tell others what to do with their land

44. LOW DENSITY – HOUSES ON 2ac.-5ac. LOTS SPREAD OUT OVER THE LANDSCAPE

45. We should be interested in what kind of community we will leave for our children: Can we leave it, • Greater • More Prosperous • More Beautiful than we found it? Edward McMahon, Middle Peninsula, November 30, 2004

46. Failing to plan means planning to fail: • We spend too much time fighting over what we disagree on - not enough time on what we agree on! • Develop a Vision for the Future • Build local plans around the enhancement of natural & cultural assets • Use education, incentives and voluntary initiatives - not just regulations • Develop a “quality of life” lobby Edward McMahon, Middle Peninsula, November 30, 2004

47. In Summary: • The causes of sprawl are regional or national, but the tools are implemented locally • The Dragon Run Steering Committee is an excellent resource for developing these tools • The timing is critical to begin developing these tools for the Dragon Run today

48. NEXT STEPS GIVE FEEDBACK EVALUATE /CRITIQUE THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES PARTICIPATE!

49. Questions or Comments?