Implementing Best Local Land Use Practices

Since 1996, CRWP has provided technical assistance to its members and developed cost effective, prevention-focused solutions to minimize new, and address current, natural resource management problems. We recommend that members adopt regulations for riparian and wetland setback zoning and comprehensive stormwater management. As we work with members to adopt these regulations the following issues have been raised and may limit their widespread implementation.

• Concern about the impacts of riparian and wetland setbacks on property values.
• Inconsistent implementation of riparian and wetland setbacks.
• Poor understanding of floodplain restoration as a component of stormwater management.
• Few tools to ensure long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater management practices.

With this Project, CRWP enhanced our support to local governments by addressing these four issues by completing the following tasks:

• Analyze the impact of riparian and wetland setbacks on the value of parcels in communities where riparian and wetland setback zoning has been implemented for a minimum of 2 years. Hedonic Analysis of Riparian/Wetland Setbacks (pdf 1.36MB, published in 2006) presents an analysis of the market for single family houses and condominiums in six communities of the Chagrin River Watershed for the years 1999 through 2005. An hedonic price function approach is employed to account for the structural, neighborhood, and spatial influences in the sale of over 4,000 units, including approximately 400 homes that sold in locations with setback zoning in place.
• Provide training and associated educational materials, for professional advisors responsible for implementing riparian and wetland setbacks in their communities. These trainings used case studies to address implementation issues reported from members to demonstrate effective ways to balance community efforts to control the location of development on parcels with the reasonable use of land. Contact CRWP for more information.
• Demonstrate floodplain restoration as a component of stormwater management during development. CRWP provided educational materials, training, and created a guidance document and case study titled Floodplain Restoration and Storm Water Management Guidance and Case Study (March 2009, pdf 3.6MB) to aide local professional advisors in evaluating the design of floodplain restoration demonstration projects as a component of a development’s overall stormwater management plan.
• Provide tools necessary to ensure storm water BMP function & long term funding. CRWP’s stormwater model ordinance requires developers to make provisions for long-term operation and maintenance of storm water best management practices (BMP). To assist communities to understand the specifics of such provisions or how to effectively fund these requirements, CRWP developed model inspection and maintenance agreements and guidance for members on effective long-term funding options for BMP maintenance, published Funding the Long Term Operation and Maintenance of Storm Water Best Management Practices (October 2008, pdf 183KB). This document includes a model inspection and maintenance agreement that can be tailored to individual communities and BMPs to meet Ohio EPA requirements. Phase II designated communities can use this document as resource in implementing their Stormwater Management Program's Minimum Control Measure 5 - Post Construction Site Runoff Control.

Funding for this project was provided by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s Lake Erie Protection Fund and Chagrin River Watershed Partners’ member communities. The Lake Erie Protection Fund is made possible by the citizens of Ohio through purchasing the Lake Erie License Plate series.