United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA231B09001 | October 2009 | http:JJwww.epa.gov
"l WATERQUALITY
SCO RE CARD
Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scales
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY l
BACKGROUND 1
THE WATER QUALITY SCORECARD 3
How to Use the Scorecard. 3
A Note about the Point System 5
Tips for Building Relationships Between Stormwater Managers, Land Use
Planners, and Other Local Officials 5
Table 1: Water Quality Scorecard Quick Reference Guide 7
GETTING STARTED 10
SECTION l: PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES (INCLUDING
TREES) AND OPEN SPACE 11
Resources 21
Case Studies 21
SECTION 2: PROMOTE EFFICIENT COMPACT DEVELOPMENT
PATTERNS AND INFILL 23
Resources 28
Case Studies 28
SECTION 3: DESIGN COMPLETE, SMART STREETS THAT
REDUCE OVERALL IMPERVIOUSNESS 29
Resources 34
Case Studies 34
SECTION 4: ENCOURAGE EFFICIENT PARKING 36
Resources 41
Case Studies 41
SECTION 5: ADOPT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS 43
Resources 50
Case Studies 50
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 52
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Many communities across the United States face the challenge of balancing
water quality protection with the desire to accommodate new growth and
development. These cities and counties are finding that a review of local
ordinances beyond just stormwater regulations is necessary to remove barriers
and ensure coordination across all development codes for better stormwater
management and watershed protection. Local policies, such as landscaping
and parking requirements or street design criteria, should complement strong
stormwater standards and make it easier for developers to meet multiple
requirements simultaneously.
EPA's Water Quality Scorecard was developed to help local governments
identify opportunities to remove barriers, and revise and create codes,
ordinances, and incentives for better water quality protection. It guides
municipal staff through a review of relevant local codes and ordinances,
across multiple municipal departments and at the three scales within the
jurisdiction of a local government (municipality, neighborhood, and site),1 to
ensure that these codes work together to protect water quality goals. The two
main goals of this tool are to: (1) help communities protect water quality by
identifying ways to reduce the amount of stormwater flows in a community
and (2) educate stakeholders on the wide range of policies and regulations that
have water quality implications.
The scorecard is for municipalities of various sizes in rural, suburban, and
urban settings, including those that have combined sewers, municipal separate
storm sewers, and those with limited or no existing stormwater infrastructure.
It can help municipal staff, stormwater managers, planners, and other
stakeholders to understand better where a municipality's2 land development
regulations and other ordinances may present barriers or opportunities to
implementing a comprehensive water quality protection approach. The
scorecard provides policy options, resources, and case studies to help
communities develop a comprehensive water quality program.
1 While the watershed scale is the best scale at which to look regionally at water quality
protection strategies, it can be difficult to align policies, incentives, and regulations across
political boundaries. For purposes of implementation, the largest scale the scorecard uses is
the municipality.
2 The term "municipality " as used by the International City/County Management Associa-
tion (ICMA) refers to local government at both the city and county levels.
BACKGROUND
Growth and development expand communities' opportunities by bringing in
new residents, businesses, and investments. Growth can give a community the
resources to revitalize a downtown, refurbish a main street, build new schools,
and develop vibrant places to live, work, shop, and play. The environmental
impacts of development, however, can make it more difficult for communities
to protect their natural resources. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the
U.S. population will reach 400 million people by about 2040, which will add
continued development pressure on local communities and the environment.
Many communities are asking where and how they can accommodate this
growth while maintaining and improving their water resources.
Land development directly affects watershed functions. When development
occurs in previously undeveloped areas, the resulting alterations to the land
can dramatically change the transportation and storage of water. Residential
and commercial development creates impervious surfaces and compacted
soils that filter less water, which increases surface runoff and decreases
groundwater infiltration. These changes can increase the volume and velocity
of runoff, the frequency and severity of flooding, and peak storm flows.
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Many communities are already struggling with degraded water bodies and
failing infrastructure. For example, EPA's National Water Quality Inventory:
1996 Report to Congress indicated that 36 percent of total river miles assessed
were impaired.3 In EPA's 2004 Report to Congress, that percentage increased
to 44 percent.4 Further, a report by the National Academy of Sciences found
urban stormwater is estimated to be the primary source of impairment for 13
percent of assessed rivers, 18 percent of lakes, and 32 percent of estuaries
significant numbers given that urban areas cover only 3 percent of the land
mass of the United States.5
Urban runoff also affects existing wastewater and drinking water systems.
EPA estimates that between 23,000 and 75,000 sanitary sewer overflows
occur each year in the United States, releasing between 3 and 10 billion
gallons of sewage annually.6 Many of these overflow problems stem from
poor stormwater management. Many municipalitiesboth large and
smallmust address the impact of existing impervious areas, such as parking
lots, buildings, and streets and roads, that have limited or no stormwater
management while at the same time trying to find effective and appropriate
solutions for new development.
These water quality impairments exist, in part, because historically stormwater
managementand indeed stormwater regulationhas focused primarily at
the site level. The reasoning was sound: manage stormwater well at the site,
and water bodies in the community will be protected. However, as the findings
of EPA's National Water Quality Inventory demonstrated, this strategy has not
been effective for two main reasons.
First, the site-level approach does not take into account the amount of off-
site impervious surfaces. During the development boom from 1995-2005,
rain-absorbing landscapes, such as forests, wetlands, and meadows, were
transformed into large areas of houses, roads, office buildings, and retail
centers. This development created vast areas of impervious cover, which
3 U.S. EPA National Water Quality Inventory: 1996 Report to Congress: http://www.epa.
gov/305b/96report/index. html
4 U.S. EPA National Water Quality Inventory: 2004 Report to Congress: http://www. epa.
gov/owow/305b/2004report/
5 Urban Stormwater Management in the United States, National Research Council of the
National Academy of Sciences, 2008: http://dels.nas. edu/deh/rpt_briefs/stomiwater_dis-
charge_final.pdf
6 U.S. EPA National Water Quality Inventory: 2004 Report to Congress: http://www. epa.
gov/owow/305b/2004report/
generated significant increases in stormwater runoff. However, the amount
of development in the watershed is not simply the sum of the sites within it.
Rather, total impervious area in a watershed is the sum of sites developed plus
the impervious surface of associated infrastructure supporting those sites, such
as roads and parking lots.
Second, federal stormwater regulations focus on reducing pollutants in the
runoffthe sediments from roads, fertilizers from lawns, etc.and not on
the amount of stormwater coming from a site. Nevertheless, the increased
volume of runoff coming into a municipality's water bodies scours streams,
dumps sediments, and pushes existing infrastructure past its capacity limits.
Failure to consider the cumulative impactthis loss of natural land, increased
imperviousness, and resulting stormwater runoff volumes on regional
water quality and watershed health has led communities to seek stormwater
solutions that look beyond site-level approaches.
Communities are recognizing the importance of managing water quality
impacts of development at a variety of scales, including the municipal, the
neighborhood, and site levels. A range of planning and development strategies
at the municipal and neighborhood scales is necessary to address stormwater
management comprehensively and systematically. At the same time that
stormwater management is moving beyond the site level, it is also evolving
beyond hardscaped, engineered solutions, such as basins and curb-and-gutter
conveyance, to an approach that manages stormwater through natural processes.
A green infrastructure approach provides a solution to thinking at all three
scales as well as addresses the need to change the specific types of practices
used on the site. Green infrastructure is a comprehensive approach to water
quality protection defined by a range of natural and built systems that can
occur at the regional, community, and site scales. At the larger regional
or watershed scale, green infrastructure is the interconnected network
of preserved or restored natural lands and waters that provide essential
environmental functions. Large-scale green infrastructure may include habitat
corridors and water resource protection. At the community and neighborhood
scale, green infrastructure incorporates planning and design approaches such
as compact, mixed-use development, parking reductions strategies and urban
forestry that reduces impervious surfaces and creates walkable, attractive
communities. At the site scale, green infrastructure mimics natural systems
by absorbing stormwater back into the ground (infiltration), using trees and
other natural vegetation to convert it to water vapor (evapotranspiration), and
using rain barrels or cisterns to capture and reuse stormwater. These natural
processes manage stormwater runoff in a way that maintains or restores the
site's natural hydrology.
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At the municipal scale, decisions about where and how our towns, cities,
and regions grow are the first, and perhaps most important, development
decisions related to water quality. Preserving and restoring natural landscape
features (such as forests, floodplains, and wetlands) are critical components
of green infrastructure. By choosing not to develop on and thereby protecting
these ecologically sensitive areas, communities can improve water quality
while providing wildlife habitat and opportunities for outdoor recreation. In
addition, using land more efficiently reduces and better manages stormwater
runoff by reducing total impervious areas. Perhaps the single most effective
strategy for efficient land use is redevelopment of already degraded sites, such
as abandoned shopping centers or underused parking lots, rather than paving
greenfield sites.
At the intermediate or neighborhood scale, green infrastructure includes
planning and design approaches such as compact, mixed-use development,
narrowing streets and roads, parking reduction strategies, and urban forestry
that reduce impervious surfaces and better integrate the natural and the
built environment.
At the site scale, green infrastructure practices include rain gardens, porous
pavements, green roofs, infiltration planters, trees and tree boxes, and rainwater
harvesting for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.
These processes represent a new approach to stormwater management that is
not only sustainable and environmentally friendly, but cost-effective as well.
Municipalities are realizing that green infrastructure can be a solution to the
many and increasing water-related challenges facing municipalities, including
flood control, combined sewer overflows, Clean Water Act requirements, and
basic asset management of publicly owned treatment systems. Communities
need new solutions and strategies to ensure that they can continue to grow
while maintaining and improving their water resources. This Water Quality
Scorecard seeks to provide the policy tools, resources, and case studies to both
accommodate growth and protect water resources.
THE WATER QUALITY SCORECARD
EPA worked with numerous water quality experts, local government staff,
developers, urban designers, and others working on land use and water quality
issues to develop this Water Quality Scorecard. The purpose of the scorecard
is to address water quality protection across multiple scales (municipality,
neighborhood, and site) and across multiple municipal departments. This
scorecard can help municipal staff, stormwater managers, planners, and other
stakeholders to understand better where a municipality's land development
regulations and other ordinances may present barriers or opportunities to
implementing a comprehensive green infrastructure approach. The tool's two
main goals are to: (1) help communities protect water quality by identifying
ways to reduce the amount of stormwater flows in a community and (2)
educate stakeholders on the wide range of policies and regulations that have
water quality implications.
Communities throughout the U.S. are implementing stormwater regulations that
require or encourage the use of green infrastructure for managing stormwater
on site. These cities and counties are finding that, to better manage stormwater
and protect watersheds, green infrastructure policies require a review of many
other local ordinances to remove barriers and ensure coordination across
all development codes. Local policies, such as landscaping and parking
requirements or street design criteria, should complement strong stormwater
standards and make it easier for developers to meet multiple requirements
simultaneously. At the same time, if these policies support water quality goals,
they can independently reduce and better manage stormwater runoff.
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How to Use the Scorecard
This scorecard is a locally controlled self-assessment and guide for better
incorporating green infrastructure practices at the municipal, neighborhood,
and site scales. While one department or agency could complete the tool, the
effectiveness of this tool will increase if an interagency process is established
to review all local codes and policies that might affect water quality.
Completing the Water Quality Scorecard requires different documents,
plans, codes, and guidance manuals. While the legal structure for stormwater
management and land development regulation varies among municipalities,
the following list contains the most common and relevant documents to
complete this scorecard and describes how they can create impervious cover.
Zoning ordinances specify the type and intensity of land uses allowed
on a given parcel. A zoning ordinance can dictate single-use low-density
zoning, which spreads development throughout the watershed, creating
considerable excess impervious surface.
Subdivision codes or ordinances specify development elements for a parcel:
housing footprint minimums, distance from the house to the road, the width
of the road, street configuration, open space requirements, and lot sizeall
of which can lead to excess impervious cover.
Street standards or road design guidelines dictate the width of the road,
turning radius, street connectivity, and intersection design requirements.
Often in new subdivisions, roads tend to be too wide, which creates excess
impervious cover.
Parking requirements generally set the minimum, not the maximum,
number of parking spaces required for retail and office parking. Setting
minimums leads to parking lots designed for peak demand periods, such
as the day after Thanksgiving, which can create acres of unused pavement
during the rest of the year.
Setbacks define the distance between a building and the right-of-way or lot
line and can spread development out by leading to longer driveways and
larger lots. Establishing maximum setback lines for residential and retail
development will bring buildings closer to the street, reducing impervious
cover associated with long driveways, walkways, and parking lots.
Height limitations limit the number of floors in a building. Limiting height
can spread development out if square footage is unmet by vertical density.
Open space or natural resource plans detail land parcels that are or will be
set aside for recreation, habitat corridors, or preservation. These plans help
communities prioritize their conservation, parks, and recreation goals.
Comprehensive plans may be required by state law, and many cities, towns,
and counties prepare comprehensive plans to support zoning codes. Most
comprehensive plans include elements addressing land use, open space,
natural resource protection, transportation, economic development, and
housing, all of which are important to watershed protection. Increasingly,
local governments are defining existing green infrastructure and outlining
opportunities to add new green infrastructure throughout the community.
An initial step in using this tool is to convene appropriate staff to review
various sections of the tool and coordinate to both identify opportunities
for change and address the potential inconsistencies between policies. The
approaches described in this scorecard may be under the control of a number
of different local government agencies, including:
Parks and Recreation
Public Works
Planning
Environmental Protection
Utilities
Transportation
The scorecard's review of land use and development policies provides
guidance for implementing a range of regulatory and non-regulatory
approaches, including land use planning elements, land acquisition efforts,
and capital investment policies that can help various municipal agencies
integrate green infrastructure into their programs. Internal agency policies and
practices, such as maintenance protocols or plan review processes, may be
potential barriers as well.
Each policy or approach is described in the context of its potential for
providing water quality benefits, although most of the policies have many
additional benefits for community livability, human health, air quality, energy
use, wildlife habitat, and more. This tool does not provide model ordinance
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language. It emphasizes best practices and helps municipalities understand the
incremental steps for changing specific policies and internal agency practices.
The scorecard divides the tools and policies into four categories:
1. Adopt plans/Educate
2. Remove barriers
3. Adopt incentives
4. Enact regulations
These four categories provide greater structure to the compiled tools by
organizing the policies or approaches as incremental changes and updates.
These categories may help municipal staff prioritize which tools to work on
based on local factors like resources, time, and political support. For example,
an appropriate first step in the process of updating local regulations may be to
remove a barrier rather than enacting a new regulation. Most policy options
avoid specific performance guidance so that the tool is useful to a range of
municipalities in different contexts. However, the case studies and resources
provide locally appropriate performance measures where possible.
To highlight the diverse nature of green infrastructure approaches, as well
as the fact that oversight over these policies resides in various municipal
agencies, the scorecard has five sections:
1. Protect Natural Resources (Including Trees) and Open Space
2. Promote Efficient, Compact Development Patterns and Infill
3. Design Complete, Smart Streets that Reduce Overall Imperviousness
4. Encourage Efficient Provision of Parking
5. Adopt Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Provisions
The five sections organize green infrastructure approaches based on drivers
of impervious cover at the municipal, neighborhood, and site scales. Yet all
three scales may be in any single section. For example, the parking section
will have questions that address the municipal, neighborhood and site level
considerations.
The scorecard describes alternative policy or ordinance information that, when
implemented, would support a comprehensive green infrastructure approach,
and will allow the municipality to determine where, in the broad spectrum of
policy implementation, their policies fall.
A Note about the Point System
The tool includes a point system to make it easier to evaluate and improve
local programs. The municipality can decide whether to use the point system
at all. If the point system is used, municipalities can set locally appropriate
thresholds and goals.
Governments could choose to use the point system in many different ways,
including:
State governments could require municipalities to complete the Water
Quality Scorecard and establish measures for improvement over different
permit cycles. For example, a municipality might have to improve its score
by some number of points before the next permit cycle.
Local governments could determine a score based on existing programs
and policies and then set goals from this baseline. Local targets may
include incremental yearly improvements or achieving additional points
in a particular section, such as "Encourage Efficient Parking Supply" or
"Protect Natural Resources and Open Space."
Stakeholders such as watershed groups or environmental organizations
could complete the scorecard and then provide feedback and information
assistance to the local government about sections within the scorecard that
received few points and might be an area for improvement.
The total score or scores in certain sections could educate elected officials,
decision makers, and others about the importance of these issues and the
role of local policies in addressing them.
A lack of points in one section may alert a municipality that a certain area,
such as parking, lacks local ordinances that support green infrastructure and
may be ripe for improvement.
Variation in the number of points achieved across the five sections may
help a municipality to better assess local sources of impervious cover and
potential for the introduction of green infrastructure.
Because the scorecard is intended for use by a range of community types and
sizes in locations throughout the U.S., please note that no single municipality
will be able to receive every point. Some questions and points may only be
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available to urban municipalities while others may only be available to those
in a suburban or rural setting.
Tips for Building Relationships Between Stormwater Managers,
Land Use Planners, and Other Local Officials
Effective Stormwater management requires coordination and collaboration
across many different municipal departments and processes. Below are
some ideas for incorporating Stormwater management in traditional planning
processes and programs.
Include both land use planners and Stormwater managers in pre-concept
and/or pre-application meetings for potential development projects.
Use local government sites (e.g., schools, regional parks, office buildings,
public works yards) as demonstration projects for innovative land use
strategies and Stormwater management. Form a team that includes land use
planners, Stormwater managers, parks and school officials, etc. to work out
the details.
Include Stormwater managers in the comprehensive plan process to
incorporate overall watershed and Stormwater goals.
Make sure that both land use planners and Stormwater managers are
involved in utility and transportation master planning.
Allow Stormwater managers to be involved in economic development
planning, especially for enterprise zones, Main Street projects, and other
projects that involve infill and redevelopment. Encourage Stormwater
managers to develop efficient watershed-based solutions for these plans.
Develop cross training and joint activities that allow land use planners,
Stormwater managers, and transportation, utility, and capital projects
planners to explore the improved integration of various land use and
Stormwater processes.
Hold staff trainings with speakers that are knowledgeable about smart
growth and Stormwater management. Alternately, encourage land use
planners, Stormwater managers, and other local officials to attend trainings
on this topic as a team.
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Table 1: Water Quality Scorecard Quick Reference Guide
Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scales (SUMMARY)
Policy Question
PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES (INCLUDING TREES) AND OPEN SPACE
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
Are development policies, regulations, and incentives in place to protect natural resource
areas and critical habitat?
Protect natural resource areas (e.g., forests, prairies) and critical habitat (e.g., conservation
corridors, buffer zones, wildlife preserves) from future development.
Are no-development buffer zones and other protective tools in place around wetlands, riparian
areas, and floodplains to improve/protect water quality?
Protect critical areas such as wetlands, floodplains, lakes, rivers, and estuaries with a
mandatory no-development buffer.
Does the community have protection measures for source water protection areas through land
use controls and stewardship activities?
OPEN SPACE PROTECTION
Protect source water areas from current or potential sources of contamination.
Does the jurisdiction have adequate open space in both developed and greenfield areas of the Create open networks throughout a community that serve a dual function of providing
community? recreational areas and assisting in management of stormwater runoff.
TREE PRESERVATION
Does the local government have a comprehensive public urban forestry program?
Protect and maintain trees on public property and rights-of-way and plant additional trees to
enhance the urban tree canopy.
Has the community taken steps to protect trees on private property?
Preserve trees on private property and require replacement when trees are removed or
damaged during development.
Do local codes encourage or require street trees as part of road and public right-of-way
capital improvement projects?
Leverage existing capital funds to plant more street trees and add multiple benefits to the
public right-of-way.
PROMOTE EFFICIENT, COMPACT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND INFILL
2A. INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT
Are policy incentives in place to direct development to previously developed areas?
DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS WITH EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Municipalities implement a range of policies and tools to direct development to specific areas.
Is the jurisdiction directing growth to areas with existing infrastructure, such as sewer, water, Adopt policies, incentives, and regulations to direct new development to areas that have
and roads? infrastructure, such as water and sewer.
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
Are mixed-use and transit-oriented developments allowed or encouraged?
Revise codes and ordinances to allow for the "by right" building of mixed-use and transit-
oriented developments.
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Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scales (SUMMARY) continued
Policy Question
DESIGN COMPLETE, SMART STREETS THAT REDUCE OVERALL IMPERVIOUSNESS
STREET DESIGN
Do local street design standards and engineering practices encourage streets to be no wider
than is necessary to move traffic effectively? Do policies allow narrow neighborhood streets
designed to slow traffic and create safer conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists?
Appropriate street widths allow narrower lanes for certain street types, thereby reducing
overall imperviousness.
Are shared driveways, reduced driveway widths, two-track driveways, and rear garages and
alleys encouraged for all single-family developments?
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS AND STREET DESIGN
Are major street projects required to integrate green infrastructure practices as a standard
part of construction, maintenance, and improvement plans?
Encourage alternative forms and decreased dimensions of residential driveways and parking
areas.
Formally integrate green infrastructure into standard roadway construction and retrofit
practice.
Do regulations and policies promote use of pervious materials for all paving areas, including
alleys, streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, and parking lots?
Build and retrofit these surfaces with pervious materials to reduce stormwater runoff and its
negative impacts.
ENCOURAGE EFFICIENT PROVISION OF PARKING
4A. REDUCED PARKING REQUIREMENTS
Does your local government provide flexibility regarding alternative parking requirements (e.<
shared parking, off-site parking) and discourage over-parking of developments? Do parking
requirements vary by zone to reflect places where more trips are on foot or by transit?
Match parking requirements to the level of demand and allow flexible arrangements to meet
parking standards.
TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
Does the municipality allow developers to use alternative measures such as transportation
demand management or in-lieu payments to reduce required parking?
MINIMIZING STORMWATER FROM PARKING LOTS
Are there requirements for landscaping designed to minimize stormwater in parking lots?
Provide flexibility to reduce parking in exchange for specific actions that reduce parking
demands on site.
Require substantial landscaping to help reduce runoff.
ADOPT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
BA. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES
Are green infrastructure practices encouraged as legal and preferred for managing
stormwater runoff?
Make all types of green infrastructure allowed and legal and remove all impediments to using
green infrastructure (including for stormwater requirements), such as limits on infiltration in
rights-of-way, permit challenges for green roofs, safety issues with permeable pavements,
restrictions on the use of cisterns and rain barrels, and other such unnecessary barriers.
Do stormwater management plan reviews take place early in the development review
process?
Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into the early stages of development
review/site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.
3
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Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scales (SUMMARY) continued
Do local building and plumbing codes allow harvested rainwater use for exterior uses such as
irrigation and non-potable interior uses such as toilet flushing?
Ensure that the municipality allows and encourages stormwater reuse for non-potable uses.
Are provisions available to meet stormwater requirements in other ways, such as off-site
management within the same sewershed or "payment in lieu" of programs, to the extent that
on-site alternatives are not technically feasible?
MAINTENANCE/ENFORCEMENT
Does your stormwater ordinance include monitoring, tracking, and maintenance requirements
for stormwater management practices?
Allow off-site management of runoff while still holding developers responsible for meeting
stormwater management goals.
Incorporate monitoring, tracking, and maintenance requirements for stormwater management
practices into your municipal stormwater ordinance.
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GETTING STARTED
Below are suggested steps to help complete the Water Quality Scorecard:
Step 1. Review the scorecard to identify which agencies, departments, or personnel will be required to complete each section.
Step 2. Convene appropriate staff to review various sections of the tool, and work together to ensure that updates and changes to codes, policies, and internal processes
align well with other agency changes.
Step 3. Collect existing ordinances and policies that will be necessary references to complete the scorecard.
Step 4. Coordinate between appropriate agencies or departments to complete the scorecard.
Please indicate by your signature that you have reviewed the tool with all co-signees of this document (name, department, and date):
Step 5: Identify sections of the scorecard and/or specific policy questions that should be prioritized for immediate revision or update.
Step 6: Identify short-, medium-, and long-term goals and strategies for revising local policies to better support green infrastructure.
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1 PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES (INCLUDING TREES) AND OPEN SPACE
Sensitive Natural Lands/Critical Area Protection
QUESTION: Are development policies, regulations, and incentives in place to protect natural resource areas and critical habitat?
GOAL: Protect natural resource areas (e.g., forests, prairies) and critical habitat (e.g., conservation corridors, buffer zones, wildlife preserves) from future development.
WHY: Protection of significant tracts of critical lands and wildlife habitat will aid in protecting and improving water quality by increasing infiltration and groundwater recharge, preventing erosion and
contamination of ground water and surface water resources, and protecting sources of drinking water.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pis. Pts.:: :
Avail. Rec, or N/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Identify and map critical natural resource areas (e.g., steep slopes, wildlife
habitat, forests, drinking water source areas).
The local comprehensive plan contains a natural resource protection element
with goals calling for preservation of identified critical natural resource areas.
Identify key natural resource areas for protection in jurisdiction's parks and
open space plan.
Assist landowners in identifying sensitive natural areas and laying out
developments to avoid such areas.
Local plans establish and enforce areas which are available for development
and which lands are a priority for preservation.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Protection of sensitive natural areas and wildlife habitat qualifies for credit
towards local open space dedication and set-aside requirements.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Provide financial support to or collaborate with land trusts to acquire critical
natural areas.
Establish a dedicated source of funding for open space acquisition and
management (e.g., bond proceeds, sales tax).
Adopt a transferable developments rights program to provide an incentive for
landowners to preserve sensitive natural lands and wildlife habitat.
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Implementation Tools and Policies
Land use regulations provide for the creation of cluster and conservation
subdivision on the periphery of urban growth areas to encourage preservation
of intact blocks of sensitive natural areas.
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt regulations to protect steep slope, hillsides, and other sensitive natural
lands (e.g., by limiting development on slopes > 30% or requiring larger lot
sizes in sensitive areas).
Adopt wildlife habitat protection regulations aimed at preserving large
contiguous blocks of habitat areas.
Create agriculture/natural resource zoning districts (e.g., minimum lot size of
80 acres and larger) to preserve agricultural areas and forests.
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1.A.2a
Protection Of Water Bodies/Aquifers
QUESTION: Are no-development buffer zones and other protective tools in place around wetlands, riparian areas, and floodplains that improve/protect water quality?
GOAL: Protect critical areas such as wetlands, floodplains, lakes, rivers, and estuaries with a mandatory no-development buffer.
WHY: The use of these practices will reduce pollutant loads and hydrologic alterations to water bodies.
Implementation Tools and Policies
PtS.; : PtS,
Avail, Rec.orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Identify and map critical water resource areas.
The local comprehensive plan contains a water quality protection element
with goals calling for protection of identified water bodies and other water
resource areas such as wetlands.
Identify key critical water resource areas for protection in jurisdiction's parks
and open space plan.
Cooperate in developing regional approaches to watershed protection and
stormwater management.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Wetlands and other water bodies and buffer areas qualify for credit against
local open space dedication/set-aside regulations.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Protected water bodies and buffer areas qualify for twice the credit (or more)
against open space requirements set by the municipality.
Restoration of degraded riparian/wetland areas qualifies for additional open
space credit within the local municipal system.
Transfer of density from protected riparian areas/buffers to upland portions of 1
development sites.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Riparian and wetland buffer areas required by local land use regulations
Buffer is at least 50 feet (as measured from the top of bank) = 1 point
Buffer is at least 100 feet (as measured from the top of bank) = 2 points
Buffer is greater than 100 feet (as measured from the top of bank) = 3 points
1to
3
Critical water resource areas cannot be counted in calculating allowable
density on a site (e.g., on a 200-acre site with 50 acres of wetlands, only 150
acres can be used to calculate density under zone district regulations, and
only those 150 acres maybe developed).
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Implementation Tools and Policies
Development in floodplains is prohibited or must demonstrate no adverse
impacts upstream and downstream (See resources below for details on "no
adverse impact" approach to floodplain management).
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
Stormwater quality and quantity performance standards exist for development
sites (e.g., restrictions on sedimentation levels, pre/post development flows).
Local regulations require restoration of degraded riparian/wetland areas on a
development site.
Compensation for damage to riparian/wetland areas must be on a minimum
2:1 basis on- or off-site.
Performance standards exist and are well enforced for Stormwater discharges
to wetlands that protect the hydrologic regimes and limit pollutant loads.
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i.A.2b Protection Of Water Bodies/Aquifers
QUESTION: Does the community have protection measures for source water protection areas through land use controls and stewardship activities?
GOAL: Protect source water areas from current or potential sources of contamination.
WHY: These practices will help safeguard community health, reduce the risk of water supply contamination, and potentially reduce water treatment costs.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Local land use plans identify aquifer recharge/source water areas and
recommend protective measures.
Require that all stormwater inlets carry a notice regarding discharge to
receiving waters.
Map and publish wellhead and aquifer recharge areas to alert developers to
potential restrictions.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Identification of drinking water source protection and aquifer recharge areas
with a dedicated funding source in place to purchase and protect such areas.
Protection of critical water source areas qualifies for additional credit towards
local open space requirements.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt well-head protection regulations/zones to prevent incompatible
development and uses.
Adopt aquifer protection regulations/zones to prevent incompatible
development and uses.
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1.B OPEN SPACE PROTECTION
I.B.I
QUESTION: Does the jurisdiction have adequate open space in both developed and greenfield areas of the community?
GOAL: Create open space networks throughout a community that serve a dual function of providing recreational areas and assisting in the management of stormwater runoff.
WHY: In addition to providing open space throughout a community as an amenity, such a network can provide large areas that contribute little to stormwater loads and can provide large areas for the
infiltration and purification of stormwater.
ImplerrientationTotals and Policies
Pts,: Pts; ;
Avail. Red. m HIA
Motes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Adopt a community-wide open space and parks plan.
The local comprehensive plan contains an open space/parks element that
recognizes the role of open space in sustainable stormwater management.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Green infrastructure practices count towards local open space set aside
requirements up to 50% of total.
Allow and encourage retrofits of abandoned or underutilized public lands to
serve as permanent or temporary open space and green infrastructure sites.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Additional open space credits are eligible for green stormwater management
facilities improved/designed for public recreational purposes.
Provide credit against open space impact fees for green roofs.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt neighborhood policies and ordinances that work to create
neighborhoodnot development siteopen space amenities that are within
Vt, to )/2 mile walking distance from every residence.
Adopt an open space impact fee to purchase passive open space that can
assist in stormwater management.
Adopt open space dedication and/or set aside requirements based on the
demand generated by the development. As a baseline, use the average open
space requirements adopted by the National Recreation and Park Assn. (e.g.,
10 acres of community and neighborhood parks for every 1,000 persons in a
development or fraction thereof).
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TREE PROTECTION
1_Q_1 QUESTION: Does the local government have a comprehensive public urban forestry program?
GOAL: Protect and maintain trees on public property and rights-of-way and plant additional trees to enhance the urban tree canopy.
WHY: Mature trees provide multiple community benefits, reduce overall stormwater runoff, and improve stormwater quality.
Implementation Tools arid Policies
PtS. : PtS. :
Avail. fiec. or IWA
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Survey and inventory existing trees on public lands and street rights-of-way.
Document the characteristics and location of street trees and urban tree
canopy to inform public tree planting, adoption, and maintenance programs.
Select tree species based on known performance for managing stormwater
runoff. Publish list and make widely available for homeowners/others that
plant street trees.
Conduct education and outreach about tree protection, proper maintenance,
and replanting opportunities through printed materials, workshops, events,
and signage.
Adopt a policy to protect existing trees on local government development
sites (e.g., municipal parking lots, municipal buildings).
Maintain an active tree maintenance program for public trees, including pest
control, pruning, watering, and similar measures.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Acknowledge trees as part of community infrastructure and develop a
coordinated design for locating public utilities to provide enough space for
mature tree canopy and root development.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Provide free or reduced-price trees to homeowners to be used as street trees.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Require any public trees removed or damaged during construction associated
with private development to be replaced on- or off-site with an equivalent
amount of tree caliper (e.g., remove a 24-inch diameter tree/replace with 6
four-inch diameter trees).
Adopt construction protection rules for all public trees (e.g., fencing, no
storage of hazardous materials, avoid cutting into root zones).
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QUESTION: Has the community taken steps to protect trees on private property?
GOAL: Preserve trees on private property and require replacement when trees are removed or damaged during development.
WHY: Mature trees provide multiple environmental, economic, and community benefits, including improved water and air quality, reduced heat island effects, lowered energy costs, and improved
community aesthetics.
Implementation Tools arid Policies
PtS. : PtS. :
Avail. fiec. or IWA
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Community plans specifically include tree preservation and replacement as
community goals.
Conduct educational sessions for builders and developers regarding
appropriate tree protection techniques and/or publish a technical tree
protection manual.
Follow maintenance and inspection timelines and meet canopy goals and
milestones by ensuring old trees survive, replacing dead or diseased trees,
and planting new trees.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Set up maintenance and inspection agreements for private properties meeting
stormwater requirements or receiving stormwater fee credit for trees.
Set up long-term maintenance and inspection schedules for trees on public
lands.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Support local non-profits that plant trees and provide educational services.
Provide financial incentives for tree purchases and planting.
A tree fund has been established to receive in-lieu payments when trees must
be removed from a development site to accommodate permitted projects.
Trees of a specified minimum size count towards a percentage of stormwater
management requirements (e.g., partial credit given for each mature tree
exceeding a specified height or canopy size).
Trees over a specified minimum size (e.g., 3-inch caliper) protected during
development are credited towards landscaping requirements.
meeting the established landscape requirement = 1 point
exceeding the established landscape requirement = 2 points
1to
2
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Implementation Tools and Policies
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Require permits before removing trees on proposed development or
redevelopment sites. Provide fines and/or stop-work authority for permit
violations.
Set minimum tree preservation standards for new development sites.
Require site plans or stormwater plans to include tree preservation.
Require/allow tree replacement off-site for infill sites.
Pts.
Avail.
1
1
1
1
I
Pts.
Rec. orN/A
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Notes and Local References
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1 Q 3 QUESTION: Are street trees encouraged or required as part of road and public right-of-way capital improvement projects?
GOAL: Leverage existing capital funds to plant more street trees and add multiple benefits to the public right-of-way.
WHY: Street trees can help manage and reduce stormwater runoff while providing multiple public and environmental benefits.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Local comprehensive and transportation plans support the planting of street
trees by all private and public development projects.
Capital improvement plans include tree planning as part of project budgets.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Offer incentives, such as reduced setbacks or increased building densities, in
exchange for additional tree preservation beyond ordinance requirements.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
All private and public developments are required to plant street trees in
accordance with size, spacing, and other local government requirements.
New street designs and redesigns of existing streets take into account space
for tree development and require necessary surface area and volume of soil
dependent on type of tree species selected (this includes lateral root growth
as well as direct downward growth to accommodate mature tree canopy and
roots without adversely affecting other utilities).
Street specifications require permeable paving for sidewalks and other
surfaces to reduce stormwater runoff and allow street trees to benefit from
the available water.
PAGE TOTAL
Total score for SECTION 1: PROTECT
NATURAL RESOURCES (INCLUDING TREES)
AND OPEN SPACE
This section has been reviewed and scored by
Department name
Signee
Ope
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Resources
Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments, Environmental
Law Institute: http:/Avww.elistore.org/reports_detailasp?ID=11272
Merles, James D. and James R. Hall. Park, Recreation, Open Space and
Greenway Guidelines. National Recreation and Park Association, 1996.
Center for Watershed Protection guidance on aquatic buffers: http://www.
cwp. org/Resource_Library/Restoration_and_ Watershed_Stewardship/
perviousarea. htm
"Protecting Stream and River Corridors: Creating Effective Local Riparian
Buffer Ordinances," Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University
of Georgia: http://www.nvetcenter.uga.edu/publications/pdj7riparian_
bufferjguidebook.pdf
No Adverse Impact Floodplain Management, Association of State
Floodplain Managers: http:/Avww.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=349&firs
tlevelmenuID=187&siteID=l
Riparian Toolbox: Model Regulations and Legal Issues, Long Island Sound
Study: http://www.longlslandsoundstudy.net/riparlan/legal.htm
Model Ordinances to Protect Local Resources: Aquatic Buffers, U.S. EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/osml.htm
Duerksen, Christopher and Cara Snyder. Nature-Friendly Communities:
Habitat Protection and Land Use Planning. Island Press, 2005.
City Trees: Sustainability Guidelines and Best Practices: http://www.
treetrust.org/pdf/community-forestry-city-trees-bonestroo.pdf
Guide to Setting Urban Tree Canopy Goals, American Forests: http://www.
americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/treedeficit.php
Urban Forestry Manual, Center for Watershed Protection: http://www.cwp.
org/forestry/part3forestrymanual.pdf (pg. 69))
Duerksen, Christopher and Suzanne Richman, "Tree Conservation
Ordinances." American Planning Association. 1993: Planning Advisory
Service Report No. 446.
Duerksen, Christopher, Mowery, M. and McGlyn M. "Tree Preservation."
Zoning Practice. July 2006: American Planning Association, Volume 23
Number 7.
"Trees for green streets: An illustrated guide," Portland Metro: http://www.
metro-region. orgAndex. cfm/go/by. web/id=2633 7
Tree Preservation Information Guide, Portland, Oregon: http://www.
sustainableportland, org/shared/cfm/image. cfm ?id= 72545
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Guide, U.S. EPA: http://
cfpub. epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp. cfm
Center for Urban Forest Research, U.S. Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.
us/psw/programs/cufr/
Urban Forest Policy and Management, U.S. Forest Service: http://www.
fs.fed.us/psw/progranis/cufr/research/studies.php?TopicID=l
Plants for Stormwater Design Volume II, Great River Greening: http://
www.greatrivergreening.org/jdownloads/PSD%20n%20Sample.PDF
Case Studies
Alachua County, Florida's land conservation and acquisition program,
Alachua County Forever, has conserved over 17,000 acres of
environmentally sensitive land: http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/
depts/epd/land/filesforms. aspx
Baltimore County, Maryland's Master Plan 2010 designates land
management areas that include agricultural preservation areas and resource
preservation areas: http://www.bahimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/
planning/masterplanning/smartgrowth.html
King County, Washington's Greenprint Project is an open space and
resource conservation strategy that focuses on land acquisition, restoration
projects, regulatory changes and protection within the urban growth
boundary: http://dnr.nietrokc.gov/wlr/greenprint/about.htm
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green program
revitalizes and maintains abandoned land and public spaces by
partnering with government, businesses and the community: http://www.
pennsylvaniahorttculturahociety.org/phlgreen/about.html
Chicago, Illinois's Open Space Impact Fee Ordinance charges a fee
associated with residential development building permits and spends
the funds on acquisition of neighborhood open space in the same area
where development occurs: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/
portalContentItemAction.do?blockName=Buildings%2FContent&deptM
ainCategoryOID=-536901233&entityName=Buildings&topChannelName
=Dept&contentOID=536988877&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL
Lenexa, Kansas's Watershed Management Plan includes erosion
and sediment control, stream buffers, subwatershed protection and
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improvement, and design standards for the city's uniform development
code: https://www. ci. lenexa. ks. us/Planning/compplan/Overview/
The Maryland Cooperative Extension Service provides a fact sheet on
how to design, plant and maintain a riparian forest buffer: http://www.
riparianbuffers.umd.edu/fact/FS725.html
Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation offers grants to
conservation organizations to purchase or receive donated river corridor
easements on private property within priority stretches of river: http://www.
anr.state.vt.us/decAvaterq/rivers/docs/rv_RiverCorridorEasementGuide.
Pdf
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation
Service provides guidance on riparian buffers through the Ohio Lake Erie
Buffer Program: http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/Lake_Erie_
Buffer/riparian.html
Davidson, North Carolina requires a public park within a five minute walk
of all housing units, providing multifunctional neighborhood open space:
http://www. ci. davidson.nc. us/index. aspx?NID=5 76
San Jose, California gives post-construction stormwater treatment credit for
new and existing trees in close proximity to impervious areas: http://www.
sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/Policy_6-29_Memo_Revisions.pdf
Portland, Oregon gives a stormwater fee discount for trees over 15 feet tall:
http://www.porthmdonline.com/besAndex.cfm? c=43444&#types
Portland, Oregon also gives a tree credit for meeting local stormwater
requirements: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.
cfm?id=93075
Portland, Oregon Parks and Recreation and Bureau of Development
Services regulate tree cutting on private property and public property:
http:/Avww.porthindonline. com/parks/index, cfm ?c=39 712
New York City requires street tree planting for a range of developments and
zoning increases: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/
index.shtml
Charlottesville, North Carolina has set goals for achieving a 40% minimum
urban tree canopy: http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=1745
(Chapter 8, pgs. 184-187)
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2 PROMOTE EFFICIENT, COMPACT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND INFILL
2.A SUPPORT INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT
2.A.1
QUESTION: Are policy incentives in place to direct development to previously developed areas?
GOAL: Municipalities implement a range of policies and tools to direct development to specific areas.
WHY: Municipalities can realize a significant reduction in regional runoff if they take advantage of underused properties, such as infill, brownfield, or greyfield sites. Redeveloping already degraded
sites such as abandoned shopping centers or underutilized parking lots rather than paving greenfield sites for new development can dramatically reduce total impervious area while allowing
communities to experience the benefits and opportunities associated with growth.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts, : Pts,:
Avail. Rec.orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Local plans identify potential brownfield and greyfield sites, and support their
redevelopment.
Capital improvement plans include infrastructure improvements (water, sewer,
road, sidewalk, etc. upgrades) for identified brownfield and greyfield sites.
Educate lending and financial institutions about benefits and local priorities of
directing development to existing areas.
Conduct outreach to the community to ensure support for local forms and
patterns of development.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Establish a brownfields program to remove uncertainty regarding cleanup and
liability issues.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Provide incentives such as density bonuses and accelerated permitting for
brownfield and greyfield sites.
Adopt funding mechanisms for remediating/redeveloping brownfield and
greyfield sites.
Streamline permitting procedures to facilitate infill and brownfield
redevelopment plan review.
Establish tax increment financing (TIE) districts to encourage redevelopment.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
In local codes, ordinances, and policies, the municipality differentiates
between greenfield and infill development.
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2.B.1
QUESTION: Does the municipality direct growth to areas with existing infrastructure, such as sewer, water, and roads?
GOAL: Adopt policies, incentives, and regulations to direct new development to areas that have infrastructure, such as water and sewer.
However, in situations where development is in areas with no sewer infrastructure, permitting alternative treatment options that can allow for higher density development or clustering of houses
will reduce the overall water quality impact.
WHY: Sewer and water authorities can play a major role in directing a region's growth by determining when and where new infrastructure investment will occur. Well-drafted facility planning areas can
direct growth by providing sewer service in areas least likely to impact water resources.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts,
Avail, Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Local plans recommend/establish urban growth areas and urban growth
boundaries. Development is encouraged within urban growth boundaries and
discouraged outside of them.
Analyze which areas within the jurisdiction are appropriate for higher density
development based on existing infrastructure capacity, cost of providing new
services, and access.
Capital improvement plans for public infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, etc.)
target funding inside urban growth boundary.
Local sewer/water authority capital improvement plans follow development 1
policies established in local comprehensive plans and target areas with
existing development/infrastructure.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Development standards addressing landscaping, buffering, parking, and open
space are tailored for infill areas to avoid creating unnecessary hurdles to
development (e.g., imposing suburban parking requirements in high-density
infill areas).
Remove prohibitions on accessory dwelling units in infill areas to increase
density of development.
Off-site, regional water retention/detention encouraged/allowed to avoid
costly on-site retention in densely developed infill areas and to provide benefit
to priority retrofit sites, such as schools.
Package plants and other wastewater treatment trains are encouraged for
development in limited circumstance areas where growth is appropriate but
sewers/treatment capacity does not exist.
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ImplementationtoalsmndPolieies
Technical information and analysis on the effectiveness of various treatment
systems are readily available to developers. Local governments have
determined which systems work best for their soil conditions and topography
and have made this information available to the development community.
: Notes'aii d to cal Refe ran ces:
Allow a wide variety of housing types and sizes within infill areas and reduced
minimum lot sizes.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Increase development densities and allowable height in infill areas.
Reduce impact fees for infill development based on less demand for new
infrastructure.
Create development incentives for green roofs (e.g., increased floor area ratio
[FAR] bonus, additional building height).
Include provision in stormwater management requirement that reduces
on-site management requirements for projects that decrease total
imperviousness on previously developed sites.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Zoning and land development regulations implement urban service areas/
urban growth boundary policies by restricting development in outlying areas.
Adopt adequate public facility and concurrency ordinances that require
adequate public infrastructure to be available when development comes on
line (e.g., water, sewer, roads).
Adopt large-lot/agricultural zoning (e.g., 1 unit/160 acres) on fringe of city to
restrict inappropriate greenfield development.
Enact transitional compatibility standards to ensure that new denser
infill development is compatible with existing neighborhoods/adjacent
development.
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ENCOURAGE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS
2 c.1 QUESTION: Are mixed-use and transit-oriented developments allowed or encouraged?
GOAL: Revise codes and ordinances to allow for the "by right" building of mixed-use and transit-oriented developments.
WHY: Mixed-use developments allow for the co-locating of land uses, which decreases impervious surfaces associated with parking and decreases vehicle miles traveledresulting in a reduction of
hydrocarbons left on roadways and reduced air deposition.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) produces water quality benefits by reducing: (1) land consumption due to smaller site footprints; (2) parking spaces and the impervious cover associated with
them; and (3) average vehicle miles traveled, which, in turn, reduces deposition of air pollution into water bodies.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts, :; Pts.:
Avail, flee, or N/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Comprehensive plans identify appropriate areas for higher-density mixed-use
developments (e.g., at transit stops) and recommend policies to encourage
their development.
Local capital improvement plans and funding are targeted to areas
appropriate for mixed-use development.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Zoning ordinances can create by-right mixed-use and transit-oriented
development districts or overlays through amendments.
Initiate map amendments to designate mixed-use and transit-oriented
development areas, eliminating the need for developers to secure zoning
amendments.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Parking requirements are reduced to reflect decreased automobile use.
Credit given for adjacent on-street parking, which can count for local parking
requirements.
Shared parking and alternative parking arrangements encouraged.
Mixed-use districts/areas feature increased densities and height.
Accessory parking structures are not counted against maximum floor area
ratio (FAR) on a site.
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Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Zoning code requires a minimum mix of uses and minimum density in
designated mixed-use and transit-oriented development areas.
Auto-oriented uses and drive-throughs are restricted or prohibited in mixed-
use and transit-oriented development areas.
PAGE TOTAL
Total score for SECTION 2: PROMOTE
EFFICIENT, COMPACT DEVELOPMENT
PATTERNS AND INFILL
This section has been reviewed and scored by
Department name
Signee
27
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Resources
"Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development," U.S. EPA
Development, Community and Environment Division: http://www.epa.gov/
dcedAvater_density.htm
"Infill Development: Completing the Community Fabric," Municipal
Research and Services Center of Washington: http://www.mrsc.org/
Subjects/Planning/infilldev. aspx
Smart Growth Priority Funding Areas Act of 1997, Maryland Department
of Planning: http://www.mdp.state.md.us/fundingact.htm
Metro Regional Government Urban Growth Boundary, Portland Metro:
http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.-web/id/277
Smart Growth Toolkit, Smart Growth Leadership Institute: http://www.
smartgrowthtoolkit.net/main-content/the-smart-growth-implementation-
tools.html
"Water and Growth: Toward a Stronger Connection Between Water
Supply and Land Use in Southeastern Pennsylvania," 10,000 Friends of
Pennsylvania: http://l OOOOfriends. org/water-and-growth
"Connecting Smart Growth and Brownfields Redevelopment," Center for
Environmental Policy and Management, University of Louisville: http://
cepmlouisville.edu/publications/PDF_docs/smart%20growth%20and%20
brownfields%20for%20website.pdf
"Strategies for Successful Infill Development," Northeast Midwest
Institute: http://www.nemw. org/in_fillbook.htm
"Smart Infill," Greenbelt Alliance: http://www.greenbelt.org/resources/
reports/smartinfiU/index.html
Infill Incentives, Policy Link: http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/BUSINESS/
infdpgm.html
Case Studies
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is responsible for helping
municipalities establish Sewer Service Area Planning to protect water
quality and guide growth within public sewer systems: http://dnr.wi.gov/
org/water/wm/GLWSP/SSAPlan/
Dane County, Wisconsin's BUILD program offers incentives for infill
development and removes barriers to redevelopment in order to preserve
farmland and prevent greenfield development: http://www.countyofdane.
com/plandev/Community/buihl/about.asp
U.S. EPA and Land-of-Sky Regional Council in Asheville, North Carolina
developed a report outlining market, policy, and regulatory changes that can
help overcome the barriers to infill and brownfield redevelopment: http://
www.epa.gov/dced/pdfAosrcJbrownfields.pdf
The Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program prepared a
Model Infill Ordinance to clarify legal and policy-related questions about
local infill incentives: http://www.dca.state.ga.us/intra_nonpub/Toolkit/
ModelOrdinances/ModOrdInfl.pdf
The City of Sacramento, California's Infill Strategies includes a Water
Development Fee Waiver, Reduced Entitlement Fees, and Sewer Facility
Fee Reductions: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/phinning/infiU/
Phoenix, Arizona's Infill Housing Program provides incentives to
encourage single-family housing on vacant and underutilized land and
offers high density development standards: http://www.cLphoenix.az.us/
BUSINESS/infdpgm.html
Portland, Oregon's Infill Design website provides design strategies for
integrating infill development into medium-density neighborhoods: http://
www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm';'c=34024
Portland, Oregon's Ecoroof Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Bonus allows
developers to increase a building's footprint or floor area by
adding an ecoroof: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.
cfm?a=236916&c=48725
The Georgia Quality Growth Partnership's Infill Development Program
outlines a comprehensive infill strategy that includes incentives,
improvements to public facilities, streamlined regulations, and guidelines
for the design, density, and location of infill projects: http://www.
georgiaqualitygrowth.com/ToolDetailasp?GetTool=32
Santa Cruz, California's Accessory Dwelling Unit Development Program
encourages well-designed rental housing in the developed core of the City
while being careful to discourage poorly-constructed illegal residential
additions: http://www. cLsanta-cruz.ca.us/pl/hcd/ADU/adu.html
Clark County, Washington's Infill Development Incentives include a waiver
of all stormwater requirements for infill projects that create less than 5,000
square feet of new impervious surface: http://www.chirk.wa.gov/commdev/
documents/devservices/handouts/46-infdl.pdf
San Diego, California offers expedited permitting for eligible affordable/
infill housing projects: http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/
industry/pdf/infobulletin/ib538.pdf
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3 DESIGN COMPLETE, SMART STREETS THAT REDUCE OVERALL IMPERVIOUSNESS
3.A STREET DESIGN
3.A.1
QUESTION: Do local street design standards and engineering practices encourage streets to be no wider than necessary to move traffic effectively?
Do street designs vary according to:
street type (arterial streets, collector streets, neighborhood streets) and
urban context (urban core, transit station area, suburban center, general suburban, rural)?
Do policies allow narrow neighborhood streets designed to slow traffic and create safer conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists?
GOAL: Appropriate street widths allow narrower lanes for certain street types, thereby reducing overall imperviousness.
WHY: The width of travel lanes, parking lanes and sidewalks should be tailored to the urban setting. Where appropriate, narrowing travel lane width to 10-11 feet, rather than the standard 12-13 feet,
can significantly reduce the total amount of impervious surfaces. Such streets can also substantially improve conditions for walking, biking, and using transit, which reduces automobile use and
overall demand for parking spaces.
Implementation Tools and Policies
PtS,:: i PtS. :
Avail, Ree.orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Comprehensive plan/transportation plan emphasizes alternative modes of
transportation (walking, biking, and transit) to reduce vehicle miles traveled
and width and prominence of roads/streets.
Comprehensive/transportation plan calls for distributing traffic across several
parallel streets, reducing the need for high capacity streets with wide rights-
of-way.
Comprehensive/transportation planning process brings emergency response
and other local government departments (e.g., public works, utilities) to the
table early in the process to discuss street design.
Adopt formal bicycle/pedestrian master plan.
Create "safe routes to school" programs or other pedestrian/bike safety initiatives.
Make consistent improvements to walking/biking conditions or develop a
formal bicycle/pedestrian master plan.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Comprehensive plan endorses context-sensitive street design with narrower
streets in appropriate locations.
Improve pedestrian crossing at intersections to encourage walking.
Consolidate utilities in street right-of-way to improve sidewalk design and function.
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ImplemeMatibn Tools and Pblicies
Negotiate with state department of transportation or county transportation
department to allow different design standards for regional roads passing
through downtowns or other key areas.
Pis, >,...-, M$>,
Avail. BetJofN/A
Notes:an8 Local leference*
Promote street standards for fire safety that include attributes of narrow
streets (20 feet widths) while identifying factors relevant to local government
departments involved with streets such as public works, engineering, and utilities.
Take formal control of state or county roads within city boundaries to ensure
power over design and operations.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Developments that provide comprehensive pedestrian/bicycle circulation
systems allowed reducing number of vehicle parking spaces. (See parking
section below for greater detail.)
Developments with approved comprehensive mobility/transportation plans
allowed building narrower, less costly streets and alleys.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Revamp local government technical street specifications to allow context-
sensitive, innovative street design with narrower travel lanes, without curb
and gutter, etc., in appropriate circumstances (See Institute of Transportation
Engineers Recommended Practice document below).
Emergency response professionals and other local government departments
involved with streets (e.g. public works, engineering, utilities) have endorsed
or adopted design standards for narrower neighborhood streets.
Development review process involves emergency response early on to reach
consensus on appropriate project street design and access.
Development review process requires submittal of project pedestrian/bicycle
circulation plans with safe street routes and other pedestrian/bicycle-friendly
features in addition to traffic circulation plans for larger developments.
Apply formal connectivity index7 or other measures to ensure adequate
internal street and pedestrian/bicycle connections.
Zoning/subdivision regulations require minimum number of connections
between new project and surrounding developments and neighborhoods.
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Connectivity index refers to the directness of links and the density of connections in path or road network. A well-connected road or path network has many short links, numerous intersections, and minimal dead-ends (cul-de-sacs). As connectivity increases, travel
distances decrease and route options increase, allowing more direct travel between destinations, and creating a more Accessible and Resilient system. Source: Online Travel Demand Management Encyclopedia, http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm116.htm
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3.A.2
QUESTION:
GOAL:
WHY:
Are shared driveways, reduced driveway widths, two-track driveways, and rear garages and alleys encouragec
Encourage alternative forms and decreased dimensions of residential driveways and parking areas.
Off-street parking and driveways contribute significantly to the impervious areas on a residential lot. Reducing
for all single-family developments?
such dimensions can minimize the amount of stormwater
runoff from a site.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Allow developments that utilize shared driveways and rear-loaded garages to
permit overnight parking in driveways and on-street.
Development code prohibits homeowner covenants forbidding overnight
parking in driveways, on-street overnight parking, and shared driveways.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Allow developments with narrow driveways and rear-loaded garages to
reduce number of parking spaces for guests.
Zoning/subdivision regulations require minimum number of connections
between new project and surrounding developments and neighborhoods.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Shared driveways are permitted or required for single-family residential
developments.
Minimum widths for single-family driveways reduced to 9 feet.
Two-track driveways are allowed by technical street/subdivision
specifications.
Single-family residential developments encouraged/required to be designed
with minimum percentage of alley-accessible, rear-loading garages.
Alleys/garages encouraged = 1 points
Alleys/garages required = 2 points
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GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS AND STREET DESIGN
QUESTION: Are major street projects required to integrate green infrastructure practices as a standard part of construction, maintenance, and improvement plans?
GOAL: Formally integrate green infrastructure into standard roadway construction and retrofit practice.
WHY: Consistent projects to improve or repair streets provide opportunities to include green infrastructure retrofits as part of larger project budget, design, and construction.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pis. : Pts. i
Avail. Rec. or IWA
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Comprehensive/transportation plans promote green infrastructure practices in
street design.
Street project cost estimates include green infrastructure designs and assess
cost savings from reduced hard infrastructure.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Technical street specifications allow/require integration of green
infrastructure elements into street project construction.
Allow street-side swales to replace conventional curb and gutter for
managing stormwater and for separating sidewalks from street traffic in
appropriate circumstances.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Undertake consistent effort to secure state and federal funds (e.g.,
transportation enhancements) to pay for green infrastructure elements.
Streets with green infrastructure count towards stormwater requirements.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt green infrastructure retrofit standards for major street projects.
Adopt technical specifications and design templates for green infrastructure
in private and public rights-of-way.
All local road projects required to allocate a minimum amount of the total
project cost to green infrastructure elements.
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QUESTION: Do regulations and policies promote use of pervious materials for all paving areas, including alleys, streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, and parking lots?
GOAL: Build and retrofit these surfaces with pervious materials to reduce stormwater runoff and its negative impacts.
NOTE: While eliminating sidewalks or placing sidewalks on only one side of the road can reduce impervious cover, this strategy is typically most appropriate for rural areas. However, other
effective strategies can achieve the same runoff reductions that will not limit residents' options for recreation and transportation.
WHY: Streets, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces contribute a large portion to a municipality's total imperviousness. Making these impervious surfaces more permeable protects water quality, reduces
flooding, and can recharge groundwater.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Sponsor/approve pilot programs to determine appropriate pervious materials
for different paving areas (e.g., permeable concrete for sidewalks, permeable
pavers for driveways), as well as process for installation and maintenance.
Pilot project results incorporated into standard practice for all new paved
areas and retrofits of existing paved surfaces.
Adopt policy to replace impervious materials with pervious materials where
practical.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Technical street specifications allow pervious paving materials in appropriate
circumstances (e.g., not allowed over aquifer recharge areas).
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Create formal program offering incentives (e.g., cost sharing, reduction in
street widths/parking requirements, assistance with maintenance) to property
owners who utilize pervious pavement elements.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt requirement that some percentage of parking lots, alleys, or roads in a
development utilize pervious materials.
Development approvals that allow/require use of pervious materials include
requirements for continuing maintenance/cleaning of pervious surfaces.
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Total score for SECTION 3: DESIGN
COMPLETE, SMART STREETS THAT REDUCE
OVERALL IMPERVIOUSNESS
This section has been reviewed and scored by
Department name
Signee
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Resources
Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for
Walkable Communities, Institute of Transportation Engineers: http://www.
ite.org/css/(Ch. 6, pages. 65-87)
"Neighborhood Street Design Guidelines: An Oregon Guide for Reducing
Street Widths," Oregon Department of Transportation and Department of
Land Conservation and Development: http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/docs/
publications/neighstreet.pdf
University of California, Davis Sustainable Transportation Center
Sustainable Streets Project: http://stc.ucdavis.edu/outreach/ssp.php
New York High Performance Infrastructure Guidelines: http://www.
designtrust. org/pubs/05_HPIG.pdf
Stormwater Guidelines for Green, Dense Redevelopment: Stormwater
Quality Solutions for the City of Emeryville: http://www.ci.emeryville.
ca.us/planning/pdf/stormwater_guidelines.pdf
"Sustainable Green Streets and Parking Lots Design Guidebook," San
Mateo County, California Water Pollution Prevention Program: http://www.
flowstobay.org/ms_sustainable_streets.php
Green Streets: Innovative Solutions for Stormwater and Stream Crossings,
Portland Metro: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/
id=26335
Green Highways Partnership between U.S. EPA, U.S. Federal Highway
Administration and Maryland State Highway Administration: http://www.
greenhighways. org/
Protecting Water Quality with Smart Growth Strategies and Natural
Stormwater Management in Sussex County, Delaware: http://www.epa.
gov/smartgrowth/pdf/2009_ 0106_sussex_county.pdf
Promoting Sustainable Transportation Through Site Design: An Institute of
Transportation Engineers Proposed Recommended Practice: http://www.
cite7.org/Technical_Projects/Final%20Proposed%20Recommended%20
Practice%20RP-035.pdf
Transportation is about Places, Project for Public Spaces: http://www.pps.
org/transportation/
Case Studies
The Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis conducts
research and develops policies to design transportation systems that
minimize the impacts of roads on landscapes and communities: http://
roadecology. ucdavis. edu/
Houston, Texas's Urban Corridor Planning changes development
regulations and infrastructure standards to support transit ridership and
walkability in key corridors: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Urban/
urban_cor.html
San Francisco, California's Better Streets Plan created a common set of
standards and guidelines for designing, building and maintaining more
pedestrian friendly sidewalks, crosswalks, and roadways, including
extensive greening: http://www.sfbetterstreets.org
Portland, Oregon's Green Streets Program includes design specifications
for swales, planters and curb extensions, creative funding for projects that
treat runoff from public rights-of-way, case studies, tours, and videos of
public and private green street projects: http://www.portlandonline.com/
BES/index.cfm?c=44407
Seattle, Washington's Right-of-Way Improvements Manual outlines the
requirements and permitting process for right-of-way improvements, as
well as provides specific design criteria and model templates for submitting
street design concepts: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/rowmanual/
Florida Department of Transportation developed Model Regulations and
Plan Amendments for Multimodal Transportation Districts, including
regulation changes related to traffic calming, parking, sidewalks and
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and incentives for developments located
in multimodal transportation districts: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/
systems/sm/los/pdfs/MMTDregs.pdf
New York Department of Transportation's Sustainable Streets Strategic
Plan includes an initiative to retrofit underused roads into public plazas,
streamlining design review for capital projects, and goals to connect tree
pits for better surface drainage, among other Stormwater management
improvements: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/stratplan.shtml
Chicago, Illinois's Green Alley Program retrofits existing alleys with
permeable pavement for better Stormwater management, localized flood
mitigation, heat reduction, material recycling, and energy conservation:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_
EDITORIAL/GreenAlleyHandbooLpdf
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North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources offers
guidance to developers on eliminating curbs and gutters, including siting
and design considerations, maintenance concerns, effectiveness and cost
considerations: http://www.p2pays. org/ref/41/40403.pdf
New York City requires street trees for every 25 feet of street frontage of
a zoning lot: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/street_tree_planting/tree_
adopted_cc_043008.pdf, page 8.
Seattle Public Utilities' Natural Drainage System projects redesign
residential streets to include vegetated drainage systems that use swales,
wetlands, trees and other natural features to treat pollutants and minimize
the speed and volume of road runoff: http://www.seattle.gov/utU/About_
SPU/Drainage_&_Sewer_System/Natural_Drainage_Systems/
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4 ENCOURAGE EFFICIENT PARKING
4.A REDUCED PARKING REQUIREMENTS
4.A.1
QUESTION: Does your local government provide flexibility regarding alternative parking requirements (e.g., shared parking, off-site parking) and discourage over-parking of developments?
Do parking requirements vary by zone to reflect places where more trips are on foot or by transit?
GOAL: Match parking requirements to the level of demand and allow flexible arrangements to meet parking standards.
WHY: Inflexible parking requirements that do not allow for alternative approaches, as well as standards that require too much parking for specific uses increase the amount of impervious surface in a
development. Over-parking a development also encourages greater vehicle use and detracts from the overall pedestrian environment.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts, .: ;
Avail. Ree. or N/A'
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
The comprehensive plan recognizes the advantages to reduced parking
requirements generally and specifically for mixed-use and transit-oriented
developments.
The comprehensive plan recommends alternative, flexible approaches to
meeting parking demands (e.g., shared parking, counting on-street spaces
towards site parking requirements).
Comprehensive/bicycle plans recommend provision of bicycle parking
spaces/storage lockers and concomitant reduction in vehicle parking space
requirements.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Allow flexibility in meeting parking space requirements through shared
parking, off-site parking, and similar approaches.
Permit businesses with different peak demand periods to share their required
parking spaces.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Permit reduction in vehicle parking spaces through the provision of a minimum
number of bicycle parking spaces.
Allow by-right reduction in required parking spaces (e.g., 25%) in mixed-use
and transit-oriented developments and districts.
Permit developers to undertake parking studies to establish that specific
developments (e.g., senior housing, affordable housing) require fewer parking
spaces than typical projects.
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i mpfern feRtatio n fools and Poll cies
Create parking districts to finance/construct centralized parking lots/
structures as shared parking facilities to reduce on-site parking.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Revise parking regulations to reduce minimums below standard ITE (Institute
of Transportation Engineers) requirements based on analysis of local
developments and actual parking demand/experience.
Charge developers for every space beyond parking minimums to offset
environmental impacts.
Enact parking standards that allow credit for adjacent on-street parking.
Create zones with reduced parking requirements (e.g., transit overlay districts,
mixed-use activity centers, multi-modal districts).
Waive all parking minimums in downtown and other locations that are
pedestrian-oriented and/or have good transit access.
Adopt parking standards that reduce requirements based on sliding scale tied
to degree of walkability/transit access locations (20% reduction in areas well
served by bus, 30% reduction in areas served by rail stations).
Require shared parking agreements where appropriate complementary uses
exist.
Adopt maximum parking caps (e.g., 125% above minimum) for multi-family
and commercial developments.
Reduce minimum parking space size based on analysis of average vehicle size
in jurisdiction.
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4.B TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
4.B.1
QUESTION: Can developers use alternative measures such as transportation demand management or in-lieu payments to reduce required parking?
GOAL: Provide flexibility to reduce parking in exchange for specific actions that reduce parking demands on site.
WHY: Incentives such as transit passes, vanpool arrangements, flexible work schedules, market-priced facilities, and separate leasing for spaces in apartments and condominiums have quantifiable
impacts on parking demand. Incorporating them into parking requirements creates the opportunity to meet demand with less impervious cover.
ImplementationTotals and Policies
Pts,: Pts; ;
Avail. Red. m N/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Comprehensive/transportation plans recognize transportation demand
management as an approach to reducing vehicle miles traveled and parking
requirements.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Rather than include parking spaces with an apartment lease, allow tenants to
opt-out by treating parking as a separate optional lease agreement.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Allow businesses that offer employee transit passes, provide vans for
employee commuting, allow flexible working arrangements, or charge market
rates for parking to 1) provide fewer parking spaces or 2) pay less into a
parking district fund for required parking spaces.
Allow developers to make in-lieu fee payments for parking. Fees utilized by
local government/parking authority to provide off-site parking lots/structures.
Provide mechanisms for car sharing in transit-oriented development. Where
done, area parking requirements are reduced.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Create a parking district and allow/require businesses to support public
garages rather than provide their own on-site parking.
Require large developments to adopt transportation demand management
techniques to lower vehicle use and parking demand.
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MINIMIZE STORMWATER FROM PARKING LOTS
4 Q1 QUESTION: Are there requirements for landscaping designed to minimize stormwater in parking lots?
GOAL: Require substantial landscaping to help reduce runoff.
WHY: Parking lots generate a large amount of impervious cover. Requiring landscaping reduces the environmental impact of parking and can provide additional community benefits by providing shade
and, if appropriately placed, creating natural barriers between pedestrians and cars.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts, Pts,
Avail. Ree. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Comprehensive plan calls for landscaping in parking lots to help reduce
stormwater runoff.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Allow alternative or innovative landscaping solutions that provide stormwater
management functions to count towards perimeter or other landscaping
requirements.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Parking lot landscaping and green roofs on parking structures credited
towards meeting local stormwater management requirements.
Give additional landscaping credit for preservation of large, mature trees
within parking lots.
Do not count parking structures with green roofs against the allowable floor
area ratio of a site.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Adopt parking lot landscape regulations that require provision of trees,
minimum percent of parking lot interior area to be landscaped (e.g., 10%), and
minimum sized landscaping areas (e.g., minimum of 25 square feet for island
planting areas).
In parking lot landscaping regulations, specify the types and sizes of shrubs
and trees most appropriate for controlling/reducing stormwater runoff.
Adopt standards requiring a minimum area of the parking lot to drain into
landscaped areas.
Require the management of runoff from parking lots through green
infrastructure practices, including trees, vegetated islands, swales, rain
gardens, or other approaches.
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Implementation Tools and Policies
Enact specific alternative landscaping and parking regulations to support infill
development (parking requirements, parking lot landscaping options that focus
on perimeter landscaping to encourage smaller lots, etc.).
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
Require parking structures to incorporate green roofs to reduce stormwater
runoff.
Reduce drive aisle widths in parking lots to decrease the amount of pervious
surface. For multi-family developments, drive aisles can be shared. In
commercial developments, typical drive aisles can be reduced 5-10%.
PAGE TOTAL
Total score for SECTION 4: ENCOURAGE
EFFICIENT PARKING
(TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE: 41)
This section has been reviewed and scored by
Department name
Signee
ourag
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Resources
"Parking Spaces/Community Places: Finding the Balance through
Smart Growth Solutions" (pg. 14, 18-19, 21), U.S. EPA Development,
Community and Environment Division: http://www.epa.gov/piedpage/pdf/
EPAParkingSpaces06.pdf
"Shared Parking, Second Edition," Urban Land Institute: www.uli.org/
bookstore/
"Developing Parking Policies to Support Smart Growth in Local
Jurisdictions: Best Practices," Metropolitan Transportation Commission:
http:/Avww.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/parking_study/April07/
bestpractice_ 04230 7.pdf
"Driving Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices,"
Maryland Governor's Office of Smart Growth: http://www.smartgrowth.
state.md.us/pdf/Final%20Parking%20Paper.pdf
"Design Principles for Parking Lots," Tennessee Valley Authority
Economic Development: http://www.tvaed.com/sustainable/parking.htm
Efficient Parking Strategies, Centralina Council of Governments and
Catawba Regional Council of Governments: http://www.epa.gov/region4/
airqualitytoolkit/9_CaseStudies/SEQL%20-%20Efficient%20Parking%20
Strategies.pdf
"Parking Management: Strategies, Evaluation and Planning," Victoria
Transport Policy Institute: http://www.vtpLorg/park_man.pdf
"Smart Growth Alternatives to Minimum Parking Requirements,"
Proceedings from the 2nd Urban Street Symposium, July 28-30, 2003:
http://transtoolkit.mapc.org/Parking/Referenced_pdfs/Forinash_
SmartGrowthParkingA Item atives.pdf
"Flexible Parking Standards," Georgia Quality Growth Partnership: http://
www. dca. state.ga. us/toolkit/ToolDetail asp ? GetTool=l 7
"Multifunctional Landscaping: Putting Your Parking Lot Design
Requirements to Work for Water Quality," University of Illinois Extension:
http://urbanext.minois.edu/lcr/LGIEN2002-0017.html
"Low-Impact Parking Lot Design Reduces Runoff and Pollutant Loads,"
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 2001: http://cedb.
asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0101775
"Managing Stormwater for Urban Sustainability Using Trees and
Structural Soils," Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University:
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/urbanforestry/stormwater/Resources/
TreesAndStructuralSoilsManuaLpdf
Case Studies
San Mateo County, California's "Sustainable Green Streets and Parking
Lots Design Guidebook" provides policy guidance and design and
construction details, including site layout strategies, green infrastructure
design guidelines and case studies for both streets and parking lots: http://
www.flowstobay.org/ms_sustainable_streets.php
Minneapolis, Minnesota's zoning code includes regulations to support
pedestrian-oriented off-street parking, including parking maximums, shared
parking allowances, pedestrian-overlay districts with reduced parking
requirements, replacing off-street parking spaces with bicycle racks, and
more: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/lrtrezoning/tod-haiwatha-09.asp
Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council gives detailed guidance for
reducing parking demand and developing parking requirements based
on local factors such as access to transit, expected demographics, auto
ownership rates and access to destinations and transit service: http://
transtoolkit. mapc. org/Parking/Strategies/flexiblerequirements. htm
San Diego, California's Community Parking District Program helps older
commercial districts collect revenue and implement parking plans to
construct public parking facilities, make public transit enhancements, and
maximize off-street parking inventory: http://www.sandiego.gov/economic-
development/business-assistance/small-business/pmd.shtml
Placer County, California enacted an In-Lieu Parking Fee that allows
developments within specific parking districts to pay a fee in lieu of
complying with off-street parking standards. The collected fees are then
used to construct new public parking spaces within the same parking
district: http://www.phicer. ca.gov/Departments/Works/TahPkngStudy/
DraftParkingFeeOrdinance. aspx
Minnesota's Urban Small Sites Best Management Practice Manual provides
drawings, design guidelines and plant lists for impervious surface reduction
in parking lot design: http://km.fao.org/uploads/media/Impervious_
surface_reduction_parking_lot_desing.pdf
The retrofit of Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish parking lot in Chicago,
Illinois included a large swale that absorbs 100,000 gallons of runoff
per year, reducing flooding in the parking lot and in nearby streets and
properties. This U.S. EPA-funded project continues to be monitored for
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performance data: http://www.cnt.org/natural-resources/demonstration-
projects/olgh-case-study
The Florida Aquarium Parking Lot and Queuing Garden in Tampa, Florida
maximizes existing site vegetation for stormwater management and
provides education to Aquarium visitors. This website includes construction
cost information, lessons learned, monitoring results and maintenance
protocols: http://www.sustainablesites.org/cases/show.php?id=16
Several parking lot demonstration sites in Blacksburg, VA, Ithaca, NY
and Davis, CA provide details about newly constructed parking lots and
retrofitted lots that include trees, structural soils and pervious pavements for
managing stormwater: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/urbanforestry/stormwater/
DemonstrationSites. html
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5 ADOPT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
5.A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES
5.A.1
QUESTION: Are green infrastructure practices encouraged as legal and preferred for managing stormwater runoff?
GOAL: Make all types of green infrastructure allowed and legal and remove all impediments to using green infrastructure (including for stormwater requirements), such as limits on infiltration in rights-of-
way, permit challenges for green roofs, safety issues with permeable pavements, restrictions on the use of cisterns and rain barrels, and other such unnecessary barriers.
WHY:
Green infrastructure approaches are more effective and cost efficient than conventional stormwater management practices in many instances, and provide other substantial community benefits.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts, .: ;
Avail. Ree. or N/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Inform the public, through education and outreach programs, that green
infrastructure practices can manage stormwater runoff on their property.
Create a green infrastructure workshop or training program for internal and
external reviewers to ensure that the stakeholders who use this tool will have
the ability to understand and use it effectively.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Development and other codes encourage and allow property owners to adopt
home-based green infrastructure practices, such as rain gardens, rain barrels,
and other rainwater harvesting practices.
Review and change, where necessary, building codes or other local
regulations to ensure that all local government departments/agencies
have coordinated with one another to ensure that green infrastructure
implementation is legal, e.g. remove restrictions on downspout disconnection.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Credit green infrastructure practices towards required controls for stormwater
runoff.
Establish a "Green Tape" expedited review program for applications that
include green infrastructure practices.
Reduce stormwater utility rates based on the use of green infrastructure
practices.
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Implementation Tools and Policies
PtS, PtS. :
Avail. Rec, or N/A
Notes and Local References
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Zoning and subdivision regulations specifically permit green infrastructure
facilities, including but not limited to: (1 point for each technique to a
maximum of 4 points)
Green roofs;
Infiltration approaches, such as rain gardens, curb extensions, planter
gardens, permeable and porous pavements, and other designs where the
intent is to capture and manage stormwater using soils and plants;
Water harvesting devices, such as rain barrels and cisterns; and
Downspout disconnection.
1to
4
Developers are required to meet stormwater requirements using green
infrastructure practices where site conditions allow. Developers must
provide documentation for sites that do not allow on-site infiltration, reuse,
or evapotranspiration to meet locally determined performance stormwater
management standards.
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5 A 2 QUESTION: Do stormwater management plan reviews take place early in the development review process?
GOAL: Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into the early stages of development review/site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.
WHY: Pre-site plan review is an effective tool for discussing with developers alternative approaches for meeting stormwater requirements. This will incorporate green infrastructure techniques into new
projects at early design stages, well before construction begins.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Encourage/require a pre-site plan meeting with developers to discuss
stormwater management and green infrastructure approaches.
Voluntary = 1 point
Mandatory = 2 points
1to
2
Include landscape architects in design and review of stormwater management
plans.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Provide accelerated review of projects where developer attended a pre-
application meeting.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Preliminary stormwater plan review occurs contemporaneously with
preliminary site plan review and before any development approvals.
Development applications must include preliminary/conceptual stormwater
management plans that incorporate green infrastructure elements and
describe how stormwater management standards will be met.
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5 A3 QUESTION: Do local building and plumbing codes allow harvested rainwater for exterior uses, such as irrigation, and non-potable interior uses, such as toilet flushing?
GOAL: Ensure that the municipality allows and encourages stormwater reuse for non-potable uses.
WHY: Stormwater reuse is important for dense, urban areas with limited spaces for vegetated green infrastructure practices.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Local government provides information brochures/manual for homeowners
describing acceptable rainwater harvesting techniques.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Local development, building, and plumbing codes updated to allow reuse of
stormwater for non-potable purposes.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Reduce stormwater management facility requirements for developments
employing comprehensive rainwater harvesting.
Reduce stormwater utility rates based on the use of harvest and reuse
techniques.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Require developments to adopt rainwater harvesting techniques as elements
of stormwater management plans.
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QUESTION: Are provisions available to meet stormwater requirements in other ways, such as off-site management within the same sewershed or "payment in lieu" of programs, to the extent that on-site
alternatives are not technically feasible?
GOAL:
WHY:
Allow off-site management of runoff while still holding developers responsible for meeting stormwater management goals.
In some cases, it is impracticable or infeasible to treat all or even some of the stormwater runoff on site. In such instances, alternative means should be provided through contribution to off-site
mitigation projects or off-site stormwater management facilities (preferably green infrastructure facilities).
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec, or N/A
For infill and redevelopment areas, off-site green stormwater management
plans should be developed in cooperation between local government and
landowners/developers. Allowing off-site management of stormwater runoff
requires sewershed designation within the local government to ensure that
true mitigation is possible and realize the equal stormwater management and
water quality benefits through off-site management.
Retrofit projects that will utilize green infrastructure stormwater management
techniques should be identified and prioritized within the sewershed.
Amend stormwater management regulations and development codes as
necessary to allow off-site stormwater management, especially for infill and
redevelopment areas.
Establish system that allows/requires payment-in-lieu fees for off-site
stormwater management facilities. Fees should be set sufficiently high as to
cover the true cost of off-site management. Consider limitations on amount of
off-site management allowed (more for infill areas, less for greenfield sites).
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QUESTION: Does your stormwater ordinance include monitoring, tracking, and maintenance requirements for stormwater management practices?
GOAL: Incorporate monitoring, tracking, and maintenance requirements for stormwater management practices into your municipal stormwater ordinance.
WHY: These measures will help ensure that the successful tracking and monitoring of green infrastructure practices remain in proper working condition to provide the performance required by the
stormwater ordinance.
Implementation Tools and Policies
Pts, Pts,
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
ADOPT PLANS/EDUCATE:
Develop a system to monitor and track stormwater management practices
deployed at greenfield and redevelopment sites. Tracking of management
practices should begin during the plan review and approval process with
a database or geographic information system (GIS). The database should
include both public and private projects.
Provide model checklist for maintenance protocols for ease of inspection,
tracking, and enforcement.
Sponsor demonstration projects for green infrastructure management best
practices.
REMOVE BARRIERS:
Ensure that proper local agencies have authority to enforce maintenance
requirements.
ADOPT INCENTIVES:
Create self-inspection maintenance certification program that allows
developers/landowners to train/retain private inspectors to certify compliance
with stormwater management plans and long-term maintenance.
ENACT REGULATIONS:
Require long-term maintenance agreements that allow for public inspections
of the management practices and account for transfer of responsibility in
leases and/or deed transfers.
Conduct inspections every 3 to 5 years, prioritizing properties that pose the
highest risk to water quality, inspecting at least 20% of approved facilities
annually.
Develop a plan approval and post-construction verification process to ensure
compliance with stormwater standards, including enforceable procedures for
bringing noncompliant projects into compliance.
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Implementation Tools and Policies
Inspections of construction sites occur at for at least 25% of permitted
projects to ensure proper installation of approved practices.
Pts. Pts.
Avail. Rec. orN/A
Notes and Local References
Require conservation/green infrastructure bond/escrow in zoning/subdivision
ordinances to ensure installation/maintenance of green infrastructure storm
water management facilities.
PAGE TOTAL
Total score for SECTION 5: GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
This section has been reviewed and scored by
Department name
Signee
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Resources
Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook, U.S. EPA Green Infrastructure
website: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/munichandbook.
cfm
A Catalyst for Community Land Use Change, National NEMO Network
2008 Progress Report with local regulations for water quality protection:
http://nemonet. uconn. edu/about_network/publications/2008_report. htm
Public Entity Environmental Management System Resource Center: http://
peer center, net/
Environmental Management System, U.S. EPA: http://epa.gov/ems/
"The Economics of Low-Impact Development: A Literature Review,"
EcoNorthwest: http://www.econw.com/reports/ECONorthwest_Low-
Impact-Development-Economics-Literature-Review.pdf
"Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID)
Strategies and Practices," U.S. EPA Office of Water: http://www.epa.gov/
owaw/nps/lid/costs07/
New York City's PlaNYC for Water: http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/
html/plan/water.shtml
Puget Sound Partnership Low Impact Development Local Regulation
Assistance Project: http://www.psparchives.com/out_work/stormwaterAid/
lid_regs.htm
Massachusetts Low Impact Development Toolkit: http://www.mapc.org/
regional_planmng/LID/PDFs/LID%20Local%20Codes%20Checklist.pdf
Plan Review checklist and flow chart, Office of Watersheds, Philadelphia
Water Department: http://www.phillyriverinfo.org/WICLibrary/
DevelopmentProcess_Finalpdf
General Factors that Influence the Selection of Stormwater Management
Facilities, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services: http://www.
portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=129055
Operations and Maintenance of Treatment Best Management Practices,
Santa Clara Valley Urban Pollution Prevention Program: http://www.
scvurppp-w2k.com/om_workproduct_links.htm
Stormwater Center Maintenance Agreements Guidance and Case Studies:
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Manual_Builder/Maintenance_
Manual/4Maintenance_Agreements/Maintenance%20Agreements%20
Introduction.htm
Case Studies
Alachua County, Florida's Stormwater regulation requires that developers
reduce impervious surfaces via vertical construction and alternative
parking surfaces and use site contours and minimize disturbance to existing
natural features: http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/compplanning/
amended_docs/ORDstormCPA-06-01finalpdf
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Stormwater regulation requires that projects
infiltrate/manage the first 1" of rainfall from all directly connected
impervious surfaces and exempts redevelopment projects from flood
control and channel protection requirements: http://www.phillyriverinfo.
org/Programs/SubprogramMain.aspx?Id=Regulations
Portland, Oregon's Stormwater requirement uses a mandatory hierarchy that
requires on-site infiltration with surface vegetation above all other practices
http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=35122 (Chapter 1, page
1-18)
Emeryville, California's Stormwater guidelines for dense green
redevelopment provide guidance on using green infrastructure in high
density, infill sites: http://ca-emeryville.civicplus.com/DocumentView.
asp?DID=144
Portland, Oregon's Ecoroof Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Bonus allows
developers to increase a building's footprint or floor area for projects
that include an ecoroof: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.
cfm?a=236916&c=48725
Chicago Department of Construction and Permits has a Green Permit
Program that offers expedited permits and waived permit review fees
for projects that meet a series of green building requirements, including
exceptional water management and green roof criteria: http://egov.
city
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Seattle, Washington's Green Factor is an amended landscape requirement
that property owners meet via a scoring system that encourages green
features such as large plants, permeable pavement, green roofs, vegetated
walls and tree preservation: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/permits/
greenfactor/Overview/
San Jose, California's stormwater regulation requires that projects with
10,000 square feet or more of impervious surface area use landscape-based
treatment and trees to meet quantity and quality standards: http://www.
sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/Policy_6-29_Memo_Revisions.pdf
Santa Monica, California's stormwater code requires that new development
projects maximize permeable areas, maximize runoff to permeable areas,
reuse stormwater, and reduce parking lot pollution: http://www.smgov.
net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OSE/Categories/Urban_Runoff/UR_
Brochure.pdf
Chicago, Illinois's stormwater regulation requires that new developments
manage 0.5" runoff from all impervious surfaces or reduce imperviousness
by 15%: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_
EDITORIAL/StormwaterManagementOrdinancel206.pdf
Lenexa, Kansas's stormwater regulation requires new developments to
manage 1.37" for water quality using a natural system treatment train
approach and also charges a fee for water quantity management which
pays for watershed-scale public projects managed by the City: http://www.
ci. lenexa.ks. us/LenexaCode/viewXRef.asp?Index=292 7
Fauquier County, Virginia's stormwater maintenance agreements
state that if maintenance is neglected the County has the authority to
perform the work and recover costs from the property owner: http://
www.fauqmercounty.gov/documents/departments/cornrndev/pdf/
SWMOrdinance.pdf (pages 12-13)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Stormwater Management Guidance
Manual provides maintenance guidelines and schedules for a range of
green infrastructure practices, from green roofs to pervious pavements
and subsurface infiltration: http://www.phillyriverinfo.org/Programs/
SubprogramMain.aspx?Id=StormwaterManual
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Development, Community and Environment Division (EPA's Smart Growth Program) prepared this scorecard in cooperation
with the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
PRINCIPALAUTHORS:
Abby Hall and Lynn Richards
CONTRIBUTORS AND REVIEWERS:
U.S. EPA Development. Community and Environment Division
Matthew Dalbey
Lynn Desautels
Kevin Nelson
Megan Susman
John Thomas
Clark Wilson
U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands. Oceans and Watersheds
Rebecca Oils
Robert Goo
Lisa Hair
Dov Weitman
U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management
Jennifer Molloy
U.S. EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Sylvia Malm
U.S. EPA Regions
Paula Estornell
Gregory Voigt
External Reviewers
Glen Abrams, Philadelphia Water Department
Michael Beezhold, Watershed Manager, Lenexa, Kansas
Michael Berkshire, Chicago Department of Planning and Development
Stephen Hofstetter, Environmental Protection Department, Alachua County,
Florida
Jessica Cogan Millman, Executive Director, National Association of Local
Government Environmental Professionals
Chris Duerksen, Clarion Associates
Frank Gray, Director of Community and Economic Development, Salt Lake
City, Utah
Greg McPherson, USDA Forest Service
Lisa Nisenson, Nisenson Consulting
Jeffrey Seltzer, District of Columbia Department of Transportation
Nancy Stoner, Natural Resources Defense Council Clean Water Program
Acknowledgments
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