Transcript Green Infrastructure Planning for working landscapes, natural resources and other open spaces.

Green Infrastructure
Planning for working landscapes, natural
resources and other open spaces
Green Infrastructure Fosters
Sense of Place
• Helps us define quality of life
• Helps us define community
• Facilitates and contains the activities that
create community
• Defines the visual character of rural working
landscapes
• Vegetation and open space have a quieting
effect
Green Infrastructure
Enhances Property Values
• Monon Trail and other greenways in
Indianapolis have increased value of homes
(CUPE study)
– Average premium paid for house within ½ mile of
greenway trail: $4,384.
– Average premium paid for house within ½ mile of
conservation corridor: $5,317.
Green Infrastructure
Enhances Property Values
• 2001 Indiana Trails Study:
– 86-95% of trail neighbors indicated they felt the
trail had either no impact or a positive impact on
their property value
– 81-93% indicated trail had no negative effect or
made it easier to sell property
Green Infrastructure Provides
Economic Benefits
• Owners of small businesses rank recreation,
parks and open space as the highest priority
in choosing a location for their new business
(Crompton, 1997)
• 1999 Economic Impact of Open Space in
New Hampshire study shows that each acre
of open space provides $1500 of economic
benefit to the state and communities
Green Infrastructure is Critical
for Environmental Health
• Health of our environment depends on how
land is used
• Plants and animals need space
• These spaces must be connected
• Natural areas also absorb and neutralize
pollutants
Green Infrastructure Has
Positive Fiscal Impact
• Numerous studies have found that tax and
other revenues from open space more than
cover the public service costs these lands
incur.
• Average cost of community services per
dollar of property tax revenue raised:
– $0.27 for commercial/industrial land uses
– $0.36 for farmland, forest, open natural areas
– $1.15 for residential development
Green Infrastructure Helps
with Stormwater Management
• Increases filtration of stormwater
• Filters and removes pollutants
• Provides valuable aquifer
recharge areas
• Protects integrity of
streambeds and rivers
• Mitigates flooding
Green Infrastructure Supports
Local Business / Ecotourism
• Landscapes attract tourism
• Farm land needed for agri-business
• Forest land needed to support Forest
Products industry
• Habitat for wildlife
• Hunting & fishing opportunities
Green Infrastructure is Critical
to Other Community Objectives
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Economic Development
Farmland protection
Preservation / enhancement of water quality
Rural character
Natural or scenic views
Historical or archaeological value
Floodplains, streams, and wetlands
Wildlife and forestland
Minimizes soil erosion
Cultural arts and attractions
Additional Thoughts
• Open space does not equal open access
• Open space is not wasted space
• Green infrastructure is appropriate for all levels
of urbanization
• Increased density with great design means
more open space for everyone
Harrison
County, Indiana
•Increasing development
pressure from Louisville
metropolitan area
•Citizen driven initiative led
to the creation of the Farm,
Forest and Open Space
Task Force by County
Commissioners in 2003
•Task Force composed of
17 residents, representing
diverse stakeholder
interests of farmers,
developers, and private
citizens
•Additional appointees
(ex-officio members)
represent the County
Planning Department,
Agricultural Extension
Agency, the Nature
Conservancy, and County
Government
Purchase of Development Rights
Program
Farm, Forest and Open Space
Task Force developed an
ordinance that would establish
a PDR program for the county
– Ordinance received first
reading at the December 20,
2005 County Commissioners
Meeting.
• Voluntary program
• Individual land owners receive
compensation for restricting future
development on property
• Development rights are permanently
removed from the property in the form
of a deed restriction
• Allows for continued farming and
timbering operations on the property
• Task force currently pursuing
partnership with non-profit land trust
to monitor properties, ensuring that
land is permanently protected
Hendricks County
• Formed a Planning with Power group.
– Subcommittee to county plan commission
• Developed conservation design subdivision
ordinance
• Keys to success:
– Formation of diverse planning group
– Daily involvement of planner or plan department
director
– Regular communication
– Key leadership to initiate / advocates
Land Use Team Module
• Available for dissemination to variety of audiences
• Covers issues such as:
– Importance of green infrastructure
– Common misconceptions
– Examples of green infrastructure
• A subsequent module will focus on nuts and bolts of
implementing a green infrastructure program in
your community
• For more information contact Linda Prokopy,
[email protected], 765-496-2221