The following are current projects administered by the staff of CRWP. For more information about these projects, please contact our staff. Completed project reports can be found under Publications.

Implementing Balanced Growth in the Chagrin River Watershed

Latest Update December 2007:
In September 2005, CRWP was selected as one of three pilot projects to develop watershed balanced growth plans. Through this pilot project, CRWP will work with members to develop the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan and to advance the implementation of best local land use practices. Throughout 2006, CRWP has been working with a Balanced Growth Steering Committee to develop a methodology and designate draft Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas based on best available data. These draft maps were presented at the CRWP Board of Trustees meeting on December 14, 2006. These maps will be presented to each CRWP member community and will not be finalized without local government agreement. Through this pilot, we are working with interested members to locally designate priority areas for conservation and development, and to implement best land use practices, including riparian and wetland setbacks, conservation development, and comprehensive stormwater management.
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THE OHIO LAKE ERIE COMMISSION’S BALANCED GROWTH PROGRAM

In 2004 the Ohio Lake Erie Commission finalized the Balanced Growth Program, defined as a local planning framework to coordinate decisions about how growth and conservation should be promoted by State and local investments. The Balanced Growth Program produced the following documents:

Please click here to view the pdf file "Linking Land Use and Lake Erie: A Planning Framework for Achieving Balanced Growth in the Ohio Lake Erie Watershed”

• Planning Framework: Recommends the formation of Watershed Planning Partnerships to draft Watershed Balanced Growth Plans through which communities designate Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas. These areas are defined as:
• Priority Conservation Areas are locally designated areas for protection and restoration. They may be important ecological, recreational, heritage, agricultural, and public access areas that are significant for their contribution to Lake Erie water quality and general quality of life.
• Priority Development Areas are locally designated areas where development and/or redevelopment is to be encouraged in order to maximize development potential, maximize the efficient use of infrastructure, promote the revitalization of cities and towns, and contribute to the restoration of Lake Erie.
• Best Local Land Use Practices Document: Recommends model regulations and programs for better land use and development. These are consistent with Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. (CRWP) recommendations. Please click here to view the pdf file "Linking Land Use and Lake Erie: Best Local Land Use Practices"

 For additional information on the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the Balanced Growth Program, please see http://www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo/

In April 2005 the Ohio Lake Erie Commission requested proposals for pilot projects to develop Watershed Balanced Growth Plans. The goal of these pilots is to demonstrate the possible approaches at the local level that would encourage local governments to participate in a balanced growth planning process and to implement development practices based on Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas. CRWP submitted an application under this pilot in July 2005 and was selected as one of three pilots in September. The project will begin in 2006 and run through 2008.

THE CHAGRIN RIVER BALANCED GROWTH PLAN

Through this Pilot Project CRWP will work with member local governments to develop the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan and to advance the implementation of best local land use practices. This will be done through tasks detailed in CRWP’s full proposal and will result in the following products:

Listings and maps for each community, and the watershed overall, of Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas. These will be based on best available data and community input. Listings will not be finalized without local government agreement.

A methodology for developing these designations and a process for revising these lists and maps.

Two updated comprehensive plans in member communities incorporating Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas and associated regulatory changes necessary for implementation. CRWP will provide limited matching funds for these updates through the Pilot Project.

Implementation of the Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas will be through the tools currently available to local governments in Ohio, including comprehensive planning; zoning; land purchases; and conservation easements. These actions will be at local government direction and no actions will be imposed on communities as the result of this planning effort. We will also discuss Transfer of Development Rights programs as an additional tool to facilitate implementation of Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas.

INCENTIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN CHAGRIN RIVER BALANCED GROWTH PLAN

The benefits to a community of participating in the development of the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan include:

• Increased State assistance for local projects. State agencies, including the Departments of Transportation, Development, and Natural Resources, will review the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan as part of this Pilot Project. In doing this review, these departments may look for funding throughout the State system for appropriate and member supported projects in Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas.
• Support for Local Zoning: State endorsement of the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan, a community driven Plan to balance conservation and development, will provide additional support for low-density zoning and other tools to maintain natural resource functions as communities grow.
• Additional State Incentives: The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is coordinating with State agencies to finalize a list of other State incentives such as additional points for Clean Ohio applications.

In considering whether to participate in the Chagrin River Balanced Growth Plan it is important to note that these benefits will come at very little cost to communities. To receive these benefits, local governments will select the Priority Conservation Areas and Priority Development Areas for their community and consider comprehensive planning and zoning changes necessary to implement these designations. Such changes will be of benefit to these communities regardless of the Balanced Growth Program because they will minimize long-term infrastructure and storm water management costs.

This project is made possible by a grant from the Lake Erie Commission, Ohio Water Development Authority and the support of our Members.