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Balanced-growth plan nets favor in Chardon
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 29, 2009)
Balanced-growth plan nets favor in Chardon
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Chardon City Council gave the go-ahead last week to plans to incorporate a balanced-growth approach to planning for future development.
Council agreed to have staff begin drawing up maps to facilitate the plan after hearing from Rachel Webb, a loan development coordinator for the Chargrin River Watershed Partners.
Ms. Webb told council the balanced-growth plan identifies areas in the city that should be considered priorities for development or conservation. Conservation areas could include cemeteries and school property.
The idea arose, she said, from the Lake Erie Commission that was established in the 1990s. Its goals are to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, quality of water, the ecosystem and to promote economic development.
For its participation, Ms. Webb said, the city could benefit from additional state funding, which is rated by a point system. "One point may be the difference between funding and non-funding," she said.
She said Munson and Claridon townships have incorporated balanced growth into their comprehensive plans, and Newbury, Woodmere and Hunting Valley have passed resolutions endorsing it.
Chagrin River Watershed Partners needs to have 75 percent of its members participate in order to provide those incentives, Ms. Webb said. That percentage must also include 75 percent of the population and the land in the watershed area.
She said they now have about 50 percent of the members participating, which represent 47.3 percent of the population and 35.2 percent of the land area. Ms. Webb said the organization hopes to reach its goal by the end of March.
Kenneth Miller, chairman of the planning commission, said, even if the city agrees to participate, it will not restrict the city in any way in terms of development.
Councilman Robert Cromwell said much of the areas identified as conservation areas in a draft map are privately owned. He questioned how the city would enforce conservation on private properties.
Ms. Webb said the city would work with a developer in those areas, encouraging them to preserve stream corridors or other natural resources on the property.
"It doesn't take away from anything you're doing," she said. "It simply adds to your list in your process."
In Aurora, she said, officials were able to use "innovative best management practices" while situating an industrial development next to a wetlands area in the parks system.
Mr. Miller said he understands that the process attempts to control water quality in the state. But, rather than legislate it, the state is encouraging participation, he said. "I see this as an opportunity for them to do it in a positive way or something like a carrot on a stick -- for communities to do things without having legislation to enforce it."
Councilwoman Leslie Bednar said the only investment the city will have to make is the time for staff to put together a map identifying which areas should be priority for development or conservation. The return, she said, is to increase its chances for funding.
"I think it's a worthwhile project," she said.
Councilman Jefferey Campbell Jr. said the city is already doing a similar process with its planned-unit developments. He said much of the land identified for conservation in the draft map would fall in areas that would be prone to PUDs.
"In reality, this kind of fits right in line with what we're doing," Mr. Campbell said.
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