Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criterial Manual Texas Society of Professional Engineers November 8, 2019
Regulation Overview Purpose: • Manage and protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas within the City. • Protect the natural and ecological resources that are essential elements of the City’s health and community character and which provide irreplaceable plant and wildlife habitat; • Establish a development framework for the City that is respective of private property rights, while encouraging them to be used responsibly for the benefit of the entire community; • Preserve and enhance the City’s distinctive community character and quality of life by ensuring that its natural and built environment are consistent with the community vision and values embodied in The Denton Plan. • Establish regulations that conform to the requirements of the state and federal government regarding air quality, water quality, and environmental protection. Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 2
Goals and Objectives of Criteria Manual Goal: Provide instruction on the implementation of policies set forth in the DDC Objectives: • Help residents and property owners understand the benefits of preserving ESAs • Provide developers and consultants a step-by-step guide in incorporating ESAs into their site design • Highlight the process from design to implementation • Organize the information in a clear and concise manner • Identify other sources aligned with the preservation of ESAs Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 3
Outline of the Criteria Manual Developers and Consultants Residents and Property Owners ESAs Offer Protection Developing on Developing an Description of ESA Identifying ESAs Ecological Requirements Property with ESAs Alternative ESA Plan Each ESA Maintenance Services for Each ESA Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 4
Benefits Offered by ESAs Goal: Help residents and property owners understand the benefits of preserving ESAs Objective: Relate ESAs to Denton’s vision as a community and to the community’s overall physical and economic health Economic Value per Acre per Year Energy costs and Carbon Carbon emission sequestration; reduction; $2.01M $3.06M Denitrification $1,580 Phosporus sequestration $855 Nitrogen sequestration $1,891 Pollution removal; $0.76M Carbon sequestration $63 Avoided runoff; $1.35M Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 5
Four Distinct ESAs Goal: Familiarize the reader with each of the distinct ESAs and provide information on why and how each ESA is protected Objectives: • Provide a detailed description of each of the four ESAs • Relate each ESA to the ecological services previously discussed • Discuss specific protection requirements in more detail • Provide answers to frequently asked questions and concerns • Direct the reader to other local, state and federal regulations that may apply to land development with ESAs Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 6
Developing on Property with ESAs Goal: To provide instruction and guidance to developers or consultants on developing property with ESAs in a manner that is in compliance with the regulations Objectives: • Provide instruction on how to meet the criteria for approval • Direct the reader to certain land development requirements that should be considered for site design and implementation • Provide suggested guidance for creating a site design that could maximize the goals of protecting ESAs • Direct land developers to prevent damage to the ESA during construction Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 7
Alternative ESA Plan • Goal: To provide instruction and guidance to developers or consultants on creating and implementing a successful Alternative ESA Plan (AESA) • Objectives: • Provide instruction on how to meet the AESA criteria for approval • List the elements that should be included in a comprehensive AESA • Describe the process for acquiring approval for the plan, implementing the plan, and receiving project acceptance • Provide examples of approved AESAs Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 8
ESA Maintenance Goal: Help residents and property owners understand the benefits of periodic maintenance in ESAs and offer suggested guidance on how to maintain the ecologically services offered by ESAs Objectives: • Provide guidance and a list of resources for seeking assistance for maintaining ESAs • Offer suggested inspection items for maintenance • Provide guidance for identifying invasive plants and how to remove these plants Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 9
Seeking Public Input and Adoption • August 5, 2019: Committee on the Environment reviewed a draft, held a discussion, and provided direction to staff • August 12, 2019: Introduced at a Developer Town Hall Meeting • August 14, 2019: Presented at a Lunch and Learn for Environmental Scientists • Sept. 23, 2019: Published for 30 day public comment period • Nov. 4, 2019: Developer Town Hall Meeting • Nov. 8, 2019: Texas Society of Professional Engineers • Nov. 12, 2019: City Council Work Session • Nov 21, 2019: Denton Community Development Alliance • Dec. 17, 2019: Adopt by Ordinance Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 10
Future Considerations • Field Assessment SOP • Help understand results of a field assessment • Directions for 3 rd Party scientist to complete field assessment • Property Owner’s Guide • Guide for homeowners and small property owners • Visually appealing and easy to understand • List of invasive and native plants Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 11
Questions? Christi Upton, Environmental Compliance Coordinator Nov. 8, 2019 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Criteria Manual 12
Recommend
More recommend
