Smart Growth & Water: Resources & Tools

Changing Landscapes: Anticipating Effects of Local Land Use Decisions, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources 

The Changing Landscapes workshops are part of a larger effort to help support land use decisions in the state. Participants at the workshops will evaluate a selection of decision support and impact assessment tools in an effort to determine which tools are the most accessible and useful to local decision-makers.

Midwest Spatial Decision Support System Partnership, USEPA

The goal of the Midwest Partnership for Watershed Management Decision Support Systems is to develop, promote, and disseminate web-based spatial decision support systems to help manage watersheds in the Midwest. In particular, our aim is to make these systems freely available via the Internet to local officials, natural resource managers, and the general public.

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Storm Related Amendments to Zoning Laws, Portland, OR (*PDF, 1.08 mb)

Draft of the stormwater-related amendments to the City of Portland's zoning code. The amendments to the zoning code encourage integrated stormwater management, site planning, and facility design, and will remove a conflict between the Stormwater Management Manual and regulations governing the Columbia South Shore Plan District.

Model Ordinances to Protect Local Resources

This web site helps local governments develop legal authorities to help shape development, by providing information to develop effective resource protection ordinances. Aspects that are addressed include open space development, stormwater control, operation and maintenance, aquatic buffers, erosion and sediment control, source water protection and others. Links are provided to currently operational ordinances all over the U.S.

Making New Urbanist Codes Work (*PDF, 15 kb)
Congress for the New Urbanism

How to modify codes so that they make sense and support new urbanism

New Urbanist Codes List (*PDF, 18 kb)
Congress for the New Urbanism

A listing of existing city codes and ordinances with their Web links that currently support New Urbanism principles

Smart Growth Zoning Codes: A Resource Guide (*PDF, 210 kb)
The Local Government Commission

Based on the Local Government Commission's research of more than 150 “smart growth” zoning codes from across the nation, this guidebook will help planners design a zoning code that encourages the construction of walkable, mixed use neighborhoods and the revitalization of existing places. Each chapter analyzes a critical issue -- such as design, streets and parking -- and highlights exemplary codes from across the country. The guidebook comes with a CD-ROM that contains copies of some of the best zoning codes in the United States and other resources. Order copies online from the LGC bookstore.

Codes and Ordinances Worksheet
Center for Watershed Protection

The Codes & Ordinances Worksheet, or COW, is a simple worksheet that you can use to see how the local development rules in your community stack up against the model development principles of Better Site Design.

Amending Land Use Regulations to Support Smart Growth (*PDF, 18 kb)
Congress for the New Urbanism

How To modify city regulations and codes in support of Smart Growth principles and design

Charter of the New Urbanism (*PDF, 15 kb)
Congress for the New Urbanism

an outline of principles of planning that support new urbanism and smart growth

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Putting Wetlands to Work in Your Watershed, USEPA (*PDF, 229 kb)

Developers, city planners, and elected officials can work together in local and regional efforts to incorporate wetlands into watershed planning to help meet local water quality standards or permit requirements, generate revenue for the local economy, and protect and improve plant and wildlife habitat. These case studies highlight how local governments around the country are putting wetlands to work in their watersheds.

Natural Approaches to Stormwater Management

A Web-based display of the Puget Sound Action Teams' study on using LID techniques such as soil amendments and bioretention, harvesting rooftop rainwater, and using permeable pavement to better deal with stormwater, and restore ecological water balances.

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Redevelopment Roundtable Document (*PDF, 285 kb)
Center for Watershed Protection

Model development principles, which are designed to promote more environmental-friendly redevelopment and infill projects.

An Introduction to Better Site Design
Center for Watershed Protection

This article outlines the 22 model development principles and provides supporting data for their use.

Harford County Consensus Agreement (*PDF, 218 kb)
Center for Watershed Protection

County code, ordinance and regulation changes to support reduced environmental impacts from residential and commercial construction.

Frederick County Consensus Agreement (*PDF, 426 kb)
Center for Watershed Protection

This document in .PDF format exemplifies how Frederick County, MD adapted the 22 site design principles for application in their community through a Local Site Planning Roundtable process.

Ecologically Based Municipal Land Use Planning
Lewis Publishers/CRC Press. 1999.

Provides easily understood solutions for municipal land planners dealing with urban sprawl; Emphasizes the use of new environmental indicators and includes the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) to problem solving.

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