Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/15/2015

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Water -Smart Development Regulations By Elizabeth Garvin, AIcP Water, or the lack thereof, is always the subject of planning conversation in the arid and growing West. Ranking of states according to climate preparedness planning Alaska' California Maryland Massachusetts New York Oregon' Pennsylvania* Washington Wisconsin* tura) Resources Defense Council 'CeYe� Colorado Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Maine Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey North Carolina Rhode Island Vermont ategory Arizona Georgia Florida Idaho Illinois Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Nebraska Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia Wyoming Alabama Arkansas Indiana** Iowa Kansas*' Missouri Montana North Dakota Ohio South Dakota Texas`* Utah** *Denotes a state where climate preparedness activities at the state government level, although once more robust, appear to have slowed or stalled In some planning areas. **Denotes a state that has some exisiting water programs and policies (e.g., water conservation) that, if recognized as climate change adaptation tools, could provide beneficial for climate preparedness. 0 In terms of water planning, some states are better prepared than others. Category 1 states are the most prepared, while Category 4 states are the least prepared. As the population in this part of the country continues to grow, it appears that many com- munities—large and small—will need to find more creative and efficient methods to make the water they have go much further. This is not necessarily a new idea, but it is one that has gained in recognition and discussion both inside and outside of planning circles over the past decade. As historic droughts collide with population increases in typically "wet" areas of the county, planning and zoning for water conservation concepts have also taken hold the Midwest and South. This article explores how communities can better address the use of water through local regulations. As with most effective regulations, the process starts with good planning and, in some states, a good understanding of applicable water law. This article will briefly explore how water use can be influenced by pricing, and then look at the range of regulations, particularly in the areas of lot design and landscaping, available at the local level to encourage and require water conservation. PLANNING FOR WATER CONSERVATION The highest rates of per capita water usage in the U.S. occur in the dry western states, where more than half of household use goes to watering lawns and gardens (Bates 2011). In many western communities, though, the _ comprehensive plan does not specifically ad- dress water supply or conservation, and the only place local zoning and subdivision regu- lations consider water is in the requirement that the applicant "prove" the availability of adequate water for a new development. Water planning seems to have fallen between the local jurisdictional cracks of home rule, com- munity planning, public works, emergency preparedness, and regional government, not to mention the challenges of coordina- tion between private water providers and local government (see Bates 2011). There are states, such as Minnesota, Washington, North Carolina, California, Virginia, and Florida, that require local water planning, and local governments that have undertaken voluntary water planning. But for other communities there can be gaps in the planning information and process. Good plans support the best regulations, and it's hard to overemphasize the importance of considering water supply and conservation planning as part of the over- all land -use planning and development pro- cess. There are many sources available online to assist with creating a plan that addresses water conservation. The American Planning Association's Policy Guide on Water Re- sources Management identifies 10 key items that should be included in water resource and supply plans, including a "plan for water conservation and reuse, and, as appropriate, drought management and emergency contin- gency plans" (2002). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Sense Program provides water conservation plan guidelines ZONINGPRACTICE 9.15 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 2