Virginia Coastal Program: 1999 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY1999 Task 1.04
Grantee:
Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department
Project Title:
Analysis of Impediments to Better Site Design
Project Description as Proposed:
Project Description
Federal Funding:
$10,000
Project Contact:
Shep Moon - 804.225.3440
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The purpose of this project was to analyze impediments to the use of the Better Site Design principles through two local government case studies. The concept of Better Site Design was developed through a national site planning roundtable and includes a set of principles for reducing the adverse affects of land development on water quality. The Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department, with assistance from the Virginia Coastal Program, had previously published a document entitled Better Site Design: An Assessment of the Better Site Design Principles for Communities Implementing Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. This project was designed to help localities meet the Bay Act's requirements for minimizing impervious cover and land disturbance and preserving vegetation. During the outreach phase of this earlier project, however, many developers and local officials noted a number of impediments to the use of these principles. As a result, the Department expanded the project to gain a better understanding of these impediments through local case studies. The case studies were conducted by the Center for Watershed Protection and consisted of analysis of local ordinances and interviews with local planners and developers in James City and Richmond Counties.
Results of the case studies indicated several common barriers to Better Site Design including developers' fears of testing new designs, vague language in local codes, conflicting information between written regulations and actual practices, lack of awareness about the benefits of using the better site design principles, and excessive standards and permitting requirements. Details of the case studies, their individual findings and recommendations for removing identified impediments are included in a final report entitled Virginia Better Site Design Case Studies: James City County and Richmond County.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
