1. 1. 2006 Chatham Conservation Partnership Mission: to develop and implement strategies for a community conservation vision that builds awareness, protection and stewardship of Chatham County's natural resources. The CCP is a collaboration of local, state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, universities, and individuals who work together on natural resource conservation programs and issues in Chatham County.
2. 2. 2011 Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Chatham County o First countywide conservation plan in NC o Inventory of Biodiversity/Wildlife Habitats, Working Lands, Recreation, and Water Resources o Highlights the economic importance of forest and water quality o Biodiversity/Wildlife Habitat and Forest Resource Analysis Funded by: Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation NC Wildlife Action Grant Program NC Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program
3. 3. Planning Tools for Pittsboro Project Goal: Develop conservation planning tools tailored to protect Pittsboros natural resources. Model Ordinances Natural Resource Conservation Ordinance Developing Tree Protection Ordinances in NC Conservation Ordinance Review Committee (CORC) Recommendations for Implementing Ordinances Analysis (Summary Reports) Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat Assessment for Pittsboro, NC Mapping of the Natural Resource Overlay District Land Cover Analysis and Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Economic Analysis of Increased Conservation
4. 4. Model Natural Resource Conservation Ordinance NCWRC & Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions o Encourages the conservation of the most sensitive wildlife habitats o Natural Resource Conservation Overlay District o Requires site survey, set aside, and impervious surface limit. o Defines local significant natural resources
5. 5. No significant natural resources were identified by the site survey Significant Natural Resources were identified by the site survey Significant Natural Resources need to be conserved Significant Natural Resources are of the highest priority. A On over 50% of the tract Verified Significant Natural Resources On 25% of the tract A B C D Model Natural Resource Conservation Ordinance How the Natural Area Set Aside Works
6. 6. Developing Tree Protection Ordinances in NC Duke Nicholas Institute & NCFS Urban Forestry Program o Target NC communities o Mitigates some of the impact of development and redevelopment to the tree canopy. o Creates a framework for communities to follow in deciding how to protect trees. o Protection is tied to retention of Tree Canopy o Recommends mapping of Specimen Trees
7. 7. Section III. Tree Protection Standards A. Minimum Tree Canopy Requirements 15% canopy coverage for downtown district 30% multi-family, commercial 40% institutional, mixed use, and other Single - and two-family residential: Lot Size Minimum Canopy Coverage < 10,000 SF (.2 ac) 20% 10,000 20,000 SF 30% 20,001 40,000 SF 40% 40,001 80,000 SF 50% >80,000 SF 60% Developing Tree Protection Ordinances in NC CORC Recommendations for Tree Protection Ordinance
8. 8. Conservation Ordinance Review Committee Goal: develop recommendations to present to the Town of Pittsboro on the optional provisions of the Model Natural Resource Conservation Ordinance and the Model Tree Protection Ordinance. 1. Board of Commissioners 2. Planning Board 3. Recreation and Parks Board 4. Chatham County Extension 2. Pittsboro Business Association 3. Chatham Park 4. Grand Trees of Chatham 5. Town Staff
9. 9. Biodiversity / Wildlife Habitat Assessment Compilation and Ranking of Conservation Data
10. 10. Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat Assessment
11. 11. Mapping the Natural Resource Overlay District
12. 12. Mapping of the Natural Resource Overlay District CORC Recommendation
13. 13. Land Cover Analysis and Urban Tree Assessment Report Global Ecosystem Center Land Cover Classification o 2013 NLCD o High Resolution Classification Canopy Assessment Ecosystem Service Analysis
14. 14. Land Cover Analysis and Urban Tree Assessment Report High Resolution Classification (1 to 3 m)
15. 15. Pollution and Stormwater Reductions due to Tree Canopy Pittsboro, North Carolina - Ecosystem Analysis Area of Study Total Area Trees Trees Air Pollution Removal Air Pollution Removal Value Carbon Stored Carbon Sequester Stormwater Saved Stormwater Value @ $3 per ft3 Acres Acres % lbs/yr $ Tons ft3 $ Pittsboro City Boundary (1m) 2,255 1,195 53 % 116,122 $322,456 51,428 400 10,966,611 $32,899,833 ETJ Boundary (3m) 25,284 19,725 78 % 1,916,568 $5,322,074 848,802 6,608 171,062,145 $513,186,435 Land Cover Analysis and Urban Tree Assessment Report
16. 16. Economic Analysis of Conservation New England Environmental Finance Center 1 Identifies the amount of development and conservation lands 2 Estimates property valuation for 3 scenarios 3 Quantifies the reduction in gains to Pittsboro in property tax revenue 4 Describes conservation attributes that contribute to increased property value
17. 17. Region Adjusted Plan Moderate Conservation High Conservation PDD 19,699 17,019 15,897 ETJ 5,910 5,174 4,870 Total 25,579 22,193 20,767 New Dwelling Units Number of New Dwelling Units for Buildout Scenarios 1 Adjusted Plan buildable area 90% PDD and 60% ETJ 2 Moderate Conservation 35% set-aside with 80% buildable area 3 High Conservation 50% set-aside with 80% buildable area Economic Analysis of Conservation
18. 18. Economic Analysis of Conservation Conservation Attributes that Contribute to Increased Property Value 1 Local factors are key to valuation 2 Proximity to natural areas 3 Size of the open space 4 Type of open space 5 Protection status
19. 19. Thank You! Project resources housed at the Chatham Conservation Partnership Wikisite: http://chathamconservation.wikispaces.com/ Catherine Deininger cdeininger@biocenosis.org www.biocenosis.org Model Natural Resource Conservation Ordinance Wildlife Resource Commission Green Growth Toolbox: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Conserving/Programs/GreenGrowthToolbox.aspx Model Tree Protection Ordinance NC Forestry Service: http://ncforestservice.gov/Urban/pdf/treeProtection.pdf Photos by: Melissa Foshee, Joy Hewett, Simon Smith, and Catherine Deininger