environmental mitigation

7/29/2019 Environmental Mitigation

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Environmental Protection

To Mitigation and Beyond

Julian Juergensmeyer

James Nicholas

April 12, 2003


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Where are we?

We have passed numerous laws and

regulations

destruction of the environment as defined

by some agency is illegal.

While there are undoubted achievements


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Perhaps the biggest achievement of our

environmental protection programs,

has been the evolution of a substantial

industry directed towards the non-achieve-ment of broader goals of environmental

preservation.


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The goal of the regulated industries is not

to lessen pollution but to lessen the levelof environmental protection and thus their

costs

while a host of advocacy groups demand

more, more and more preservation without

regard to those cost!


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But it seems that something has been lost

in our discussions about the environment.

Isnt the environment something that has

value? Certainly a nice neighborhood is valuable. Clean air and water are very valuable.

People will pay dearly for beautiful vistas.

Why cant we build on this?


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Julian and I were thinking!

Got any ideas?


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Do you reallythink that wecan clean upthis mess?

Maybe not,

but wecan try!


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Can we apply impact fee concepts

and methodology

which have been fairly successful

to broader questions of the

environment?


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Weve seen linkage applied to a variety

of social issues

Low income housing

Employee housing

Day care facilities

Art in public places What about the green infrastructure?


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What if Adam Smiths invisible hand

preserved rather than destroyed the

environment?


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It is not from the benevolence of

the butcher,

the brewer or the baker

that we expect our dinner,

but from their regard to their self-interest.

We address ourselves not to theirhumanity,

but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities, but

of their advantages.


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Lets talk about market based

approaches to environmental

mitigation!

Lets have people make money

preserving the environment!


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We have learned from air

emissions trading .. .


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We have learned from wetlands

mitigation banking . . .


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And we have learned

from impact fees. . .


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With an impact fee . . . We . . .

Project demographic & economicprojections

Identify lands needed to accommodate

Set levels of service for Roads

Public safety

Parks

Etc

Develop capital plans to maintain thoselevels of service

Adopt impact fees to pay for it all.


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Now, lets put them together.

First, recall what Charles Haar told us

Act in accordance with a comprehensive plan!


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So, develop a comprehensive plan thatprovides for environmental protection

Wetlands Critical Habitat

Open spaces

But the environment includes

Green spaces grass & trees A tree canopy

Cultural resources

Historic resources

Places for picnics Agriculture, cattle ranches etc.

Simply, some places that stay what theyhave been.


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Then . . .

Require that developments mustMITIGATE their impacts on the above.

But how?


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First, add land disturbance to the usualdefinitions of impact If a development is infill, it disturbs no

property

If a development is redevelopment, itdisturbs no property

It its urban sprawl, they must mitigate; Set aside green space

habitat

achieve tree canopy Or have somebody else do it for you.


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Establish or encourage the establishment

of various mitigation banks Wetlands Habitat

Open spaces

Areas with canopy Historic or cultural areas


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The Environmental Impact Fee

Impact fee schedule

Roads, $1,674 per dwelling unit

Schools, $2,771 per dwelling unit

Public safety, $679 per dwelling unit

Environment, preserve 25% of the site

or acquire credits for that acerage

or pay $____ per acre disturbed.


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