municipal planning & regulatory tools: examples from southern … · 2011-07-25 · 3. planning...

Municipal Planning & Regulatory Tools:

examples from southern Finger Lakes counties

Photo: http://www.carbontax.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Marcellus.jpg

Proactive Approaches to Managing Impacts of Marcellus Shale Development Conference, 2011 Darby Kiley, Planner, Tompkins County | Meghan Thoreau, Planner, STC

July 2011

Our priorities

 Assist municipalities as they prepare for the advancing natural gas industry

 Coordinate projects & information concerning Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration

 Provide ongoing support for the county task forces and municipalities

Photo: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hT_nZl636QU/TTIMXWXX-zI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/FarW7mVU4kA/s1600/priorities-sign1.jpg

July 2011

Natural Gas Task Forces

  Community level   Many different organization styles   Help plan and prepare for gas development   Gather and share information   Work in different political climates   Regional task forces:

http://cce.cornell.edu/EnergyClimateChange/NaturalGasDev/Pages/CommunityTaskForces.aspx

http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/service-directory/county-natural-gas-task-forces

  In the news, What’s the ‘task’ of Marcellus Shale task force? (21 June 2011)

http://www.chronicle-express.com/news/x898078031/What-s-the-task-of-Marcellus-Shale-task-force

http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/news/2011/02/clinton-county-natural-gas-task-force-hosts-meet-and-greet

Photo: http://us.cdn4.123rf.com/168nwm/kentoh/kentoh0903/kentoh090300290/4558526-workers-human-resources-task-force-on-white.jpg

July 2011

Planning TOOLS

for Energy Development

Photo: http://www.weinsuremalpractice.com/images/Tools.jpg July 2011

1. Preparing your

organization

  Integrate NGTF with government   Assign municipal staff roles and

consider new responsibilities

Photo: http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/73916.aspx July 2011

2. Baseline profiles

  Identify historical and current data   Track and project gas activity   Map, track, and project impacts   Resources:

http://gis.bakerhughesdirect.com/RigCounts/ http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/GasOil/search/wells/index.cfm http://www.fractracker.org http://www.bradfordcountypa.org/Natural-Gas.asp?specifTab=2

http://www.otsego2000.org/documents/forwebsiteMiddlefieldLandUseAnalysis-Greenplan.pdf

Photo: http://shalescoop.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/permits-pa.png July 2011

3. Planning documents

  Identify the: CEAs, future economic development areas, sensitive tourism destinations, underutilized commercial industrial properties, school districts/ bus routes

  Adopt/ update comp plan   Identify vacant/ occupied housing stock   Identify major stakeholders (including gas industry reps.)   Identify local government costs & services

Photo: http://www.innovensys.com/files/innovensys/imagecache/half/Quality-Planning-Documents-B&W.jpg July 2011

Planning resources

New York State Energy Plan http://www.nysenergyplan.com/stateenergyplan.html

Garfield County Comprehensive Plan 2030 www.garfieldcomprehensiveplan2030.com

Zoning & the Comprehensive Plan www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications/Zoning_and_the_Comprehensive_Plan.pdf

Centre Township Comprehensive Plan 2010, Phase 2 http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/compplan/

Centre County Inventory of Underutilized Commercial/ Industrial Properties http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/ccngtf/uss_2011-03.pdf

Photo: http://www.innovensys.com/files/innovensys/imagecache/half/Quality-Planning-Documents-B&W.jpg July 2011

Planning resources

Site Development Plan Review Law http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications/

Site_Development_Plan_Review.pdf

Local Government Technical Series http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications.html

Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs) http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6184.html

Model Critical Environmental Overlay Zone http://stcplanning.org/usr/Program_Areas/Energy/Naturalgas_Resources/

model_CEA_Overlay_zoning.pdf

Zoning language to prohibit or allow gas extraction in specified districts http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6184.html http://www.cedclaw.org/?page_id=598

http://www.innovensys.com/files/innovensys/imagecache/half/Quality-Planning-Documents-B&W.jpg July 2011

Planning resources

Educational Resources Cornell Cooperative Extension: natural gas development http://cce.cornell.edu/EnergyClimateChange/NaturalGasDev/

Pages/default.aspx

Penn State University: natural gas http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas

Green Choices: how to benefit the climate and your community http://www.greenchoices.cornell.edu/

Educational Webinars (related to natural gas development): http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars http://cce.cornell.edu/EnergyClimateChange/NaturalGasDev/

Pages/CornellSponsoredWebinars.aspx


Planning resources

Additional Educational Resources

State resources http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications.html http://www.nysenergyplan.com/stateenergyplan.html

New York State Legislative activity http://www.chemungcounty.com/index.asp?pageId=482

Land of the Law blog http://lawoftheland.wordpress.com/


4. Municipal regulations

  Update/ adopt:   Erosion, sedimentation, & stormwater regulations   Floodplain protection laws   Illicit discharge laws  Wellhead protection laws   Aquifer protection ordinance   Brine/ waste disposal regulations  Road use agreement (RUA)   Viewshed regulations   Site plan review law   LEED certification, green building designs, &

renewable energy initiatives

Photo: http://www.calskatemilpitas.com/images/rules_graphic1.gif July 2011

Municipal regulations

  Review commercial/ industrial water & sewer rates   Review room tax, local taxes, and definitions   Review/ adopt regulations on short-term temporary employee

housing regulations   Review/ adopt camping regulations   Review mobile home court/ RV ordinance   Consider life cycle analysis for proposed subdivisions   Create/ partner with a housing trust for renter/ owner controls


Municipal resources

Update/ adopt erosion, sedimentation, and stormwater regulations http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html

Update/ adopt floodplain regulations http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Municipal/sb_floodplain.rtf (Word download) http://www.townofotego.com/townpermits/laws/FloodDamage.pdf

Adopt aquifer protection regulations http://catskillpost.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/townofvirgilaquiferprotectionlaw20100408.pdf http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Municipal/sb_aquifer.rtf (Word download) http://town.danby.ny.us/

Adopt wellhead protection regulations http://www.tiogacountyny.com/images/stories/PDFs/government/TING/TING_RevisedResourceBinder_5_2_11.pdf http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Municipal/sb_groundwater.rtf (Word download)

Management your private water supply http://stcplanning.org/usr/Program_Areas/Energy/Naturalgas_Resources/Schuyler%20Final%20Water

%20Testing%20Guidance.pdf

Adopt LEED certification and green building design regulations http://www.greenupstateny.org/


Municipal resources

Adopt renewable energy initiatives http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/compplan/energy%20conservation.pdf

Adopt/ update road use agreement (RUA) regulations http://www.steubencony.org/naturalgastaskforce/SteubenCountyDPW_RUA.pdf http://www.steubencony.org/naturalgastaskforce/PA-RUA-Laceyville%20Borough.pdf http://www.steubencony.org/naturalgastaskforce/PA-Excess%20Maintenance%20Agreement.pdf http://www.steubencony.org/naturalgastaskforce/PA-RUA-Lemon%20township.pdf http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110410/NEWS01/104100357/Hydrofracking-debate-Southern-Tier-officials-

struggle-road-rules http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/ccngtf/road_use_maintenance_agreement.pdf

Review room tax, taxes system, and definitions (following three links will take a few moments to open)

http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/ccngtf/gas_task_forum.pdf http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/ccngtf/natural_gas_escapes_taxation.pdf http://www.co.centre.pa.us/planning/ccngtf/tax_policy_marcellus.pdf

Review/ adopt regulations on short-term temporary employee housing regulations (see Article 4-106, 4-108 & 4-109 or our land use code for more details)

http://www.garfield-county.com/building-planning/land-use-regulations.aspx


Municipal resources

Photo: http://www.calskatemilpitas.com/images/rules_graphic1.gif

Review/ adopt camping regulations (see §128-62 - temporary Shelter and associated definitions, search tip: Ctrl+f and search for camp/ camping related references for more information)

http://www.townofbethlehem.org/images/pageImages/EcoDevAndPlan/Zoning%20Law%20-%20Adopted%20082405%20Amended%20082306%20Effective%20090106.pdf#search='incentive'

Adopt viewshield regulations, inventory & map http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/i69planningtoolbox/_pdf/Scenic%20Viewshed%20Protection.pdf

Create/ partner with a housing trust for rent/ owner controls http://www.mhp.net/uploads/resources/municipal_affordable_housing_trust_guidebook.pdf http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/hoopinfo.pdf

Review/ adopt site plan review law http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lg/publications/Site_Development_Plan_Review.pdf http://www.townofbethlehem.org/images/pageImages/EcoDevAndPlan/Zoning%20Law%20-%20Adopted

%20082405%20Amended%20082306%20Effective%20090106.pdf#search='incentive’ (search tip: Ctrl+f and search for site plan related references for more information)

http://www.townofotego.com/townpermits/laws/SitePlanReview.pdf

July 2011

5. Zoning codes

  Review/ adopt:   light ordinance & noise ordinance   Industry terminology/ zoning definitions & uses

  incentive overlay zoning   agricultural zoning ordinance   plan unit development (PUD) zoning   zoning districts in urban/ business center to permit dense

mixed-use   Consider amending zoning language to prohibit or

allow gas extraction in specified districts

Photo: http://www.umass.edu/larp/images/logos/cutout%20tranparent%20leaf.png July 2011

Zoning resources

Adopt light ordinance & noise ordinance http://www.tiogacountyny.com/images/stories/PDFs/government/TING/TING_RevisedResourceBinder_5_2_11.pdf http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/Municipal/sb_outdoorlights.rtf (Word download)

Industry terminology & municipal definitions http://stcplanning.org/usr/Program_Areas/Energy/Naturalgas_Resources/DRAFT%20Garfield%20County%20Natural%20Gas

%20Development%20Navigation%20Guide%20.pdf

Adopt incentive overlay zoning http://www.dca.state.ga.us/intra_nonpub/Toolkit/guides/incntvZng.pdf http://www.behanplanning.com/bpafiles/F_DRUM/Final/I%20-%20Incentive%20Zoning%20Ordinance.pdf http://www.seattle.gov/planningcommission/docs/SPC_IncZon.pdf

Amend zoning district in urban business center to permit dense mixed-use http://www.planning.org/research/smartgrowth/pdf/section41.pdf

Amend zoning language to prohibit or allow gas extraction in specified districts (see towns of Dryden, Ithaca, & Ulysses – regulations under development)

http://www.celdf.org/issues-gas-drilling-communities http://www.cedclaw.org/?page_id=598 http://dryden.ny.us/information/gas-drilling-info http://www.ulysses.ny.us/proposed-local-law-6-14-2011.pdf

Photo: http://www.umass.edu/larp/images/logos/cutout%20tranparent%20leaf.png July 2011

Different approaches

  Tompkins County  prohibit or limit gas extraction to specified

districts   Chemung, Schuyler, & Steuben

Counties  regulate the secondary effects of energy

development

Photo: http://www.sheirakahn.com/home/sheira/images/treatment_approches.gif July 2011

Leased Land in Tompkins County

39% of the land in Tompkins County is leased, by 6% of the adult, non-student residents of the County

Image: http://www.tcgasmap.org July 2011

Photo: http://www.zombieplace.com/updating

What’s in the pipeline

  Finger Lakes Region: Tompkins County   Established website   Meet monthly with 4 active work groups – Report back to

COG   Developed land use guides:

  Air quality; Steps for CEAs; High Impact Industrial Use   Developing Road Protection Strategy (RUA and RUR)   Developed build-out maps & analysis; public presentations   Analyzing assessment & land values issues   Drafted zoning amendment in Danby – Aquifer Protection

Overlay   Proposed zoning amendments in towns of Dryden, Ithaca,

and Ulysses

July 2011

July 2011



  Southern Tier Central Region: Steuben County   Established a website   Hold multiple monthly public meetings   Completed memorandum reviewing the Thirty Day Limit on

Occupancy Tax or room tax   Completed road maintenance agreement (RUA)   Completed radioactive study, Marcellus Shale Evaluation, on drill

cuttings risk to county landfill   Passed a housing resolution   Amended site plan review law   Held educational forums for town supervisors, public safety officers, &

planning boards officials   Proposed meeting with owners of camping/ RV parks on possible

impacts by natural gas workforce

July 2011



  Southern Tier Central Region: Schuyler County   Established a website   Released informational guidance sheet, Managing your Private Water

Supply Related to Natural Gas Development in Schuyler County (July 2011)

  Hosting a task force intern for the summer 2011   Surveying task force members & municipal officials to create a

focused, concise resource binder/ resource suite   Proposed work with the Schuyler County EMC on providing comments

on the revised Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) for high-volume hydraulic fracturing

  Most towns have either signed on with Delta Engineers for assistance with road assessment and RUAs or are working with other engineering firms to accomplish similar services

July 2011



  Southern Tier Central Region: Chemung County   Established a website   Pass official recommendation advising towns to enter a road

analysis study (w/ Delta Engineering)   Trained a deputy to enforce truck/ vehicle regulations   Firefighters have been receiving training specific to gas well

emergencies   Task force members attended workshops, panel discussions, &

information sessions for the past couple year   EMC in conjunction w/ Elmira College has conducted a water quality

baseline study for methane & a few other related elements   Met with Casella for information on the safety of the drill cuttings &

related topics

July 2011



  Regional efforts   Drafting Municipal Guide for Energy Development (contains

resources for planning boards, comprehensive plans, site plan review, subdivision, and zoning regulations – joint effort between STC Planning and Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler’s Planning Departments)

  Completed a tourism study, Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale: potential impacts on the tourism economy of the Southern Tier

  Participated in a regional study, Economic Implications of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development – Understanding Potential Impacts on Tourism, Agriculture and Housing

  Drafted Planning Tools for Energy Development checklist (joint efforts between Tompkins County Planning Department & STC Planning)

July 2011

Thank you

Darby Kiley, Planner, Tompkins County Planning Dept. 607-274-5560 | [email protected] | tompkins-co.org/planning/

Meghan Thoreau, Planner, Southern Tier Central Planning 607-962-8092 | [email protected] | stcplanning.org

Photo: http://lisamdrake.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/planning1.jpg July 2011