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Public Policy

 

Stormwater Management

Concerned about the Darby’s future and the potential impact of increased stormwater runoff, a diverse group of stakeholders came together, formed the Darby Creek Watershed Task Force (Taske Force) and developed the Darby Creek Watershed Strategies and Standards for New Development project.

Darby Creek Watershed Task Force: High Priority Principles:                               

Open Space Development - Advocate open space development that incorporates smaller lot sizes to minimize total impervious area, reduce total construction costs, conserve natural areas, provide community recreational space, and promote watershed protection

Perennial Stream Buffer - Create a variable width, naturally vegetated buffer system along all perennial streams that also encompasses critical environmental features such as the 100- year floodplain, steep slopes, and freshwater wetlands

Clearing and Grading - Clearing and grading of forests and native vegetation at a site should be limited to the minimum amount needed to build lots, allow access, and provide fire protection. A fixed portion of any community open space should be managed as protected green space in a consolidated manner.

Conservation - Incentives and flexibility in the form of density compensation, buffer averaging, property tax reduction, stormwater credits, and by-right open space development should be encouraged to promote conservation of stream buffers, forests,meadows, and other areas of environmental value. Off-site mitigation for open space, stormwater management and forest resources (excluding riparian buffers) within the same watershedshould also be encouraged.

Manage Stormwater - New development should not discharge unmanaged stormwater.

Maintain Stream Integrity - Enclosing, straightening, and relocating streams should be discouraged during all new development.
 
*The purpose of the Darby Creek Watershed Strategies and Standards for New Development Project (Darby Creek Project) was to create a guidance document that can aid local officials in creating responsible new development. In the context of the project, responsible development was defined as development that is planned, designed, constructed and maintained in a manner that reduces, to the degree practical, the negative impacts of development on the Darby Creek.
 
Source: “The Darby Creek Watershed Stormwater Strategies and Standards for New Development were developed by Fuller, Mossbarger, Scott and May Engineers Inc in conjunction with the Center for Watershed Protection and the Darby Watershed Task Force.”

 

 

Darby Watershed Community

Land Use Planning

The Darby Watershed is divided into 27 township jurisdictions and 6 counties, with just as many different approaches to land use zoning. While a few counties have begun to implement protection zoning for the streams, most of the land within 1,000 feet of the streams and tributaries is still under little or no protective legislation.

Because protective zoning is probably the strongest and most comprehensive method of protection in the watershed, township trustees, county officials, regional planners and developers are working together to discuss comprehensive zoning, regional stormwater districting, and best practices for land use. 
  
Many opportunities exist for private citizens, corporations, government agencies, and other groups to work together to adopt strategies to promote sustainable development and protect the unique natural resources of the Darby Creek Watershed. Here are examples of strategies that have been adopted by several communities in the Darby Watershed to specifically protect the Big and Little Darby Creeks:

Union County Comprehensive Plan 1/25/99 recognizes the Darby Creek system as a local, state and national resource unmatched in the Midwest. The plan recommends several protection strategies for the Darby Watershed including: 0.2 dwelling units per acre gross density limitation; the development of strategies designed to strengthen county and municipal erosion and sedimentation controls and stormwater regulations in order to reduce impacts to the streams; and the preservation of the 100 year floodplain. In addition, specific recommendations are included to develop methods to create streamside buffers and other methods to protect wetlands, prairie remnants and forests. Prime agricultural lands are also encouraged to be conserved.

Madison County Comprehensive Plan 2/2000 recognizes Big Darby Creek as a vital resource to the County. Environmental objectives of the plan include improving the water quality of Madison County’s waterways. Environmental policies include establishing a buffer area for conservation purposes adjacent to the Big and Little Darby as well as a filter strip adjacent to all tributaries. Effective countywide erosion and sedimentation control measures are recommended. The plan recommends preservation of prime agricultural lands and recommends development be confined to utility service areas. One of the main assumptions of the plan is to protect natural resources such as streams, wooded areas, and environmentally sensitive lands.

Franklin County’s Brown, Prairie, and Pleasant Townships and Pickaway County’s Darby and Jackson Townships have adopted an overlay zoning district on lands adjacent to the Big and Little Darby Creeks. The districts are designed to preserve critical streamside natural resources and habitat.

The City of Columbus 1993 Comprehensive Plan incorporated an Environmental Conservation District for the western edge of the planning area, specifically within the Darby Watershed. The District, in part, recommends protection of the district from inappropriate uses, discourages development within the district, and recommends cooperation with current and future efforts to preserve the environmental quality of the Big Darby Watershed.

The Brown Township Comprehensive Plan 1998 Update adopted Columbus’s Environmental Conservation District as currently set forth for the Darby Watershed. The update recommends against any proposals that encourage development at an urban scale in the Environmental Conservation District area not in conformance with the policies and recommendations of the Brown Township Comprehensive Plan and Columbus’s Environmental Conservation District.

Franklin County Greenways Plan prepared by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission recognizes the Darbys as one of the healthiest aquatic systems of its size in the Midwest and is ranked among the top five warm freshwater habitats in the region by the Ohio EPA.