Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Urban Growth Boundary |
Demarcation of the limit of urban infrastructure (water and sewer extensions). UGB usually identifies a 10-20 year 'land supply' of buildable land. |
~ Limits sprawl and encourages more compact development.
~ Allows integration with a TDR program to preserve farmland and natural areas. |
~ Requires strong regional cooperation.
~ Controversial; down zoning required outside of UGB.
~ Raises land and housing costs inside boundary.
~ Requires enabling legislation. |
Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Large Lot Zoning |
Provides for large minimum lot sizes, such as five or ten acres per dwelling unit. Development is spread over a large area, reducing density. |
~ Maintains low density and reduces impact on certain resources, such as water resources, in rural and forested areas.
~ Provides flexibility in building design and location to allow site protection. |
~ A factor in suburban sprawl.
~ Open space incorporated within each private lot.
~ Resource areas may be scattered and noncontiguous, fragmenting forest cover and wildlife habitat.
~ Contributes to high real estate prices.
~ Zoning can be changed to allow in-fill development. |
Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Performance Zoning |
Zoning categories are based on permissible impacts to natural or historic resources, instead of a list of permitted uses. Requires impact assessment of proposed development projects. |
~ The local land use plan directs the location of development to resource-compatible areas.
~ Provides flexibility in types and designs of projects - many uses may be permitted in a single zone. |
~ Effectiveness is based on knowledge of resources and the effects of impacts.
~ Requires a detailed land use plan and staff to administer the program. |
Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Bonus/Incentive Zoning |
Provides density bonuses; i.e., developers can build additional units in exchange for preserving designated resource lands. Technique usually applied to cluster developments and transfer of development rights programs. |
~ Encourages sensitive site design to protect resources
~ Helps maintain open space and rural character, particularly for residential developments on the urban fringe. |
~ Requires careful infrastructure planning to prevent sprawl and 'leapfrog' development
~ Dependence on wells and onsite septic systems in fringe areas
~ Conservation value limited if high number of units permitted. |
Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Conservation Overlay Zoning |
Additional or stricter development standards and criteria are established to protect particular features of an existing zone, such as historic districts, landscape features, scenic views, agricultural areas, or watersheds. |
~ Standards and criteria are developed to meet needs of specific resources within the zoning district.
~ Effective in protecting specific resources from development pressures. |
~ Standards must be defined clearly to ensure that open space can be protected.
~ Zoning regulations can be changed.
~ Does not address resource preservation outside the zoning district.
~ Not often used for open space. |
Regulary Tool |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Voluntary Agricultural Districts |
Special districts established to promote continuation of agricultural and forestry activities. |
~ Maintains land in agricultural and forestry use.
~ Provides some protection from nuisance lawsuits against agricultural operations. |
~ Voluntary participation.
~ Minimum acreage criteria.
~ Does not provide long-term protection.
~ Most effective when several contiguous farms participate in areas with development pressure. |
