A recent change in the method of calculating the size of developable land took the state's wetlands out of the acreage. The result could have been vastly expanded stormwater-runoff infrastructure requirements for developers. But it wasn't.
Developers in North Carolina, fearing a large increase in costs and effort to build the infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff, lobbied the state's legislature recently to go back on changes it had made to the calculation of the size of land available for development. The new changes, issued by the state's Division of Water Quality, removed any wetland areas from the total amount of buildable land acreage in North Carolina's coastal counties. This was a blow to developers who had relied on the state's guideline that eliminated stormwater infrastructure requirements for parcels with 25% or less impervious surfaces. With wetlands taken out of consideration, tens of thousands of projects already in progress would no longer qualify under then 25% mark.
Lobbying by homebuilders associations pushed the legislature to rescind the change, which was in effect for only three weeks. Environmentalists are adamant that the threshold of impervious land should be reduced to about 10-15%, requiring most projects to include stormwater runoff infrastructure.
"After a hurried conference call with the state's top environmental officials, DWQ issued a memo suspending the change due to 'unforeseen and unintended consequences.' DWQ instructed its engineers to go back to reviewing plans on a case-by-case basis. The proposed change will instead undergo a full review by the state's Environmental Management Commission."
"A recent study by UNC-Wilmington marine science professor Michael Mallin, which includes a study of New Hanover County's building boom, is an indication of what's to come. Without tighter standards, the study points to continued degradation of shellfishing and beaches and other public access areas. In an article in this month's Scientific American, Mallin's work tracking microbial pollution says a 25 percent rule is set way too high. Ten to 15 percent would be better, he says, especially near shellfish beds."
FULL STORY: Backlash defers stricter wetland building standards

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions