2 green infrastructure game instructions

7/27/2019 2 Green Infrastructure Game Instructions

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Create A Green Infrastructure Plan -- Simulation GameCreated by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc.

June 2010 (revised)

Purpose

The purpose of this exercise is to practice identifying green infrastructure features and thendetermining how to accommodate growth while conserving green infrastructure. Greeninfrastructure consists of Green infrastructure is made up of the interconnected network of

waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas; greenways, parks,and other conservation lands; working farms, ranches and forests; and wilderness and otheropen spaces that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain airand water resources and contribute to health and quality of life (c!onald, "enedict, and#$%onner, &''). Green infrastructure assets contribute to health and quality of life, such asforests that clean the air and filter and absorb stormwater. *ust as we plan for +greyinfrastructure+ we also need to plan for and conserve our green infrastructure. Greeninfrastructure needs to be connected as much as possible to ensure that species (wildlife,

plants, pollinators and people) can move across the landscape and to prevent extinction orloss of species over time. To learn more visit www.gicinc.org

Overview%enter %ounty (pop. ,'''), a historically rural county, has experienced an increase inpopulation growth in the past decade, and concerns are mounting about the need toaccommodate pro-ected growth while preserving rural character and the county$s criticalresources.

lanners have pro-ected that future population growth will bring /,''' new households to thecounty over the next ' years. 0ou are the local 1irginia government and you are governed by

the rules of the %ommonwealth.

Designated Growth Areas:%enter %ounty has three established growth areas (towns) surrounded by low2density 3ural4reas5

Centerburg pop! "#$###%is the %ounty 6eat and includes a diverse mix of uses

including a commercial core, residential areas and a small industrial park. Based oncurrent zoning, the eisting Centerburg City Gro!th "rea can acco##odatea$$roi#ate%y &00 ne! househo%ds (20' of $roected gro!th).

&iverside 'illage pop! ($)##% is a predominantly residential settlement orientedaround historic woolen milling operations. 7ormer manufacturing facilities on the banksof the 3aquette 3iver are now vacant. 4ll remaining land in the 3iverside 1illageGrowth area is 8oned for residential uses and currently occupied. Based on current

zoning, the eisting iverside *i%%age Gro!th "rea can acco##odate 1+0 ne!househo%ds (+' of $roected gro!th).


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*arm 'illage pop! "$)##%has evolved as an agricultural settlement and serves as a

processing center for farm and forest products. %urrent 8oning regulations permit acombination of residential, commercial and industrial land uses. Based on current

zoning, the eisting ar# *i%%age Gro!th "rea can acco##odate -00 househo%ds (10'of $roected gro!th).

&ural Areas pop! "$###%include all remaining land in the %ounty that is not part of adesignated Growth 4rea. ost of the growth in the past decade has occurred in rural areasubdivisions allowed through re8oning of rural lands. Based on current zoning, the eistingura% "reas can acco##odate a$$roi#ate%y -,000 ne! househo%ds (100' of $roectedgro!th).

Green Infrastructure Assets:

*orestlandsare scattered throughout the %ounty and becoming increasingly

fragmented. There are several areas that have been identified as having highest valuetimber (see map). This does not mean that it is currently being harvested or activelymanaged, -ust that it is present. There may also be concerns with the area of

wildland9urban interface where people move into forested areas (increased fire risk,introduction of invasive species, forest fragmentation).

Several +igh-value ,cological Coresremain intact and provide critical habitat. 4 core

is an area that contains at %east'' acres of intact, interior forest habitat.o The :orthwest ills


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or0ing *armlands are an important component of the local economy and natural

landscape. istorically, farms were established throughout the county on large tracts ofland and held by a small number of landowners. >hile much of this land has beenconverted for other uses in the county, the southern part of the %ounty remains largelyintact as a working landscape.

%enter %ounty$s &''? %omprehensive lan outlines a set of planning goals to inform futuregrowth5

@dentify the county$s green infrastructure assets.

rioriti8e high2value and threatened assets.

@dentify opportunities to connect existing green infrastructure resources

@dentify potential sites for a new park.

3estore and protect riparian corridors along impaired waterways.

Astablish a working landscape overlay district to conserve land for traditional agriculturaland forestry.

Astablish a greenway trail.

4ccommodate pro-ected growth of /,''' new households.

lanning Tool "ox5 (these are options not requirements)5

urchase or Transfer of !evelopment 3ights (remember that you can$t buy everythingB)

Cand acquisition (ditto, you can$t afford to buy everythingB) 4pprove or deny pending subdivisions

3evise 9delineate growth area boundaries

%onservation Aasements (held by county or third party)

Astablish 4g97orestal !istricts

%hange 8oning to limit or increase densities (down8one or up8one).

Astablish riparian buffers

3estore an area or corridor (e.g. replant trees on a river buffer)

%luster development (this is a site planning tool but you may suggest areas whereclustering is useful)

Instructions for the Game: articipants will need to develop a realisticspatial greeninfrastructure plan that meets the %omprehensive lan ob-ectives using tools provided in thelanning Tool "ox. articipants may also create other tools as long as they are allowed in1irginia. To play the game, participants will first identify critical green infrastructure resources


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and then indicate what tools can be applied where on the map. 3emember that you need toinclude a strategy to fit in new households. Aach team should be prepared to describe what

was saved, why and how. >hat challenges are presented by the tools chosenD >hat else canbe done to conserve %enter %ountyD

@n summary the steps include5

1) Identify your i#$ortant green infrastructure assets based on co#$rehensive$%an goa%s and the #a$,

2) ro$ose connections (corridors) to create a net!or/, and

-) se your $%anning too%s to create a green infrastructure $%an !ithin the contetof a deve%o$ing %andsca$e.

2 green infrastructure game instructions

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