Smart Growth PanelSmart Growth Panel“Rural Town Perspective”“Rural Town Perspective”

~~Town of DentonTown of Denton

www.dentonmaryland.com

Caroline County, MarylandCaroline County, Maryland

Where Is Denton, MD?Where Is Denton, MD?

Choptank River WatershedChoptank River Watershed

Some Denton HighlightsSome Denton Highlights

• 4,000+/- Residents4,000+/- Residents• 5.2 Square Miles 5.2 Square Miles (half agriculture)(half agriculture)

• County Seat amidst Agrarian AreaCounty Seat amidst Agrarian Area• Straddles Choptank River Straddles Choptank River (tidal)(tidal)– Only MD Major Waterway with Increase Only MD Major Waterway with Increase

in Nitrogen in Nitrogen (over last three decades)(over last three decades)

– Nearly 6 Miles of Tidal WaterfrontNearly 6 Miles of Tidal Waterfront

• Many Environmental AmenitiesMany Environmental Amenities

An MD “Annexation Mecca”An MD “Annexation Mecca”

Denton AerialDenton Aerial

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

• Other maps

StreamsStreams

Tier II WatersTier II Waters

Critical Area DesignationsCritical Area Designations

Resource Conservation AreasResource Conservation Areas

Forest CoverForest Cover

Denton’s Clean Water GoalsDenton’s Clean Water Goals• Sustainable and Equitable DevelopmentSustainable and Equitable Development• Reduce Amount of Land per CapitaReduce Amount of Land per Capita• Reduce Amount of Stormwater per CapitaReduce Amount of Stormwater per Capita• Protect StreamsProtect Streams• Retain ForestsRetain Forests• Protect Wetlands and other Sensitive AreasProtect Wetlands and other Sensitive Areas• Manage and Sustain AgricultureManage and Sustain Agriculture• Create and Integrate Parks, Trails and GreenwaysCreate and Integrate Parks, Trails and Greenways• Maintain Viable Resource Conservation AreasMaintain Viable Resource Conservation Areas• Establish a Growth BoundaryEstablish a Growth Boundary• Manage Water Resources Effectively Manage Water Resources Effectively (water, wastewater & (water, wastewater &

stormwater)stormwater)• Prioritize Infill Development and RedevelopmentPrioritize Infill Development and Redevelopment• Balance Residential and Non-ResidentialBalance Residential and Non-Residential• Utilize Regenerative Stormwater ConveyancesUtilize Regenerative Stormwater Conveyances

What We’ve DoneWhat We’ve Done• Updated Comp. Plan, Land Subdivision & Zoning OrdinancesUpdated Comp. Plan, Land Subdivision & Zoning Ordinances

– More “Graceful” ExpansionMore “Graceful” Expansion– Mixed Use Development (PUD/PN)Mixed Use Development (PUD/PN)– Increased DensitiesIncreased Densities– Limited Future Annexations to Non-ResidentialLimited Future Annexations to Non-Residential– Created Greenbelt (Urban / Rural Boundary)Created Greenbelt (Urban / Rural Boundary)– Defined Trails, Greenways, Parks and Open SpacesDefined Trails, Greenways, Parks and Open Spaces– Protected All Environmental Resource AreasProtected All Environmental Resource Areas– Encouraged Non-Residential Growth (uses less water Encouraged Non-Residential Growth (uses less water

resources)resources)– Provided More Local Employment OpportunitiesProvided More Local Employment Opportunities– Encouraged Infill and RedevelopmentEncouraged Infill and Redevelopment– Density Now Based upon Net Area (No Longer Gross Area)Density Now Based upon Net Area (No Longer Gross Area)

• Updated Stormwater Management Ordinance (ESD to MEP)Updated Stormwater Management Ordinance (ESD to MEP)• Established Water and Wastewater Capacity Management Established Water and Wastewater Capacity Management

PlansPlans• Utilized Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s ExpertiseUtilized Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s Expertise• Participated in the Caroline County WIP PilotParticipated in the Caroline County WIP Pilot

Land UsesLand Uses

ZoningZoning

Redevelopment AreaRedevelopment Area

What We Plan to DoWhat We Plan to Do• Update Forest Conservation OrdinanceUpdate Forest Conservation Ordinance• Update Critical Area OrdinanceUpdate Critical Area Ordinance• Add Stormwater Management Responsibility to Utility Add Stormwater Management Responsibility to Utility

CommissionCommission– Enable Fee Structure for SW Maintenance, Upgrades and Enable Fee Structure for SW Maintenance, Upgrades and

RetrofitsRetrofits• Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Plant to ENRUpgrade Wastewater Treatment Plant to ENR• Adopt Green Building OrdinanceAdopt Green Building Ordinance• Plan to Acquire Trolleys for Intra-Town Transport (TOD)Plan to Acquire Trolleys for Intra-Town Transport (TOD)• Green our Streets – Retrofit SW FacilitiesGreen our Streets – Retrofit SW Facilities• Utilize Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance SystemsUtilize Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Systems• Locate New School in Town Locate New School in Town (where infrastructure exists)(where infrastructure exists)• Adopt Best Management Practices for Agriculture Adopt Best Management Practices for Agriculture (replicating (replicating

County Initiatives)County Initiatives)• Map Existing Stormwater Facilities and Prioritize RetrofitsMap Existing Stormwater Facilities and Prioritize Retrofits• Determine Priority Funding AreasDetermine Priority Funding Areas• Seek Grants/Funding for Mapping Existing SW Facilities and Seek Grants/Funding for Mapping Existing SW Facilities and

Regenerative RetrofitsRegenerative Retrofits

Some Lessons LearnedSome Lessons Learned• Protecting the Environment Is Possible Protecting the Environment Is Possible

with Zoning and Subdivision Ordinanceswith Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances• Growth Can Be Equitable and SustainableGrowth Can Be Equitable and Sustainable• TMDL’s Can Be AccommodatedTMDL’s Can Be Accommodated• Getting Ahead of the Curve Is PossibleGetting Ahead of the Curve Is Possible• Gaining County Concurrence is Gaining County Concurrence is

AchievableAchievable• Be Careful about Annexation AgreementsBe Careful about Annexation Agreements• Be Careful with Development Rights and Be Careful with Development Rights and

Responsibilities AgreementsResponsibilities Agreements