QUALITY GROWTH TOOLBOX

Conserving Our Region’s Land, Water, Cultural and Natural Resources

Our unique natural surroundings and features not only define the character of the Cumberland Region, they also distinguish it from other places

Plan for Natural Infrastructure Identify and Establish Land,

Water, Natural and Cultural Resource Priorities

Integrate Priorities Into Community and Regional Plans

Use Existing Resources for Conservation

Increase Flexibility of Regulations to Allow Conservation and Low Impact Development

Prevent Unsafe Development

Wilson County

Toolbox pg. 88

Preserve Historical and Cultural Resources

Use Incentives to Promote Conservation

Preserve Water Resources

Protect Critical Habitat Keep Agriculture Viable Link and Connect

Corridors of Public and Private Open Space

Use Sustainable Building and Development Strategies

Toolbox pg. 90

Use regional / community plans for resource conservation

Inventory and assess natural resources

Identify conservation priorities and integrate into plans

Develop Priority Funding Areas (PFA) for infrastructure investments

Plan for Natural Infrastructure

Toolbox pg. 93

Identify and Establish Land, Water, Natural and Cultural Resource Priorities

Integrate Priorities into Community and Regional Plans

Use existing tools and programs Conservation and

protective easements Development rights

approaches Public programs for

communities and property owners

Use Existing Resources for Conservation

Toolbox pg. 95

Update planning and zoning to allow quality conservation and low impact development

Design to Conserve Resources Adopt regulations

encouraging Low-Impact Development (LID)

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)

Green arterial road systems

Increase Flexibility of Regulations to Allow Conservation and Low Impact Development

Toolbox pg. 103

Development buffers

Supplemental flood plain protection

Steep slopes Supplemental

wetland protection

Karst Topography and Wetlands

Prevent Unsafe Development

Toolbox pg. 103

Regulatory streamlining Density bonus Conservation

development Allow density

distribution within an individual property to protect important land and natural resources

Low Impact Development

Use Incentives to Promote Conservation

Toolbox pg. 106

Use pertinent information about rural historic, cultural heritage, and agricultural districts in planning and design to improve conservation

Context Sensitive Solutions

Green arterial road systems

Patterning vernacular architecture

Rural historic, cultural heritage and agricultural districts

Preserve Historical and Cultural Resources

Toolbox pg. 108

Reduce storm water impacts

Limit amount of impervious surfaces created by new development

Adopt new techniques Establish negative

vegetation

Preserve Water Resources

Toolbox pg. 109

Develop and employ proactive land conservation efforts and water management practices

Protect Critical Habitat

Toolbox pg. 97

Keep Agriculture Viable

Toolbox pg. 110

Right-to-farm laws Agricultural zoning Agricultural districts Greenbelt Law

Keep Agriculture Viable

Toolbox pg. 110

Farm-related business

Business to supplement farm income

Agricultural economic development assessments

Agri-tourism “Farmers Markets”

and community supported agriculture

Plan for natural infrastructure by connecting open lands, riparian areas, and natural resource corridors

Link and Connect Corridors of Public and Private Open Space

Toolbox pg. 92

LEED certified building design

Energy audits Renewable energy sources Infiltration practices

Use Sustainable Building and Development Strategies

Toolbox pg. 92

Example: The Duck River Highlands Land Use Resource Study – An Excellent Example of Creating Resources for Planning for Open Space Conservation• Broad land and historic preservation initiative to

protect fragile rural resources of north west Maury County

• Initiated by local citizens and facilitated by The Land Trust for Tennessee

• Partners include CRT, THC, TNC, TWRA and NPS • Community meetings:

– Increased understanding of resources – Develop options to help landowners conserve

• Phases:– 1) Inventory natural, cultural, historic and

agricultural resources in the region – 2) Strategic conservation efforts by the Land Trust for

Tennessee and future county-wide comprehensive planning