|
|
|
![]() |
|
Site Menu:
|
Plan-It-AllenPlease Fort Wayne, put this plan into action immediately...You wrote it, lets do it!
I live in Fort Wayne of Allen County, and the comprehensive plan for us is an area plan that includes all the townships in the county and the county it’s self. The comprehensive plan is called “Plan-it Allen.” The first draft came around on June 2006. The final copy was put up for review in January 2007 and by September all the 30 stakeholder groups including the councils of all the townships had accepted the plan and by first week of November the plan was in our hands. The last county plan was 30 years old and the last city plan was 20 years old, so we were ready to redefine and map out the new directions Fort Wayne and Allen County need to take. Plan-it Allen is a pioneering venture, it represents the first ever collaboration of Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne’s collective history. This plan also marked the beginning of consolidating a lot of the programming and offices of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne. The most recent development was on March 3rd, 2008 when the County and City offices of Land Use Management merged into one office and utility. Now in the County Building on the 6th floor will now hold the Allen County Department of Planning Services Land Use Planning Division and the Fort Wayne Land Use Management and Zoning Section of the Community Development Division all in one area. Considering this is one of the first developments the plan suggests, I would not consider this plan to be out of date but very fresh considering that the plan is now beginning to be implemented. Another development is the citizens and city worked together in the Sewer Advisory Board and have made a plan to separate the sewers and we have 300 million set to go into that project which will be over the course of the next 18 years. The document outlining this is Fort Wayne City Utilities – Executive Summary “Sewage Overflow Reduction and Long Term Control Plan,” which is now in print and due for release. This is an action that is in conjunction with the Plan-It Allen comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is 145 pages long and contains 10 chapters. In order are the chapters listed: Land Use, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhoods, Transportation, Environmental Stewardship, Community Identity and Appearance, Community Facilities, Utilities, Townships “Grabil, Huntertown, Monroeville, and Woodburn,” Implementation – Still to Come?, and the last section which is the acknowledgements. The Plan-it Allen commission’s core group was made up of Former Mayor Graham Richards, and Former Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and the threesome of county commissioners: Nelson Peters, Linda Bloom, and Bill Brown who all still reside in office. In the executive summery there is a list of main points the plan addresses and would like to accomplish. Some of these points put a lot of focus on the quality of our rivers like • Most of the forested river corridors in the county have been removed.
• Allen County’s three rivers are its primary
character defining • Water quality, stormwater drainage and sewage issues recognize no political boundaries and need regional coordination. There are many objectives, statements, and changes that address environmental stewardship other then the chapter named and dedicated to in the plan. Like changes in County and City policy and procedure, to new facilities and community buildings, and an over all agenda to try to turn Fort Wayne into a green city. This would be a 50 page paper if I would to put in a full outline and description of the changes, developments, and plans that address an environmental perspective. The first note in changes in policy and procedure would go back to our Former Mayor Graham Richards who joined a national effort and created Fort Wayne’s Green Ribbon Commission which was Co-Chaired by Regina Leefers who is the founder and President of Northeastern Green Build Coalition. This commission met for a year while constantly meeting with the public at the library and City/County Building to develop the first form of a green infrastructure “a term referring to policy instilled with a green ethic not organic material,” and put it into action. The plan is not old but only 40% of it has been accomplished. It was a fresh idea too and more has come to the table so there is going to be a reformation 2nd edition if you will under our new Mayor Tom Henry. Most of the original group will be returning with a couple new chairs including the owner of Sweetwater Sound Chuck Surack who had developed the greenest most renewable building in Allen County to date and a representative of Heartland Communities. Another recent development occurring in the first week of February at the Sewer Advisory Board meeting which I participate in, there was an announcement pertaining to land use and BMP’s. The announcement was basically that the city of Fort Wayne will now handle all SWPT plans when it comes to review, approval, and enforcement, not the SWCD which the duties were previously bestowed upon. What that means is that any construction project that is over 1 acre has to submit their plans that deal with Soil and Erosion control and address at least 80% of suspended solids through the combination of BMPs that are charted and listed in the new policy and procedure publication. The SWCD will still play a part in their old duties when the City or County has a construction development that includes more then 1 acre or public/private collaboration like the North River Now development which will break ground in 4 years. These SWPT plans and the enforced use of BMPs will greatly reduce the sedimentation that affects our rivers. In the chapter labeled community facilities there is in the objectives to build a Green Renewable Technology Center which will educate and facilitate multiple programs, projects, and education on issues pertaining to green policy, technology, green building practices and landscaping, wholesale supply distribution of green products, and the environment. In the public planning process, we at Heartland Communities 501c3 put a lot of ink on the papers and this was all wrapped up in July and August of 2007. In the chapter labeled Environmental Stewardship, it literally reads like a diehard environmentalist with skill in educational and administrative writing had produced it. It does not exhibit a lot of slack or neglect of environmentally crucial areas in Allen County. To list a few that have the most focus of funding and attention would be: brownfield rehabbing, separation of the sewers, protection of surface and ground water, land preservation for wetlands, floodplains, air quality, open spaces, and wildlife and ecological preservation. Here are some sections directly relating to watershed groups and work quoted directly from Plan-It-Allen
OBJECTIVE ES1. Current development trends have demonstrated the need to protect open spaces in Allen County and Fort Wayne, with particular attention to valuable agricultural and natural resources. Adoption of the following strategies will help to ensure the conservation of agricultural landscapes, woodlands, wetlands and other natural greenspace.
ES1.A Coordinate and combine existing maps and inventories of agricultural, woodland and wetland areas. Identify areas of contiguous prime soil, significant agricultural heritage and prime lands for targeted conservation efforts. Efforts to conserve agricultural lands should be pursued in a strategic manner, in part because maintaining contiguous agricultural lands is important to the health of an agricultural economy. Contiguous farmlands can support a critical mass of readily available agricultural infrastructure, such as equipment sale and repair, seeds and fertilizer suppliers, without which an agricultural community can become increasingly difficult to sustain. Continuity of farmland also minimizes conflicts between farming and nonfarming neighbors. Agricultural, woodland and wetland areas should be surveyed, mapped, analyzed, noted for agricultural heritage issues and classified in order to identify critical lands for targeted conservation efforts.
ES1.B Continue stewardship efforts and identify areas for possible expansion of contiguous forested and natural areas (such as the Cedar Creek corridor, Fox Island Park, Eagle Marsh, Little Wabash River Corridor, Black Marsh, and other environmentally significant areas). The Cedar Creek watershed represents an important natural corridor, and is designated as an Indiana Natural, Scenic and Recreational waterway. Fox Island County Park contains a nature preserve with diverse marshes, wetlands, deciduous forests and important wildlife habitats. Allen County should continue to work with local environmental groups like the Fox Island Alliance, ACRES Land Trust, St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative and the Cedar Creek Wildlife Project to continue to protect these important natural areas.
ES1.C Investigate the value of adopting local wetland protection ordinances and regulations. Allen County and Fort Wayne should consider the value of adopting local wetland protection ordinances and regulations in order to preserve and mitigate wetlands. These regulations may St. Mary’s Rivers, Little River, Cedar Creek, Aboite Creek, and other floodplain/wetland areas.
ES1.D Pursue wetlands restoration initiatives. In many parts of the County, native hydric soils are still in place and represent an opportunity for restoring some wetlands that were previously drained. Allen County and Fort Wayne should collaborate with local environmental organizations and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to target key areas for wetlands restoration, particularly those areas near critical wildlife habitats along natural corridors and in areas where wetland restoration would result in decreased flooding potential.
OBJECTIVE ES2. PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITATS AND LIMIT INVASIVE SPECIES. Over time, human actions have transformed and degraded many of the County’s original natural habitats. Efforts should be made to conserve and expand remaining habitats in order to protect native plant and animal species. The following strategies recommend ways to protect wildlife and their habitats in Allen County.
ES2.A Collaborate with federal and state agencies and not-for-profit organizations in the protection of endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources can serve as important funding and technical assistance resources in the identification and protection of the County’s endangered species. Allen County and Fort Wayne should also enlist assistance from local environmental organizations, particularly those involved in watershed initiatives, to protect the area’s unique aquatic ecosystems.
ES2.B Work with local organizations to protect natural habitat areas, particularly along linear riparian corridors and around critical aquatic communities. Habitat corridors are important environmental assets. Unlike fragmented natural parcels, these corridors allow animals to move freely and plants to colonize more successfully over a wider area. Allen County, Fort Wayne, local environmental groups, and land trusts should collaborate to protect and expand these critical habitat areas through the acquisition/protection of lands in and adjacent to existing habitat corridors. Particular attention should be paid to rivers and streams in Allen County, which are home to unique aquatic communities that host a variety of rare and endangered mussels, amphibians, and plant species.
ES2.C Work with state and local partners to determine the types of invasive plant species which should be discouraged in project planting plans. In an effort to protect native plant species in our region, local planning and permitting agencies should work with state and local partners to determine types of invasive plant species which should be discouraged in project planting plans for new development.
OBJECTIVE ES3. PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER RESOURCES. Water is a vital resource that supports agriculture, industry, household needs and recreation opportunities. The following strategies provide recommendations for protecting the County’s groundwater and surface water resources. The Utilities Chapter addresses a number of issues related to the protection and preservation of water resources.
ES3.B Support and collaborate in the establishment of watershed management plans that recommends actions to address major sources of surface water contamination. Based on assessment data from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), which was developed as part of the Total Minimum Daily Load (TMDL) for the St. Mary’s and Maumee Rivers, the overall quality of surface water in Allen County can generally be described as “good to fair.” However, high levels of E. coli, nutrients, PCBs, and mercury in fish have been found in certain segments of the County’s streams. IDEM has designated these segments as “impaired”. Watershed management plans which also address transported sediments may be developed, using a stakeholder involvement process, to address each of these contaminants. Allen County and Fort Wayne should collaborate with local watershed management groups, the Allen County- Fort Wayne Board of Health, and other stakeholders in the consideration of these management plans to address these surface water contaminants.
OBJECTIVE ES4. PROTECT THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES. Over the years, Allen County’s natural green infrastructure in floodplains, and in the watershed in general, have been lost to development and agricultural uses. As a consequence, floods have become more damaging to both the natural and built environment. The following strategies present recommendations for managing floodplains and restoring green infrastructure in a manner that benefits both human and ecological communities.
ES4.A Using the No Adverse Impact principle as a guide, develop a program to map floodplains, track impacts of floods and enhance green infrastructure in floodplains. The No Adverse Impact management principle supported by the Indiana Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers implies that any action taken by a property owner should not negatively affect the rights of other property owners, as measured in terms of flooding, erosion and sedimentation. It also looks at floodplain management from a community-based perspective, rather than relying upon regulations imposed by FEMA. Allen County, Fort Wayne, and local watershed groups should use the NAI principle to develop an appropriate floodplain management program. Initiatives may include floodplain mapping, flood tracking and monitoring, introduction of riparian overlay districts, wetlands restoration and the restoration of green infrastructure within floodplains.
ES4.B Consider tools, such as overlay districts along river basins and streams to encourage the expansion of riparian buffers and enhance public access to waterfronts. Riparian zones surrounding rivers and streams help filter sediments and nutrients, and mitigate the effects of storms and flooding. Riparian buffers are also aesthetically pleasing and can lend themselves to recreation opportunities in the form of greenways and trails. The forested corridors that were originally found along waterways throughout the County have been greatly diminished to meet agricultural, development and drainage needs. Allen County and Fort Wayne should collaborate with watershed partners to develop plans for limiting development along waterways, restoring and protecting riparian corridors, and enhancing public access to waterfronts. The Fort Wayne River Green Way Overlay District, as well as the local floodplain ordinances, serve as an exemplary tool for defining and protecting riparian zones, mitigating flooding impacts, and improving human access to waterways. Similar overlay districts may be applied along rivers and streams throughout the County.
ES4.C Provide education to the public about the natural benefits, protection and restoration of floodplain and wetland areas, and the laws pertaining to floodplain development. Educate the public through the provision of information, publications and other materials about the natural benefits of floodplains and wetlands, how to protect and restore floodplain and wetland areas and the federal, state and local ordinances which pertain to floodplain development.
The sections related to watershed groups don’t even stop there but the idea is now known that the city and county have made it quite clear that they strong intentions to work with watershed groups and be good stewards of the environment. I’ve got to bask even more the abundant support this plan shows for the rivers and watershed groups. The following is out of the chapter of Community Identity and Appearance and its first objective is.
OBJECTIVE CI1. RENEW, PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE RIVERS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT WATERWAYS THAT DEFINE THE REGION. The St. Joseph, St. Mary’s and Maumee Rivers, and waterways associated with the Wabash River corridor such as the Little River, define the natural landscape in Fort Wayne and Allen County, They have played a significant role in the historical growth and development of the County. These natural features also play an important role in tying the City and County together. Unfortunately, the rivers also suffer from periodic pollution, a general lack of visibility, and are fairly inaccessible from the standpoint of passive and active recreation opportunities. Particular attention should be placed on waterways to protect them as significant components of the natural and cultural environment.
CI1.A Collaborate with an array of community partners to improve water quality and enhance rivers, streams, corridors and watershed areas. National organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and local groups such as the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative can help monitor progress and suggest methods for protecting the County’s rivers. Attention to nonpoint source pollution (such as runoff), enhancements to riparian buffers, and revisions to land use policies can all contribute to creating healthier rivers and protecting important natural resources.
CI1.B Improve public access to rivers and waterfronts. Allen County and Fort Wayne should collaborate with parks and recreation departments and other stakeholders who are interested in improving public access to waterfronts and rivers. These groups should identify locations for creating boat launches and docking areas, and examine opportunities for enhancing trails and greenways along riverfronts.
CI1.C Investigate downtown river development and vistas. A public/private effort should be developed to clean and improve the three rivers that converge in downtown Fort Wayne, in particular the St. Mary’s river. This endeavor requires a complex and multifaceted strategy, including: structural improvements (to improve water quality and regulate water levels); visual improvements (to clean up banks and thin overgrown areas to improve visibility between downtown and the river), and an investigation of appropriate development to increase activities along the river. The effort should include not-for-profit organizations, environmental groups and government in partnership with the private sector.
In the chapter called Utilities issues were addressed like combined sewers, CSO’s, and working to get this work done.
OBJECTIVE UL1. ENSURE COOPERATIVE DECISION MAKING AND UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR PROTECTING WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION. Water resources are interjurisdictional in nature. Groundwater and surface water flow freely between jurisdictions, as do various contaminants and stormwater runoff. Therefore, solutions to protecting water quality should be interjurisdictional and cooperative in nature. The following strategies provide recommendations for addressing water quality issues in a cooperative manner.
UL1.A Consider a collaborative water quality partnership among local governments, stakeholders and utility providers. Allen County and Fort Wayne should continue to work with the St. Joseph Watershed Initiative and all water-utility providers to identify opportunities for collaboration. A regional or countywide water-utility partnership could be created, which could explore the possibilities for coordinating utility services and developing cooperative funding mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE UL4. IMPROVE AND EXPAND SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT MAP AREAS. The following strategies provide recommendations for monitoring, improving and expanding sanitary sewers in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
UL4.A Encourage improvements to existing sewer systems to resolve sewer overflows. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) represent a major threat to water quality, environmental quality and public health. Overflow and discharge data should be tracked on a regular basis to identify areas in need of priority intervention.
Infill and redevelopment within areas that are already served by a larger sewer-utility provider (i.e. the City of Fort Wayne, Aqua Indiana, and the City of New Haven, the City of Woodburn and the Town of Monroeville) will help to maximize the capacity of existing systems and minimize the need for additional infrastructure investments.
Alternative means for the processing of sewage should be investigated such as the utilization of wetland clusters. Other nontraditional methods may provide cost effective ways to accommodate the processing of sewage where traditional means are unavailable or too costly.
UL4.D Discourage development on conventional septic systems. Soils in Allen County are generally poorly suited to accommodate conventional septic systems. This is of particular concern to the northern part of Allen County where a large concentration of septic systems could generate high E. coli levels.
UL4.E Discourage on-site wastewater package treatment facilities. On-site wastewater package treatment facilities have been a concern in Allen County due to the lack of long-term maintenance of these facilities. One objective of the planning process has been to address the existing on-site wastewater disposal problems in the County and prevent reoccurrence in the future. The proposed application of new, more restrictive standards for soil testing and design of leach fields by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the State Board of Health may mean fewer septic systems in the future. Where future individual on-site wastewater disposal systems can be utilized, an approach must be applied that ensures proper longterm functioning.
OBJECTIVE UL5. WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OTHER AGENCIES TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS. While the majority of drinking water for Fort Wayne is supplied by the St. Joseph River, most residents outside of Fort Wayne rely on groundwater resources to meet their drinking water needs. Strategies for protecting and enhancing drinking water in Allen County and Fort Wayne must address both groundwater and surface-water supply systems. The protection of drinking water systems is also enhanced by discouraging development on conventional septic systems and discouraging on-site wastewater package treatment facilities, as noted in Objective UL4.
UL5.B Expand and enhance initiatives to protect the St. Joseph, Wabash and Maumee River watersheds. The St. Joseph River provides most of the drinking water for Fort Wayne. In the mid-1990s, after tap water samples were discovered to contain nine different herbicides, concerned citizens and stakeholders formed the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative to promote better water quality. Fort Wayne and Allen County should collaborate with this organization and other watershed groups to identify and reduce pollution sources, expand green infrastructure that helps to filter contaminants, and encourage appropriate land use and development guidelines that will reduce river contamination.
UL5.C Work with local groups to educate the public about practices to protect groundwater and river water in order to maintain drinking-water quality. Throughout the County, many suburban and rural residents obtain their drinking water through wells and dispose of their waste through septic systems. Allen County and Fort Wayne should undertake measures to educate the public about ways to maintain clean and well-functioning water and septic systems. They should also collaborate with local environmental groups such as the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative in order to develop messages that inform the public about what they can do to protect the County’s rivers and streams.
OBJECTIVE UL6. ENHANCE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. Stormwater and drainage patterns are determined by natural and topographic features, rather than jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore cross-jurisdictional, interagency cooperation is imperative to meet stormwater and drainage needs. The following strategies outline recommendations for pursuing cooperative strategies in regulating stormwater management and drainage systems.
UL6.A Consider a partnership to coordinate stormwater management on a Countywide basis. The City of Fort Wayne operates a public stormwater utility that is based on user fees and regulates more than 600 miles of sewer lines, ditches, channels and drains. This utility should collaborate with other stormwater authorities in Allen County to create a partnership that will monitor stormwater and drainage issues throughout the County to ensure that existing systems are meeting the public’s needs and protecting the environment.
UL6.B Ensure uniform standards for stormwater management and drainage systems. Stormwater management techniques are often referred to as best management practices (BMPs). Allen County and Fort Wayne should continue to publish and distribute descriptive guidelines on the practices that they would like to promote throughout the region via the Allen County Stormwater Technical Standards Manual. All new proposals for development and infrastructure should be required to include plans for stormwater management using BMPs to mitigate adverse impacts to the environment.
UL6.C Encourage the acquisition of former railroad rights of-way for trail usage and utility easements. Acquisition of former railroad rights-of-way is a significant opportunity to provide for extension and connection to existing trail systems. Their potential use for utility-extension projects may also mean savings in time and project costs over utilizing local street rights-of-ways and private easements.
As the above can attest to, the plan has strongly highlighted support for watershed initiatives and water quality but there are many other areas involving environment stewardship that the plan addresses. The following are some points and intentions that are listed in the objective sections. One of these objectives is to identify areas for possible expansion of contiguous forested and natural areas (such as the Cedar Creek corridor, Fox Island Park, Eagle Marsh, Little Wabash River Corridor, Black Marsh, and other environmentally significant areas). Due to Betsy Yankowiak’s influence the commission added into the plan intentions to investigate the value of adopting local wetland protection ordinances and regulations and pursue wetlands restoration initiatives. County Commissioner Nelson Peters and Bill Brown focused a lot of their energy in addressing the area’s brownfields and resolutions were made to secure resources to assist with assessment, remediation and redevelopment of brownfields. There was also a lot of energy put in to secure movement towards renewable energy and efficiency, incorporate green building technologies into community informational and educational materials and support that all new city and county buildings be built up to the highest environmental and LEED standards.. This comprehensive plan is an intuitive and influential indicator of how and why my life and life in this area has become exciting, the work has been successful, and how this work and movement is right here, right now. We do have commission members involved in our work and we now as a watershed initiative have full support of the local government and a raising awareness in the community. The citizen outcry is finally being met, there are no longer heavy walls in the local government calling us all hippy liberal leftists but pro-active citizens with foresight and drive. And for the first time as a Fort Wayne resident, I see heavy activity by the local government to work towards true sustainable stewardship. There were many fire starters highlighted in this report and if I could note all the local hero’s I would, if it was possible, which it is not. So many people on so many levels had a part in this plan and we all owe them our due, in absolute fairness every citizen who resides in Allen County should hold their head up high and pat ourselves on the back in regards to this new path we have created which is a pure example of sustainable living and right lively hood. Check it out www.planourcommunity.org By Derek Reuter
|
|
Save Maumee Grassroots Organization Serving Fort Wayne / Allen County Indiana since 2005 |
Home •
Accomplishments •
Thank You •
About Us •
FAQs •
Contact Graphic Design by Round the Bend Wizards
|