Plan-It-Allen

Please 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 3^rd, 2008 when the County and City offices of Land Use Management merged into one office and utility. Now in the County Building on the 6^th 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 Considering this is one of the first developments the plan suggests, I would not consider this plan to be out of date but very fresh considering that the plan is now beginning to be implemented.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
feature, the one item that ties city and county together.

• Utility availability, especially sanitary sewer service, isthe key driver for new land development. “No more CSO’s.”

• 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 2^nd 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.
ENSURE THE CONSERVATION OF SIGNIFICANT LAND RESOURCES,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, WOODLANDS AND WETLANDS.

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.

 
UL4.B Maximize capacity of existing systems by promoting infill development.

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.

 
UL4.C Provide direction for the exploration of alternative sewage-processing methods.

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