North Carolina Smart Growth Recommendations: Overarching Goals and Strategies Commission Members
	Session:Successful Planning Statute Reform 2001 (March 12, 10:45 am)

COMMISSION TO ADDRESS SMART GROWTH, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Overarching Goals and Strategies: Adopted on January 19, 2001 Promote Smart Growth Planning in all Counties and Municipalities. Planning should be required of all municipalities and counties. Establish a minimum level of planning for all communities, with incentives to reach beyond the minimum standards. Smaller localities would be encouraged to incorporate their efforts into the county’s planning program. Planning requirements should be tiered based upon criteria such as size of locality, growth rate and the presence of environmentally sensitive areas. Each planning tier would specify a baseline of planning elements. At a minimum, local governments would designate 'Planned Growth Areas' and 'Critical Important and Sensitive' resource areas. Planned Growth Areas (PGAs) are areas where growth and development would be encouraged and can best be accommodated and supported over a 20-year period. PGA's would include existing and proposed local transportation networks, water, sewer and other utility systems, and most other infrastructure and public facilities needed to support growth. Most local, state and federal monies would be targeted within these areas. Critical, Important and Sensitive (CIS) areas include, but are not limited to, water supply watersheds, floodplains, jurisdictional wetlands, gamelands, parks, significant areas (habitat areas, natural areas and forestlands), significant farmlands and timberlands, and similar resource or high hazard areas. Within CIS areas, transportation projects and other infrastructure and public facilities would be limited or restricted to avoid or minimize negative effects on natural and agricultural resources. Planning Tier 1: The local government designates PGA's and CIS areas within its jurisdiction and its extraterritorial jurisdiction for a 20-year planning horizon. Plans would include standards and criteria for area designations, establish development and conservation goals, address affordable housing needs, and express appropriate policies, practices and strategies for plan implementation. Planning programs would include broad-based public involvement processes to achieve consensus on the development and conservation vision for the community. Planning Tier 2: In addition to Tier 1 planning requirements, the local government prepares a comprehensive plan that includes land use, transportation, infrastructure, open space and natural resources elements. All plan elements must be internally consistent as well as consistent with state smart growth principles. Planning Tier 3: In addition to Tier 1 and 2 planning requirements, the local government prepares a comprehensive plan that includes multi-modal transportation, public facilities, cultural resources, and intergovernmental coordination elements. Localities should risk losing access to certain state grants and funds if they fail to meet minimum planning requirements. Localities should have enhanced access to state funds if they exceed their minimum requirements. Localities should evaluate their progress in implementing plans through periodic audits. Provide Resources to Support Smart Growth Planning in all Counties and Municipalities. The state should initiate outreach programs to aid local governments to improve their ability to plan and implement plans. The state should provide dedicated funding similar to other trust funds, to support existing and proposed smart growth programs. The state should base funding and technical assistance on unique local conditions (e.g. high growth, resource rich, environmentally sensitive, urgency). Funds would be provided on a matching basis, with consideration of ability to pay. Inability to pay would not be used as a basis for withholding funds. The state should evaluate a locality’s progress in plan implementation as it considers requests for continued funding. The state should initiate a competitive funding process to support innovation and pilot smart growth projects. The state should reorganize agency resources to better support planning initiatives. Enhance Smart Growth Tool Box at the Local Level. The state should evaluate existing statutes, policies and guidelines to determine whether they are consistent with or contrary to smart growth goals and modify as necessary. The state should allow localities greater flexibility and resources to pursue smart growth. This may require adopting new statewide enabling legislation and/or amending the constitution. The state should authorize all local governments to make use of revenue sources currently authorized for a limited number of jurisdictions. The state should support public awareness of the tools and strategies available to communities and local governments. The state should support the development of a clearinghouse to collect and provide information about successful and innovative smart growth strategies at the federal, state, regional and local levels, including additional funding sources. The state should support the establishment of a "Research North Carolina," a network of North Carolina-based researchers and organizations to compile and initiate research on growth and development patterns. Ensure Coordination of Local Plans and Decisions with Neighboring Localities and with Regional Strategies. Regional planning entities should be formally recognized and adequately funded to facilitate the development of regional smart growth goals and strategies. Regional planning efforts would involve local governments and other stakeholders from other interests (e.g. the business community, non-profits, environmental groups, economic development specialists, farmers, private landowners and timber owners). Regional entities would ensure that localities use consistent data assumptions, demographic projections and economic forecasts. Regional entities would provide a regional GIS database, assisted by CGIA. Regional planning entities should review and comment on local plans for consistency with regional strategies and the plans of other localities. Regional planning entities would not have the authority to approve or deny local plans and decisions, except as already provided under state or federal statute. Regional planning entities should be authorized to make recommendations to the state. Regional entities should serve as a clearinghouse for developments of regional impact, review these developments and provide comments to the affected locality, neighboring localities and the state. Strengthen Coordination and Cooperation among Planning Entities Operating on a Regional Basis. The state should provide a mechanism for formal coordination among, and consolidation of, existing regional entities for statewide inter- and intra-regional issues. This would be accomplished without creating additional organizations. Boundaries of proposed planning regions would be consistent where practical with the exiting multiple planning and economic development regions. Consolidation of regional agencies, particularly in metropolitan areas, would be promoted. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) and non-MPO counties within an air quality non-attainment area would be required to consult and coordinate with each other on plans, policies and programs. Develop a State Smart Growth Framework. The state should develop a policy regarding growth and a 'smart growth' framework that includes a state vision, goals and principles, with a strong public participation component. The state should modify its own programs to conform to the state growth framework. The state should review local and regional plans for consistency with the state growth framework, through a 'cross acceptance' process. State agencies should base funding and facility decisions on compliance with the state growth framework. Ensure Consistent Oversight Of State Decisions Related To Smart Growth The state should create a smart growth policy commission with broad representation to provide advice on state growth policy and periodically review the state framework. State agency heads should meet on a regular basis to ensure coordination and consistency of state government actions related to smart growth The state should designated to a lead agency to review administrative consistency of local and regional smart growth plans The agency would be charged with monitoring federal growth-related programs and initiatives with regard to their impact on North Carolina. The state should publish an annual "Smart Growth" report card to assess progress on growth and related issues. The state should issue annual "Smart Growth" awards to communities, businesses, non-profits or individuals, similar to the "communities of excellence" program. Ensure State Decisions Respect Local and Regional Planning Decisions. The state should actively consult with local governments and regional entities on state planning, programming, and construction of facilities and development issues. State investments should be consistent with adopted local and regional plans unless state officials can demonstrate a compelling state interest. Mediation would be employed to resolve disputes whenever possible. Commission Co-Chairs Representative Joe Hackney Senator Howard Lee Commission Members Jim Abbott Mayor Lucy Allen Randy Billings Vicki Bowman Fred Bryant Mike Carpenter Brad Davis Jeff Davis Representative Andy Dedmon Commissioner Mary Ann Enloe Commissioner J. Owen Etheridge Dr. David Godschalk Charles Hayes Pricey Harrison Senator Fletcher Hartsell Sam Hunter Betty Huskins Commissioner Barry Jacobs Todd Mansfield Mayor John Marshall Mayor Pat McCrory Representative Marian McLawhorn Mayor Fred Niehoff Dr. John O'Neil Senator Beverly Perdue Julian H. Philpott, Jr. Representative Drew Saunders Ed Scott Roger Sheats Becky Smothers Allen St. Claire John Tallmadge Dr. Wes Wallace Commissioner Darrel Williams Ex-Officio Members Lt. Governor Dennis Wicker Secretary Rick Carlisle, DOC Secretary Bill Holman, DENR Secretary David McCoy, DOT Advisors John Berndt, Ass't. Dir., Div. of Community Assistance, NC DOC Marianne Frederick, Chief Planner, DOC Harrison Marshall, Planner III, NCDOT Bill McNeil, Dir., Div. of Community Assistance, NC DOC Beau Mills, Policy Analyst, Office of the Governor John Morck, Community Development Planner, NC DOC Meg Ryan O'Donnell, Commission to Address Smart Growth Hawley Truax, Policy Analyst, Office of the Governor Anita Watkins, Senior Policy Analyst, NC DENR Commission Clerk Rita Harris