The Big Darby Accord Plan has been developed to provide a proactive approach to managing development and ensuring the protection and improvement of water quality and aquatic habitat in the Big Darby Creek watershed.
The Plan provides guidance for how and which land should be developed, preserved, and protected. The Plan, similar to a comprehensive plan, provides land use and policy guidance for changes in land use over time.
The Plan creates a general land use plan that promotes a sustainable land use pattern and locates the highest amount of development in areas that are less sensitive and within close proximity of centralized sewer and regional transportation networks.
A system of Tiers identifies land areas of protection based on unique environmental resources that were identified during the environmental sensitivity analysis. The goal of the Accord is to protect the Tiers through development policies and regulations, and proposed voluntary programs and incentives for conservation.
The general land use plan proposes a variety of new land use categories for the planning area. In addition to conservation areas, principle land use categories include conservation development and a new mixed‐use Town Center.
Water quality modeling of the proposed Big Darby Accord general land use plan shows there will be a reduction in the level of specified pollutants that are contained in stormwater runoff and discharged to the Hellbranch Run or directly to the Big Darby Creek main stem. The plan also achieves a significant improvement in the direction of reaching Ohio EPA targets attributed to conservation strategy and land use pattern.
The Plan identifies supporting policies that each jurisdiction should adopt to ensure the watershed is protected. Major policy recommendations associated with environmental components, conservation development, the Town Center, open space, water quality, best management practices and sewer service are more fully explained in the Big Darby Accord Plan.
Implementation of the Big Darby Accord requires coordinated effort among a number of key stakeholders, including local governments, state agencies, landowners, conservation organizations, and developers. A Memorandum of Understanding between the jurisdictions is being pursued to solidify the commitment to work together to implement the Plan.
The Accord Plan is a living document that, over time, will need to be updated. Several of the programs recommended in the Plan are intended to provide feedback that will be used to adapt policies, programs, and standards to ensure that actions today and in the future are still meeting the Mission of the Accord.