Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

TOWN OF MORRISVILLE

6.1.22 Miscellaneous Land Conservation Incentive Programs Other, voluntary strategies exist at the Federal and State levels that provide incentives to protect natural lands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and sensitive species habitat and forest lands from development. These non-regulatory approaches include providing tax credits for donating lands to specific organizations (usually land trusts) and providing funding for various grants and trust funds to purchase or protect undeveloped lands. Note that there

are no existing agricultural use areas within the Town. 6.2 Local Regulations and Programs

Environmental protection is a cornerstone value for the Town. The Town has developed several programs to meet its internal goals to provide a high-quality life for its residents. The following summary addresses relevant regulations and programs from environmental management and land use policy analysis perspectives. These local initiatives to prevent impacts to natural resources will offset future impacts resulting from growth. These measures to protect and preserve the natural environment are implemented through the Town’s recently developed UDO. Table 6-2 summarizes local programs, and Table 6-3 illustrates the environmental resources protected by the various Town programs. Sections following the tables provide additional detail on each program.

TABLE 6-2 Summary of Existing Local Programs Program

Summary

As a delegated authority for buffer protection, the Engineering Department is responsible for stream origin determinations and implementation of the riparian buffer ordinance . The UDO requires that a 50-foot-wide undisturbed buffer be maintained on all perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, and ponds indicated on the most recent version of a USGS quadrangle topographic map or soil survey map. The goals of the hazard mitigation master plan, adopted in 2010, are to eliminate or reduce losses of life and property from natural forces, such as water and wind. This includes limiting development in the floodplain, developing structural mitigation measures to prevent flooding, and providing natural resource protection. The Town complies with the following FEMA requirements: no development or fill is allowed in the floodway, and the bottom floor elevation must be 2 feet above 100- year flood elevation. Wake County implements the Town’s Erosion and Sediment Control Program. An erosion and sediment control plan is needed for any disturbance of 1 acre or more. Further information on Wake County’s Erosion and Sediment Control Program is found in Appendix B. Key elements include soil stabilization in accordance with the County’s Phase II stormwater permit and the use of Performance and Maintenance Guarantee requirements. The Town recently developed and adopted a new engineering, design, and construction manual containing updated stormwater quantity and quality measures.

Riparian Buffers Protection Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) 6 Floodplain Protection UDO 5.6 Hazard Mitigation Plan

Erosion and Sediment Control Program

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