Conservation Tools

An overview of how to develop a shade tree ordinance

Information on how to budget for a community tree program, including a budget worksheet.

Ordinances enacted by this small, PA township are an effort to encourage smart growth and provide for resource protection

Comprehensive review of Lancaster County’s Designated Growth Areas

Zoning map for Bethel Township, which is located along the Kittatinny Ridge in Berks County.

Simple fact sheet about developing tree ordinances with a link to a sample ordinance

Recognizing the essential relationship between land use, urban form, and transportation decisions, in 2006 the Town of Mooresville, NC initiated three major planning projects: Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a Comprehensive Transportation Plan, and an update of its Zoning Ordinance. Following a suggestion by the Federal Highway Administration, the Town decided to incorporate scenario planning to better link the three planning processes.

Comprehensive examination of the Design concept, complete with up-to date references, examples, model ordinances, case studies and more.

Funded by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) undertook this project in order to promote and enable the use of Conservation Subdivision Design (or CSD), arguably the best reform made to traditional cluster-type zoning to date. This project is intended to elevate the use of this alternative land development technique to one that is commonly accepted and utilized, by serving as an educational tool particularly for Town Planners, Planning Boards and developers.

There are 9 provisions in this draft model ordinance: Comprehensive Stormwater Management, Riparian Buffer Zone Management, Steep Slope Conservation Districts, Woodland Protection, Wellhead Protection, Wetlands Protection, Floodplain Protection, Comprehensive Water Supply/Use Management and comprehensive Wastewater Management. There are also extensive Appendices that go with the Stormwater ordinance. Please note this is in the draft form, and has not yet been released

Zoning ordinances for East Vincent Township, PA, Chapter 27, which include steep slope ordinances. The township excludes steep slopes, floodplains, and jurisdictional wetlands from its definition of “net tract area,” which is used to establish the maximum number of dwelling units permitted on a tract of land.

Brief background and list of resources and case studies.

This gives 2 model tree ordinances for Louisiana. They are included here because they show models for both small and large communities.

A comprehensive review of the urban growth boundary tool, including evaluations of different urban containment techniques, a study of their prevalence in the United States, and case studies.

Contains information on how to control, reduce, and regulate light pollution and conserve energy usage, including lighting ordinance information.

This booklet summarizes how municipalities can use the development process to their advantage to protect interconnected networks of open space: natural areas, greenways, trails and recreational lands. Communities can take control of their destinies so that their conservation goals are achieved in a manner fair to all parties concerned. All that is needed are some relatively straightforward amendments to municipal comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances and subdivision ordinances.

Commonwealth Court case affirming a zoning hearing board’s decision to limit the size of off-site signs to the same size as on-site signs. The court stated the, “regulation…must not be arbitrary or discriminatory, and must bear a reasonable relationship to public health, safety, welfare and morals."

This report examines urban growth boundaries as a technique for concentrating growth in development areas and discouraging it elsewhere. It explains how boundaries are used in Maryland and in other states, outlines the elements that must be present for a growth boundary to be successful, and presents a step-by-step procedure for creating and enacting a boundary.

This article discusses the impact the resource land assessment (a development threat analysis) had on preservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Maryland's Green Infrastructure Assessment is a tool developed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to help identify and rank areas of greatest statewide ecological importance as well as those at greatest risk of loss to development. The methods developed are being applied at the multi-state, state, regional and local government levels to guide conservation efforts.

Two-CD set of programs that explores how to create effective and defensible sign regulations.

Two zoning tools for municipalities to consider integrating into existing zoning ordinances: Natural Resource Protection Standards and a Model Conservation District.

Model ordinance from Montgomery County's Riparian Corridor Conservation District.

This webpage provides a model ordinance for stream buffers, as well as a link to a model ordniance for coastal areas

Examples of state model sign ordinances: Included on this website is a general sign ordinance, and billboard prohibition. Please note that special consideration will have to be made to mold these models to conform to Pennsylvania’s statutes and case law.

An excellent model ordinance prepared by the 10 Towns Great Swamp Watershed Committee as a prototype for adoption by its municipal government members in the Passaic River Basin.

This model ordinance was written to promote consistency between the county comprehensive plan and local comprehensive plans and to help municipalities to manage and direct growth in a sustainable manner. The model ordinance has different provisions for urban areas, rural areas, and redevelopment areas within Lancaster County.

Fact sheet on how to form a tree commission as one tool a community can use to create and maintain an urban forestry program.

Links and ordering information for multiple publications (some free) on forestry programs and tree care

This website provides information on proposed legislation, state statutes, and land use case law rulings.

This reference provides municipalities with the opportunity to access, via the internet, the PowerPoint presentation from the Municipalities Planning Code Made Easy workshop. The PowerPoint slides are linked to MPC Quick Guide, which then directs users to actual sections within the MPC, relating to a specific topic that the user has identified. To work through this program, simply follow the navigational tools provided.

POLC maintains a set of model lighting ordinances on its website that have evolved over time to incorporate the most recent and most effective ordinance language. The site also contains enacted lighting ordinances from across the Commonwealth as well as helpful information on initiating an ordinance and links to other relevant resources.

This publication provides guidance for the process involved in installing traffic calming measures along state roadways and details traffic calming options and design guidelines.

A summary of regulations that impact agriculture in Pennsylvania and an explanation of tools that municipalities can use to grow and protect agriculture within their boundaries.

Proposed amendments to the existing township ordinances regarding steep slope development. Use a Keyword Search function on this page to locate the steep slope section.

In an effort to update both its Regional Growth Management Plan and Regional Transportation Plan, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission implemented scenario build-outs throughout its entire service region, which includes 103 municipalities in the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry.

A thorough example of New Jersey’s Model ordinance. Includes sections on permitted and prohibited uses in buffer zones, performance standards, etc. If you choose to follow this document to create your own ordinance, you will need to modify the content to conform to Pennsylvania laws.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission completed a survey of municipal natural resource protection tools in its service area in 2002, which was systematically updated in 2006. Outstanding examples of ordinances related to natural resources, including steep slopes, are posted on this website and are saved as part of this library item.

Sample ordinance from the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs for the creation of a shade tree commission and the adoption of rules and standards for the planting, maintenance and removal of shade trees within the public right-of-way.

Web page with links to Bloomsburg's Shade Tree Ordinance and information on their Shade Tree Commission.

This is the web page for Greensburg, Pennsylvania's shade tree commission. The shade tree ordinance, chapter 74 of the city's code, can be accessed through the web page and a pdf (as of 8/15/11) is included in this library item.

The web page for Susquehanna Township's shade tree commission. A copy of the shade tree ordinance, (as of 8/16/2011), is included in this library item.

The web page for Radnor Township, Pennsylvania's shade tree commission. The ordinance is found in chapter 263 of the municipal code, and a copy (as of 8/16/11) is included in this library item.

Web page for Carlisle Pennsylvania's shade tree commission and shade tree ordinance.

The Montgomery County Planning Commission conducted a build out study which measured and described all future development permitted in the central and western municipalities of Montgomery County under current zoning ordinances.

This provides good examples of the documents you will need in creating a sign ordinance. Included is the application for sign placement, guidelines for approval of different sign types, requirements for electrical signs, and an insurance requirement form.

Perhaps the best example of a municipal sign ordinance and one that has achieved the desired results. This ordinance is extremely thorough and includes definitions to help identify permitted and non-permitted sign usage.

Developed by the county and the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, this model sign ordinance is proposed for adoption by all municipalities in Monroe County. The ordinance is based on a number of local municipality sign ordinances and includes other significant refinements gleaned from other counties’ ordinances. The goal of this effort is to have all county municipalities adopt an effective, standardized, sign ordinance.

Commonwealth Court case, ruling in favor of the landowner, that natural features on the parcel created a “hardship” to the landowner. The court approved the variances sought by the landowner and the Zoning Hearing Board, even though the landowner knew these conditions existed and variances would have to be obtained prior to their purchase of the property.

Concise example of a steep slope ordinance. We’ve in included this because it includes standards and criteria for reviewing special exceptions.

The Munipalities Planning Code allows the use of steep slopes to be regulated through a zoning overlay district, which enables their uniform regulation regardless of each municipality’s base zoning district provisions. Upper Salford Township, Montgomery County, employs this approach, typical of many municipalities across the Commonwealth, and its Overlay District comprises all areas of the Township with slopes greater than 15% Four categories of slopes are differentially restricted, and a combination of disturbance (i.e., grading and vegetation removal) and lot size and design standards take precedence over the regulations of underlying districts.

Spreadsheet for completing a street or park tree inventory. The spreadsheet can be downloaded in Excel or Access.

The subdivision and land development ordinance is the most commonly used development control mechanism in Pennsylvania. It is the most basic of land use regulations. This manual provides additional information.

To participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a municipality must enact a code or ordinance, which at a minimum, meets the floodplain management requirements established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This publication provides additional information.

The New England Light Pollution Advisory Group educates the public on the virtues of efficient, glare-free outdoor night lighting -- and the tremendous benefits of low-lumen (low-light-output) lighting for many (if not most) outdoor applications.

Guidebook on developing an urban tree ordinance. It includes a tree ordinance questionnaire, which is designed to help individuals better understand the relevant issues and questions that need to be answered when undertaking the process of tree ordinance creation.

Any municipality enacting a zoning ordinance must also create a zoning hearing board. The primary purpose of such a board is to help assure fair and equitable application and administration of the zoning ordinance by hearing appeals on the zoning officer’s determinations and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the ordinance in certain hardship situations.

The Cranberry Township TND Ordinance features the following innovations of the Form-Based Code: context-sensitive design standards, street sections for five street types, streetscape design & detailing standards, building type design & detailing standards; and green infrastructure design standards.

This is a comprehensive guide to assessing the tree resource needs of your community and developing and implementing an effective tree ordinance. This detailed guide provides valuable tools and examples for writing a tree ordinance.

A review of community landscape ordinances and their impact on the design and planning professions that work with this type of legislation.

Zoning districts and overlays for Upper Bern Township, which is located along the Kittatinny Ridge in Berks County. Includes Blue Mountain and Appalachian Trail overlays.

Commonwealth Court ruling upholding the steep slope ordinances of a municipality. Appellant wanted to disturb nearly 6 acres of land for development, but the township’s steep slope ordinances only permitted the disturbance of just over two on this parcel.

The Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act requires Pennsylvania municipalities along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to adequately protect it as a public natural resource. Planning and architecture firm Wallace, Roberts, and Todd was hired by a steering committee of municipalities subject to the Act to develop strategies and guidelines for trail corridor protection. This website describes various zoning tools for landscape protection and includes examples of steep slope and ridge regulations.