Developers for the Delaware

Regional developers use methods like low impact development, better site design, and stormwater management best management practices to minimize their impact on nearby natural resources like forests and streams. While these practices are often common sense approaches, older ordinances and codes sometimes make doing these things difficult. This project aims to revise those codes to reduce the barriers to environmentally-friendly development and re-development in the Wissahickon watershed.
Background: 

The Council implements a nationally recognized approach to sound land development practices by conducting a Redevelopment Roundtable - Developers for the Delaware. First pioneered by the Center for Watershed Protection, this approach invites the input of municipal leaders, engineers, developers, civic associates, safety personnel, homeowner associations and municipal authorities to meet and address ways to reduce the environmental impact of development. Participants review 22 model development principles, such as street width, use of vegetated meadows and gardens, and lot size and layout, and then reach consensus on their recommendations for changing codes and ordinances to meet those principles.

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Project Goals: 

To reach consensus on changing and updating development codes and ordinances so that a community's environmental and economic needs are met through a broad-based stakeholder process.

 

Major milestones/successes to date: 
Since January 2006, the Council has been engaging the six targeted municipalities in the Wissahickon watershed (Whitpain, Whitemarsh, Springfield, Upper Dublin Townships and Ambler Borough) to discuss the process with the appropriate township representatives. At the end of the feasibility study, the Council determined that three municipalities were interested and well-poised to participate (Whitpain, Springfield, and Upper Dublin). Another key stakeholder, the Montgomery/Bucks County Homebuilders Association, has also enthusiastically sign onto the process. Other stakeholders include Montgomery County Planning Commission and various environmental/conservation groups or agencies working in the watershed.

 

Current/upcoming plans: 

The Council will facilitate, organize, and manage the Developers for the Delaware in two phases. The first phase involves the completion of a facilitated, consensus-building process whereby stakeholders are engaged to address site-level redevelopment and infill issues. The second phase will address implementation as the consensus document that is produced in the initial phase will be codified into the municipal code in the communities where the Developers for the Delaware will be piloted.

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