Where zoning districts define appropriate locations for various land uses and/or building types (the “where”), site development standards describe the quality expected of development (the “how”). Site development standards address a wide range of issues:
- How the existing land is protected (e.g., floodplain regulation, fluvial hazard zones, open space and natural area protection);
- How the development site is laid out and planned (e.g., lot and block standards, circulation and connectivity, landscaping, parking); and
- How new buildings are located, designed, and operate (building dimensions, signage, lighting, and circulation and connectivity).
These standards can often impact a development’s vulnerability to certain hazards. For example, landscaping standards might require a certain number of trees be provided on a lot, regardless of its location within the wildland-urban interface. Meeting the landscaping standards might conflict with defensible space standards. Reconciling these competing interests is where interdepartmental coordination is critical.
Like many other tools in this report, well-crafted site development standards can accomplish more than just mitigating hazards. For example, low-impact development helps communities reduce the risk of downstream flooding triggered by stormwater runoff, but also improves water quality. Also, subdivision regulations can help prevent densification in known hazard areas but also ensure orderly growth and development and support transportation investments. Tools that meet multiple goals and objectives are often more supported by the community.
Tools that meet multiple community goals and objectives are often more supported by the community.
Explore the Tools
Explore tools that communities can use to improve site development standards to reduce risk or mitigate hazards.
Enhanced Stormwater Management Techniques at the Watershed Scale
Traditional stormwater management practices are implemented at the local level. This is for good reason, as controlling the quantity and quality of runoff from land development is most effectively managed by applying site-specific techniques close to the source.