ENVIRONMENT
Intent
The intent of
the Environment Plan is to ensure that in developing the County, the natural
beauty is preserved, water quality is protected, property values and quality
of life are enhanced, and ecological diversity is preserved. With sound protection measures, such
as those presented herein, Prince
William County’s
citizens, business community, and visitors enjoy a healthy environment
co-existing with a vibrant economy.
In this regard, this Plan is to be used to address environmental
issues, evaluate development proposals in their earliest stages, and develop
ordinances.
Prince William County
is one of a few jurisdictions on the Atlantic Seaboard that extends from sea
level to mountain crest. The
natural environment of the County is diverse. Streams, creeks, rivers, lakes,
marshes, forests, meadows, and shores provide habitat for plants and animals,
as well as contribute to the economic well-being and aesthetics of the
County.
One way to
preserve the County’s natural environment is to see that applicants for
development approval address environmental issues at the earliest planning
phase. This Plan assists in this
early planning process by defining those areas of a site that are environmentally
sensitive and need to be preserved for the purpose of protecting water
quality, maintaining the County’s natural beauty, enhancing property
values and quality of life, and preserving ecological diversity.
Sustaining
our environmental position is critical to the County’s capacity to ensure
a high quality of life, provide for continued economic growth, and actively
conserve and protect natural resources, including public drinking water
supplies. To this end, it is
critical for the County to establish clear measurable goals and environmental benchmarks in
order to gauge its progress and plan for the future.
Prince
William County must evolve towards a sustainability approach in its planning
and development policies. Prince
William County embraces the “green” movement, recognizing the
environmental and economic benefits of our green infrastructure, considering
emerging green technology, ensuring a multi-faceted decision-making approach
that balances green and gray infrastructure needs, while balancing environmental, economic, and social issues.
On rezoning
and special use permit applications, the Zoning Ordinance requires an
Environmental Constraints Analysis to determine areas of a site that are
suitable for development and those areas that are not. The Environmental Constraints
Analysis determines the presence and extent important environmental
features as described in this Plan. It is used as a tool to outline in a
rezoning or special use permit application the preservation or
conservation areas that will be provided and environmental protection
practices included with those applications.
The components
of the Environment Plan include text and fold-out maps as follows:
·
Intent, Goal, Policies, and Action Strategies.
·
Highly Erodible Soils Map (Figure 1).
·
Highly Permeable Soils Map (Figure 2).
·
Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas Map
(RPAs) (Figure 3)
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COMMENTS/NOTES
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DEFINITIONS
Contiguous
Canopy:
The leaf area of a tree.
Canopy Coverage:
The area underneath the dripline of a tree, group of trees or forest.
Critical slope
area: An area with a greater than 15% change in elevation over the
same horizontal distance (15% slope) or an erodibility factor k of greater
than 0.4.
Forest:
A community of woody and herbaceous plants dominated by trees.
Urban Forest:
A regional term that incorporates tree resources. Urban forests may include
rural, suburban and urban areas. For example, trees in parking lots,
streetscapes, buffer areas, natural woodlands and major forested areas, such
as Prince William Forest Park.
Mature Hardwood
Forest: A forest dominated by deciduous trees with a minimum
diameter of 12 inches dbh (diameter at breast height or 4.5 feet from the
ground).
Forest Resources:
Refers to wildlife habitat values and ecosystem services provided by forests,
including but not limited to water purification, reduced air pollution,
carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, natural flood control, timber production,
etc.
Forest Type:
A category defining forests based on the natural groups of different tree
species commonly occurring together over large areas, named for one or more
dominating species (e.g., birch-beech-maple, oak-hickory).
Green Infrastructure:
An interconnected network of green space that conserves natural ecosystem
values and functions and provides associated benefits to human populations.
Perennial Stream:
A body of water flowing in a natural or man-made channel year-round, except
during periods of drought.
Legally
perennial stream: All water bodies identified as perennial when
using a scientifically valid system of in-field indicators. A stream that
scores ≥ 25 points through the County’s approved Perennial Flow
Determination (PFD) process.
Significant
Stream: Stream that show strong morphological conditions with a
defined channel sorted substrate and/or groundwater input and/or supports
aquatic life. A stream that scores ≥ 14 points through the
County’s approved Perennial Flow Determination (PFD) process.
Prime Farmland
Soil: Land that has the best combination of physical and chemical
characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops.
Wetland:
Lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the
nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities
living in the soil and on its surface.
Jurisdictional
Wetland: Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or
groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under
normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted
for life in saturated soil (hydric) conditions. Three criteria must be
verified to identify a jurisdictional wetland – hydrophytic vegetation,
hydric soils and wetland hydrology.
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Staff may not agree with
“critical slope area” as defined by the USDA and included here;
needs more discussion.
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GOAL: Preserve, protect, and enhance the
environmental resources and features of the County.
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ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICIES AND ACTION STRATEGIES
EN-POLICY 1: Consider environmental concerns at all levels of
decision-making.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1.
Develop other critical maps to be included as part
of the Environment Plan, which may include the following:
·
Existing Canopy
Coverage map.
·
Impervious Area map
·
Vegetative Cover Types map
·
Wetlands map
·
Existing Conservation Easements map
·
Prime Farmland Soils map
·
Critical Stream Areas map
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2. Update
the Zoning Ordinance environmental constraints analysis requirements
to include the following:
a. Approximate delineation of all wetland areas
b. Approximate location of all Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas
c.
All intermittent streams
d.
Ponds, culverts,
and ditches
e.
Contributing drainage areas
f.
Existing
structures, roads, and the locations of known utilities and easements
g.
Sufficient
information on adjoining parcels to provide a preliminary assessment of
stormwater impacts from the site, such as 100-year floodplains, wetlands,
stormwater infrastructure, streams, and other sensitive features
h.
Identification of the adequacy of receiving surface waters into which
stormwater will be proposed for discharge
i.
Proposed
limits of disturbance.
j.
An
accurate existing vegetation map of the entire site
k.
An
accurate location of all Specimen Trees
l.
Prime
Farmland Soils
m.
Identification
of environmental features proposed for preservation or conservation.
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3. Identify
and pursue opportunities for open space preservation and for park network
development connecting Quantico and Leesylvania State Park
with Washington, D.C.,
using greenway corridors along the Potomac River
and its tributaries, as identified in the Open Space and Corridors Map.
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4. Seek
and consider as part of the rezoning or special use process, input from
adjacent jurisdictions to promote regional green infrastructure planning
efforts as well as other environmental concerns that have
multi-jurisdictional impacts.
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5. Encourage
developers to incorporate into site planning various environmentally
sensitive approaches to stormwater management, including low-impact
development (LID) techniques and preservation and restoration of natural land
forms, as discussed in this Plan and the Community Design Plan.
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EN-POLICY
2: Develop and implement a data
collection, tracking, and analysis structure to monitor and establish the
county’s environmental baseline, resource status, and sustainability.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1. Utilize
the information gathered through the studies and assessments included in
Policy 2, above, to establish criteria to establish and priorities for
protecting ecologically important areas during land use decision-making
processes.
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2. Map
all Environmental Resources to prioritize conservation planning, and make
this information available on the County Mapper.
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3. Complete
a Countywide Stream Assessment, post the report online and make this
information available on the County Mapper.
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4. Inventory
county-owned properties, to include Park Authority and Prince William Public
School properties, to identify environmental resources, as identified in the
Environmental Constraints Analysis.
Provide inventory/mapping of forest areas in Prince William County and
make this information available to the public.
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5. Utilize
tree assessment tools to account for the depreciation of renewable
resources (such as forest, groundwater) and non-renewable resources (such as unique
habitat) when evaluating the economic health of the County.
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6. All
County offices, to include Park Authority and Prince William Public
School properties, involved in land use will coordinate with local,
federal, state, and regional environmental organizations to facilitate the
exchange of data and implementation of environmental protection measures.
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7. Conduct
a County-wide analysis of the economic value of our existing green infrastructure
(native and urban forests) toward energy conservation, storm water control
off-sets, property values, protecting and improving water quality, and reducing
air pollution.
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8. Develop
a baseline analysis of existing tree cover from available historic data from
the year 2000 or earlier.
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9. Publish
a report each year detailing the status of the County’s environmental
assets.
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EN-POLICY 3: To
further support OS-Policy 5, a minimum
of 39 percent of the total area in the County, (exclusive of acreage of
Marine Corps Base Quantico for all calculation purposes), will be retained as
protected open space, as defined in the Open Space Chapter.
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ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1. Encourage
cluster development to protect contiguous natural open space, as defined by
the Zoning Ordinance.
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2.
Amend the cluster ordinance to ensure that
open space is permanently protected, as defined in the Open Space Chapter.
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3. Amend
the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that homes and commercial structures are
located at least 100 feet from conservation and preservation areas to avoid
intrusion and prevent negative impacts.
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Staff
does not agree; more discussion needed.
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4.
Amend the Zoning Ordinance and DCSM to ensure that
proffered conservation and preservation areas shall not be allowed on
residential lots less than 1 acre.
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5. Develop
and publish guidelines for homeowner associations that detail how to manage
conservation areas, while providing information on responsibilities and a
checklist of standard management measures and benefits.
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6. Make
information on conservation easements available to landowners, including distribution
points at the Tax Assessment Department and other relevant county offices, to
encourage the use of open space/conservation easements as tools to preserve
environmental resources.
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7. Encourage
the use of open space/conservation easements to preserve open space in
already developed areas in order to provide natural areas, protect
environmentally sensitive resources, preserve wildlife habitat and ensure a
scenic appearance over time.
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8. The
county shall review and implement opportunities for a Purchase of Development
Rights (PDR) Program.
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9.
Explore the use of available federal and state funding resources,
including grants, foundations, and transportation related funds, to support green
infrastructure planning initiatives and a Purchase of Development Rights
(PDR) Program.
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10. Initiate
and provide public information programs each year aimed at conserving lands
in the watershed through civic engagement, community stewardship, and agency
partnerships.
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11. Investigate
the benefits of involving a private conservancy for the purpose of purchasing
privately held lands for preservation purposes and seeking perpetual
conservation easements to preserve open space.
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12. Support
initiatives promoted by the County’s Trails and Blueways Council to
establish a Countywide greenway and path system through the voluntary
donation of land and conservation easements from interested property owners,
as a means of environmental protection.
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CLIMATE & AIR QUALITY POLICIES
EN-POLICY 4: Monitor air quality and
collaborate with DEQ, MWCOG, and other regional entities to identify and
implement strategies to improve air quality.
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ACTION
STRATEGIES:
1. Support
and coordinate with the Council of Governments (COG) Metropolitan Washington
Air Quality Committee’s Air Quality Monitoring Program, the Climate,
Energy and Environmental Policy Committee for the region and within the
county.
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2. Analyze
and suggest locations for air, water and energy monitoring sites to encourage
COG and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to establish additional
air quality monitoring stations in the County, as applicable.
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3. Where
applicable, review and consider air quality impacts for public and private
industries and utilities in conjunction with the rezoning and/or special use
permit application process.
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4. Continue
to maintain regional COG agreements and contingency
plans to deal with stationary and mobile sources of pollution to protect
residents, and especially sensitive residents (such as the young, the
elderly, and sensitive populations).
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5. Develop
a process to determine if adequate controls are in place to prevent
metals, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and other carcinogenic materials
from entering the trash stream.
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6. Request
MWCOG or VDOT to review air quality/transportation studies along major transportation
corridors and at congested intersections, in order to better define the
impacts and trends of vehicle-generated pollution.
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7. Developments,
including and not limited to transit-oriented and mixed use projects, shall
optimize the use of transit and non-motorized trips in order to reduce
pollution impacts from vehicles and contain the appropriate support
facilities, such as bus shelters, dedicated bicycle lanes, bicycle parking
facilities, trails, crosswalks, sidewalks, etc.
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8. Ensure that
development plans, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) projects,
and County projects preserve and/or re-establish vegetative
buffers along roadways as a means of filtering and absorbing pollutants, and
reducing noise pollution.
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9. Reduce
vehicle pollution by encouraging the use of alternative modes of transport
– including van/carpooling, public transit, bicycles, light rail, and
pedestrian paths.
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10. Locate
public facilities, including schools, parks and libraries, to maximize
pedestrian access and reduce air pollution.
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12. At the
time of rezoning, encourage site layouts that orient structures to maximize
solar gain in the winter months and prevailing winds in the summer months.
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WATERSHED PLANNING
AND SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
EN-POLICY 5: Protect
the natural landscape and its associated economic, aesthetic and ecosystem
benefits.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1.
Development proposals shall identify and preserve critical slope areas,
especially the following:
·
All areas of 25% or greater slopes
contiguous to the 100-year floodplain.
·
If no 100-year floodplain is present, 25%
or greater slopes that begin within 50 feet of the stream channel.
For impacts to slopes between 15% and 24% contiguous to streams or
100-year floodplains, require mitigation to offset impacts.
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2.
Amend the DCSM to require identification and protection of all
areas with shrink/swell soils, critical slope areas, and/or with underlying
marine clays. Where impacts are
unavoidable, require mitigation.
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3. Seek
commitments prior to the time of rezoning and special use permit approval
that the landforms identified in the Environmental Constraints Analysis
above will be set aside as a preservation/conservation area.
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4. Use native plants that are adapted to local soil and
weather conditions when re-vegetating disturbed areas.
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5. Amend
the design evaluation guidelines, criteria, and techniques included in the
Community Design Chapter to better promote the preservation of natural
landscapes – especially those that tend to be drought resistant –
and apply them in the evaluation of rezoning and/or special use permit
applications.
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6. Where
toxic waste soil contamination is suspected, require that a rezoning
and/or special use permit applicant submit an Environmental Site Assessment
Phase II – Contaminated Sites and Remediation Plan as part of the
application.
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7. Prohibit
development at toxic waste sites to the extent provided by law. If environmental clean-up has been
conducted to meet state and federal standards, development can be proposed.
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8. Monitor
the effectiveness of the Prince William County Erosion and Sediment Control
Ordinance and upgrade as appropriate.
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9. For
properties that include streams, tidal or
non-tidal wetlands, headwaters, 15% or greater slopes, headwaters, or other environmental
features of significance, require enhanced erosion and sedimentation
controls, including super silt fences, erosion control blankets, soil
stabilization matting, temporary vegetative cover, and other controls, as
required by the Erosion and Sediment Control Program
Administrator.
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10. County
development and transportation projects and any other projects constructed
using taxpayer funds shall lead by example, incorporating the highest environmental
leadership standards and requiring plan review and erosion and sediment
control inspection frequencies that meet or exceed state standards.
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11. For
State development and transportation projects, the county shall coordinate with state agencies to ensure that all projects
within the County demonstrate leadership standards by
incorporating the highest environmental standards, meeting or exceeding the
County’s minimum standards.
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12. Request courtesy
review of erosion control plans for all federal and state projects in Prince William County.
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13. Amend
the Zoning Ordinance to establish minimum standards and thresholds that limit
clearing and grading on developing properties.
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14. Promote
the use of vegetative or “soft” stabilization techniques along
shorelines to maintain a natural buffer.
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15. Address
issues of sea level rise along shorelines in County. Utilize current data and information
on sustainable shorelines to protect shorefronts and property and incorporate
sea level rise into County policy.
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16. At the
time of rezoning or special use permit, require development sites to be
designed in a manner that limits clearing and grading to the minimum area
needed to construct the proposed use.
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17. Update
the DCSM to preclude the use of all invasive, non-native species.
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SURFACE &
GROUNDWATER POLICIES
EN-POLICY 6: Maintain
or enhance the integrity of surface bodies of water and watersheds.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1. As
appropriate, for new construction and redevelopment, phosphorous loading per
acre per year are to be in accordance with final State stormwater
regulations.
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2. Locate
away from the County’s water bodies those nonresidential activities that
use, store, or manufacture significant quantities of toxic substances.
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3. Study
and recommend measures to improve contingency planning by parties who use,
handle, or store hazardous substances in sufficient quantities so as to
constitute a threat to surface and groundwater quality. The measures should address
identification of trigger amounts of materials and procedures for prevention
of leaks or spills and for containment of leaks, spills, and water runoff
from fire fighting and include commitments for the pretreatment of storm
water quality to prevent contamination.
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4. Require
adherence to the following guidelines for determination of density or
intensity of development:
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RESIDENTIAL
Preclude the development of structures within 100-year
floodplains. The allowable
dwelling unit density for a property in the Urban and Suburban Area shall be
calculated based on the area outside the Environmental Resource (ER)
area, which includes the floodplain, the Chesapeake Bay RPAs, and areas shown
in the environmental constraints analysis submitted with a rezoning or
special use permit application with wetlands; 25 percent or greater slopes;
areas with 15 percent or greater slopes in conjunction with soils that have
severe limitations; soils with a predominance of marine clays; public water
supply sources; wetlands and critically erodible shorelines and stream
banks. The allowable dwelling
unit density areas of the property encumbered by such features shall be based
upon the maximum density permitted by the existing zoning of the property at
the time of adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. Other relevant Comprehensive Plan
components – such as the capacity of the transportation network,
environmental constraints, and zoning requirements – must be addressed,
as well, in determining the appropriate number of dwelling units on a
property.
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NON-RESIDENTIAL
On non-residential-zoned property encumbered with areas
of 100-year floodplain or Chesapeake Bay RPAs the allowable intensity
is determined based on the floor area ratio (FAR) specified by the existing
or proposed zoning district and the total site area. Development within the 100-year floodplain
and Chesapeake Bay RPAs is to be precluded. The intensity of development is to be
evaluated on the basis of other relevant environmental resource action
strategies, the compatibility of the proposed uses with surrounding existing
uses and other applicable portions of the Plan.
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5. Develop
and distribute public service information to reduce nutrient loading in
stormwater runoff from yards and farms.
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6. Use
the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) criteria for the siting of Marinas
or Community Boat Moorings in evaluating future waterfront access sites to
the County.
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7. Encourage
innovative stormwater management techniques. Promote LID (Low-Impact Development)
and on-site stormwater management (SWM).
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8. Except
where a crossing is unavoidable, public utilities shall be located outside of
the 100-foot Resource Protection Area buffer, wetlands, and other
water bodies. Where impacts
are unavoidable, require mitigation backed by financial assurances, such as bonds
or escrows.
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EN-POLICY 7: Manage
watersheds through a comprehensive watershed management planning-based
approach.
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ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1. Develop
watershed management plans.
·
As appropriate, the following resources and/or
components are to be considered:
o
Existing impervious surfaces
o Determine
estimated future impervious surfaces, based on established land
use-impervious cover relationships, the most recent comprehensive plan, and
zoning information
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Stormwater management facilities
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Water quality monitoring stations
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Stormwater hotspots/flooding
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Forest cover/tree cover
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Topography
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Soils and geologic features
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Floodplains
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Hazardous waste sites
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Wells
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Land ownership (public/private)
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Subwatershed area
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Land use, by zoning category
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Downstream water resources
·
Include public input and receive public
support
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Address the protection, conservation and
restoration of stream corridors, riparian forest buffers and wetlands
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Reflect the goals and objectives of improving
habitat and water quality.
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Determines the most vulnerable subwatersheds and
evaluates restoration capabilities
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Rank priority subwatersheds for
implementation and identifies areas that merit prompt restoration actions
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Identify solutions for protecting and
restoring streams and other natural resources in the watershed
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Identify implementation mechanisms
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Include a mechanism to monitor progress.
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2.
Present completed watershed management plans to the Board of
County Supervisors for adoption and consider these in making land use
decisions, including the CIP.
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3. Utilize
watershed plans to define the condition of County streams and waterways and
define areas that are prioritized for restoration or improvement – Critical
Stream Areas (CSAs). Produce a
CSA Overlay map to include areas that require restoration or improvements due
to impairment.
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4. At
the time of Rezoning and Special Use Permit seek commitment to improve
conditions within Critical Stream Areas in proximity to project application
or provide restoration project.
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5.
Explore the feasibility of developing a citizen-based Watershed Advisory Council to act as a sounding
board and vehicle for discussion of watershed issues. Objective of the Council is to
incorporate community ideas into watershed planning efforts and increase
understanding of stormwater management and watershed issues
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EN-POLICY 8: Protect
waterways and downstream properties from stormwater runoff.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1. Limit
densities on unstable soils, including marine clays, highly erodible and
other Category 3 soils. Encourage cluster development to ensure these
soil areas remain undisturbed.
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2. Employ
field observation as well as stormwater management plans to assess impact of
proposed development on downstream properties for water quantity, quality,
volume and velocity up to 300 feet downstream.
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3. Encourage
higher standards for stormwater management –
including low-impact development standards – that require all
development projects to establish systems – preferably natural –
for filtering the “first flush” of urban runoff (delivery of
disproportionately large amounts of pollutants that occurs during the early
stages of a storm) near its source.
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4. At
the time of rezonings or special use permits, require
commitments to manage stormwater to meet one-year, and 10-year, and 24-hour
storms.
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5. Preclude
construction of stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities
within tidal or nontidal wetlands and significant streams.
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6.
For plans with multiple sections and/or phases, encourage comprehensive stormwater management plans
to be developed for the entire development, while being consistent with
watershed management plans, prior to preliminary site plan approval.
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7. Encourage
enhanced extended detention.
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8. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, encourage the use of constructed
stormwater wetlands and the use of multiple controls placed in a series, as
appropriate.
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9. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, seek commitments for
environmentally-sensitive siting and construction of development to minimize
the need for excessive grading. Avoid disturbance of steep slopes,
particularly up-slope of natural resource areas, such as wetlands and
streams.
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10. Encourage
the use of level spreaders and vegetated buffers to minimize the use of
piping and/or channels through stream buffers.
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11. Identify
the location of all county-maintained stormwater facilities and
county-inspected low impact development (LID) projects on the County Mapper.
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EN-POLICY 9: Limit the
amount and extent of impervious surfaces to protect water quality.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1. Require
acceptable retrofit techniques in redevelopment in order to minimize
stormwater runoff.
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2. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, encourage the use of
semi-pervious or pervious surfaces and other low-impact development
techniques.
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3. Amend
the Zoning Ordinance to limit additional parking above the regulatory
minimums.
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James City Co.
has this.
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4. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, seek commitments to reserve 30%
of parking areas for compact cars, and encourage shared parking opportunities
and other low-impact design strategies in order to reduce impervious
surfaces.
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5. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, require structured parking for
high-density mixed use developments.
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EN-POLICY 10: Ensure
the preservation and use of natural site features which facilitate the effective management of
stormwater runoff.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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2. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, emphasize preservation of wetlands
over mitigation. Where impacts are unavoidable, require mitigation within the
County backed by financial assurances, such as bonds or cash escrows.
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3. Amend
the Zoning Ordinance to prohibit direct discharge of untreated stormwater into
wetlands. Ensure discharge does not exceed non-erosive velocities.
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4. At the time
of rezoning or special use permit, require commitments to ensure that
wetlands proposed for preservation will retain their functionality.
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5. At
the time of an application for a rezoning or special use permit, seek
commitments to use low-impact design, including bioretention and the
conservation of natural site features, such as wetlands, slopes, Category 3 soils
and forested areas.
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6.
Encourage the preservation of a natural buffer of existing woodland or
forestation area of at least 100 feet along each side of significant
non-RPA streams and headwaters areas that are not otherwise protected
under the Chesapeake Bay regulations or similar legislation. Require
mitigation for impacts to waterways where buffers are not provided at the
time of rezoning or special use permit, backed by financial assurances, such
bonds or case escrows.
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Staff
does not agree. Needs more discussion.
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7. Align
new roads to follow the natural contours of the land. Amend the DCSM to
include road standards that will allow greater preservation of the natural
terrain, water resources and woodland areas.
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Relocated from
Community Design Chapter.
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EN-POLICY 11: Ensure the
protection of the County’s groundwater and aquifers.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1.
Acquire GIS and other information from the Health
Department and State Water Control Board and others identifying
Critical Groundwater Areas (CGAs) and make this information available to
the public on the County Mapper.
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2. Encourage
conservation of natural features and limit impervious surfaces in Critical
Groundwater Areas. Develop procedures to protect or improve, if
necessary, the water quality of Critical Groundwater Areas.
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3. Evaluate
groundwater conditions for potential pollution, using available data from the
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (for leaking underground storage
tanks) and the Prince William County Health Department (for failing septic
systems) when reviewing rezoning and/or special use permit applications.
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4. Promote
the use of secondary containment storage tanks for petroleum products and
other hazardous materials, for all development and redevelopment.
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5. Review
and upgrade, as appropriate, the Best Management Practice and soil and
erosion maintenance enforcement program for all types of development.
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6. Develop
an ordinance that requires new wells be tested for toxic and radiological
substances at the same time that they are being tested for bacterial
contaminants.
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7. Preserve
prime farmland soils to the maximum extent possible to encourage to
production and consumption of locally grown produce.
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10.
Require the use of pre-treatment devices
for stormwater runoff and/or small spills or leakages on sites where
petroleum products or hazardous wastes are handled.
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11.
Amend the DCSM to require the use of
appropriate native vegetation in the stormwater system.
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12.
For new development and retrofits, study and
consider increasing landscape requirements around County maintained stormwater
facilities.
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13. Work
with local regulations (DCSM), the PWC Service Authority, Virginia
Cooperative Extension to promote low water use landscapes on new and existing
development though conservation landscaping principles, including reducing
lawn areas.
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EN-POLICY 12: Ensure the
high quality of public drinking water sources.
In
addition to the policies and action strategies listed for surface and
groundwater protection, the following action strategies will serve to
implement this policy:
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1.
Require the minimum density/intensity of
development, as reflected by the appropriate land use classification shown on
the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map around the shorelines of water bodies and
headwaters areas that drain to a public drinking water supply.
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2. Develop
and implement a Drinking Water Protection Overlay District for areas within
the Occoquan Reservoir and Lake Manassas Watersheds to protect the quantity
and quality of public drinking water supplies, to include the following:
·
Minimum standards for vegetated buffers
along all streams and headwater areas
·
Minimum standards for vegetated buffers
contiguous to wetlands that drain to a public drinking water supply
·
Minimum standards for setbacks from the
300’ contour line around Lake Manassas and the Fairfax Water Authority
easement boundary.
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3. At
the time of rezoning or site plan approval, require development plans to meet
the lowest densities for allowed land use classifications.
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4. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, prioritize preservation of
wetlands, intermittent streams, and headwater areas. Where impacts are
unavoidable, require mitigation, preferably on-site, backed by financial
assurances, such as bonds or cash escrows.
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5. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit, require commitments for enhanced
erosion and sedimentation controls, as appropriate.
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6. Preclude
the installation of septic fields, tanks or other on-site subsurface sewage
disposal system within 500 feet of the shoreline of reservoirs.
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7. Coordinate
with the Fairfax Water Authority to address existing contamination from
pharmaceuticals and prevent future associated impacts to the Occoquan
Reservoir.
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8. Develop
and publish information detailing the human health issues associated with the
presence of pharmaceuticals in public drinking water supplies and list preventative
measures that the public can employ to prevent additional problems.
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9. Encourage
farmers to develop conservation plans for agricultural activities undertaken
within the Lake Manassas and Occoquan Reservoir watersheds.
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10. Continue
to support the Occoquan Monitoring Laboratory, the Northern Virginia Regional
Commission's technical studies, and the multi-jurisdictional Occoquan
watershed program. Obtain annual
reports for presentation to the Board of County Supervisors.
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11. Promote
open space uses and acquire land along the Occoquan Reservoir for special use
parks that are designed to promote an appreciation of the natural environment
and facilitate passive recreation (such as fishing, hiking, and non-motorized
boating).
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12. Actively
support Fairfax Water Authority efforts to increase compliance and enforce
regulations established by their Occoquan Shoreline Easement Policy.
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13. Request
that the Occoquan Laboratory continue to identify point/non-point
pollution sources upstream from the reservoirs and to suggest ways that the
non-point source pollution can be eliminated or controlled.
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EN-POLICY 13: Preserve
natural vegetation – especially
existing and mature trees – and
provide for the replacement and management of urban forest resources.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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1. Initiate
and support a community-based Urban Forestry Council to monitor tree
preservation progress and make recommendations for improvements to County
policies and standards.
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2. Develop, adopt, and implement a Tree Preservation
Ordinance, incorporating standards for both Countywide and watershed goals.
Amend the Zoning Ordinance, DCSM, Subdivision Ordinance, and other relevant policies
to reflect the standards established by the Tree Preservation Ordinance.
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3. Amend
the Zoning Ordinance and DCSM requirements for buffer areas, landscaping and
tree cover requirements to prioritize tree preservation instead of tree
replacement.
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4. Require
tree preservation plans for all new development, to include commitments for
the preservation of specimen trees and commitments to ensure that trees
designated for preservation will survive construction in a manner that
substantially retains their pre-development level of biological function,
health and structural condition.
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5. Continue
to support and implement the Agricultural and Forestal District program to
preserve farmland and woodland areas in the County.
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7. Conduct
a professional study, including coordination with the Virginia Department of
Forestry, to identify the County’s mature hardwood forests and the
location of those forests. Maintain an inventory of Forest Cover in PWC and
track change to contiguous forest as development occurs. Make this information available
to the public on the County Mapper.
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8. Consider
acquisition of select sites for public parks/forests and/or encourage the
dedication of such sites by private property owners.
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9. Maintain
the County’s of Historic and Champion Trees. Use this registry at the time of
rezoning and special use permit application to determine the presence of such
trees on the property.
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10. Establish
and adopt reforestation standards to address areas where unauthorized
clearing has occurred. Amend
relevant ordinances, as needed, including the Zoning Ordinance and DCSM, to
support these standards.
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11. On
lots served by public sewer and water and where a tree canopy exists, the limits
of clearing and grading shall be
configured to minimize the loss of woodlands.
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12. Encourage
utility companies to share easements where technically feasible to reduce the
amount of disturbance along a roadway and provide enough areas for street
trees.
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13. Utilize
tree preservation to protect community appearance, property values and
provide other economic and community benefits.
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EN-POLICY 14: Increase
the environmental awareness of County residents, organizations, businesses,
and government agencies.
ACTION
STRATEGIES:
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Make the
following GIS layers available to the public on the County Mapper:
a)
Slopes
b)
Wetlands
c)
Environmental Resource Areas
d)
Canopy Coverage by Forest
Type
e)
Stormwater infrastructure
f)
Protected open space, including name of easement
holder and number of acres, if different from the total acreage of the parcel
g)
Critical Groundwater Areas
h)
County-maintained stormwater facilities and
county-inspected low impact development (LID) facilities
i)
Update Watershed layer to include the total number
of acres and % of impervious surfaces in small watershed.
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2. Publish
electronically (scalable PDF) and in print a map(s) showing the features
listed in AS-1, above. Provide developers with information on County
conservation requirements.
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3. Conduct
a series of workshops to educate, engage and increase communication between
citizens, organizations, businesses, industry, government officials and agencies
on sustainable development, green infrastructure, and associated
opportunities.
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4. Publish
a webpage and associated e-notification component to provide information and
updates on the County’s green development and green infrastructure
initiatives.
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5. Publish
a webpage and associated e-notification component to promote and provide
current information on local Farmer’s Markets and other sources of
locally produced food.
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6. Continue
to expand or exceed the recycling rate mandated by the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality and publish on the webpage developed
through AS-5, above.
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7. Update
current informational brochures explaining the importance of soils and
the proper maintenance of private sewer/septic systems, including the
importance of such maintenance to the owner and to the environment. Make this
information available to users of these systems.
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8. Provide
brochures on sustainable practices for home gardening and lawn care. Work
with local nurseries and retail facilities that sell fertilizers to ensure
these are distributed to the public.
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EN-POLICY 15: Identify,
manage, and protect all ecological communities
and wildlife – especially critical habitats – as well as
endangered and threatened species, and species of special concern, as
identified in official Federal and State lists.
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1. Ensure
the County considers the most recent information available on the status
and location(s) of rare, threatened and endangered species, rare plant
communities and critical habitat areas.
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2. At
the time of rezoning or special use permit and all County projects, require
implementation of state & federal guidelines for the protection of rare,
threatened, and endangered species and encourage preservation of habitats
where these species could occur.
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3. To
protect the biological diversity, processes, and functions of natural
habitats, identify a network of preservation corridors or large woodland
areas to be incorporated into an overall habitat protection network.
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ENERGY POLICIES
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EN-POLICY 14: Develop a Community Energy Master
Plan
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1. Collect
data and establish a baseline that best defines the energy, water, waste
water and greenhouse gas data situation for County government operations and
community at large.
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2. Incorporate
input from all major stakeholders, including utilities, public authorities,
residents, businesses, community associations, elected officials, schools,
universities and colleges.
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3. Establish
a long-term Vision with clear targets supported by short to medium term
implementation strategies.
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4. Define
targets, tracking measurements reporting and accountability for overall
energy Vision and CEMP implementation.
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EN-POLICY 15: Implement
cost-effective energy-conservation measures at County facilities
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1.
Remain active in EPA ENERGY STAR program
and continue to use EPA’s Portfolio Manager to rate the energy
performance of eligible county-owned buildings. Audit County facilities energy use and
pursue projects with a payback period of less than 10 years.
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2.
Consider giving priority to facilities that rate
75 or higher according to the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Performance Rating
when leasing new space for County use or when renewing existing leases.
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3.
Consider designing and building all new County
facilities so they rate 75 or higher by using the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY
STAR performance rating system, and measure performance annually using
EPA’s Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool.
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4.
Consider designing and constructing County
renovation projects consistent with energy performance standards at least as
stringent as LEED Silver or Green Globes 2 Globes standards whenever those
projects are valued at 50% of the assessed building value. When replacing or installing
appliances and equipment in County facilities, select items that are ENERGY
STAR compliant whenever available.
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5.
Become a Green Partner with George Mason University
(GMU), and encourage use of transit to access the GMU-Prince William
campus. Explore opportunities to
partner with non-public schools and other transportation systems to reduce
the energy used for public school transportation.
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6.
Consider re-directing local consumer utility tax
revenues from to support new or enhance existing energy conservation-related
funds, such as the existing state/federal weatherization assistance programs
or developing a new low-interest revolving loan fund for energy efficiency
investments made by low-income homeowners and small businesses in the County.
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7.
Require new residential development seeking
rezoning and site plan approval to maximize opportunities for transit and to
consider potential for solar/wind energy production in the development.
Encourage construction that qualifies for ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes
designation.
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EN-POLICY 16:
Provide recognition and incentives for energy conservation at
non-government facilities and residences.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1.
Consider establishing a separate, lesser rate
of tax for energy efficient buildings as defined in Code of Virginia §
58.1-3221.2
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2.
Consider additional incentives (financial, tax,
expedited permits, density bonuses, etc.) for development that builds to LEED
or Green Globes standards and ENERGY STAR.
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3.
Recognize and publicize those in the community
whose facilities achieve LEED, Green Globes and ENERGY STAR certifications.
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EN-POLICY 17:
Provide recognition and incentives for renewable energy application at
non-government facilities and residences.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1. Evaluate
current policies and ordinances to remove obstacles to renewable energy
(wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal, etc.) application.
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2. Evaluate
and recommend incentives for projects that create on-site renewable energy
application.
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3.
Recognize and publicize for those projects that use on-site
renewable energy.
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EN-POLICY 18: Provide leadership by example and education in the
areas of energy efficiency, demand response and renewable energy application.
ACTION STRATEGIES:
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1.
Consider inventorying greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from county facilities to create a baseline and using it to develop
and implement short, medium and long-term plans to reduce or eliminate them
by 2050. Also consider the
feasibility of creating a short, medium and long-term community level GHG
baseline and reduction plan. In
setting these goals, evaluate reduction goals in other programs, plans and
reports such as the Virginia Energy Plan, Cool Counties, COG Climate Registry
Report to determine a reduction goal that is challenging yet achievable.
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2.
Consider re-investing utility budget savings and
cost-avoidance from completed energy projects in future energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects as well as the creation of a Sustainability Office or
Group.
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3.
Consider providing active citizen education and
awareness about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and “demand
response” (i.e. shifting power usage away from periods when usage is
peaking such as hot weekday summer afternoons) best practices.
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4.
Consider reducing the rate of the growth of county
government’s energy use by 40%.
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5.
Consider reducing electricity use in County
facilities by 10% of 2006 level by 2022.
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6.
Consider reducing natural gas use in County facilities
by 7.5% over next ten years.
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7.
Consider reducing total diesel/gasoline use by all
(County) vehicles by 10% over next five years.
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8.
Consider reducing total diesel/gasoline used for County
government landscaping operations by 20% over next five years.
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9.
Consider purchasing the equivalent of 12% of the
County’s 2009 level electricity needs from renewable sources either
through Dominion and NOVEC rate offerings, renewable energy credits, or
through on-site generation.
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10.
Publicize energy conservation efforts at county
facilities. Prominently display
the ENERGY STAR label on county-owned buildings that qualify. Post building energy “report
cards” for county-owned buildings on the county’s website, to
highlight impact of energy conservation efforts. Encourage Prince William County Public
Schools to do the same.
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11.
Continue actively participating County Government
facilities in demand response programs.
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12.
Consider utilizing life-cycle cost analysis when
constructing new facilities.
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13.
Continue increasing landfill gas utilization at
the County landfill with the goal of completely eliminating flaring.
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14.
Continue exploring waste reduction and re-use technologies
in lieu of landfilling.
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