CHAPTER THREE (Part A)
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Note to Readers: Given the size of Chapter 3, the file has been divided
into three parts. You can access the different parts from either the links
provided below or from the main table of contents.The Montgomery County Open-Space
Plan was never officially adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The text and
supporting materials are being provide as a service, but the plan does not
represent current policy.
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TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS
- INTRODUCTION (Part A)
- TOOLS CURRENTLY USED
BY THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY (Part B)
- TOOLS NOT CURRENTLY USED
BY THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY (Part C)
Changing the Shape of Tomorrow's Development
I. INTRODUCTION
The tools and techniques described and evaluated
in this chapter represent existing and potential strategies for the protection of
critical resources and open space within the Town of Blacksburg and Montgomery County.
This is by no means a comprehensive listing; over time more tools and techniques
may be added to the Initiative as necessary. The purpose of this listing is to provide
the reader with a brief yet comprehensive understanding of the various planning
tools and techniques that are used in Virginia as well as some that are not yet
legal in the State.
In addition to providing the reader with background
information, this chapter gives an evaluation of some of the limitations and strengths
inherent in these tools. These limitations and strengths have been compiled from
a number of sources, including text books, other localities' experiences, practical
knowledge, and reports by individuals who have made their own evaluations. The listing
of limitations and strengths is in no way exhaustive, nor do these strengths and
limitations necessarily result from any given applications of the tool.
Also provided in this chapter is information on whether
Blacksburg or Montgomery County utilizes the tool or technique and, if so, how it
is used. If a tool is not used by the Town or County, an attempt is made to provide
a short explanation of where and how it is used in other parts of Virginia.
The tools and techniques are divided into four broad
categories: government-initiated tools currently used by the Town or County; landowner-initiated
tools currently used by the Town or County; government-initiated tools that currently
are not used by the Town or County; and landowner-initiated tools that currently
are not used by the Town or County.
Tables 3.1 and 3.2 accent the information provided
in the text and help the reader understand how the different tools and techniques
address the themes raised at the Round-One Workshops. The tools and techniques are
contained in the rows of the matrices, which are divided into the broad categories
mentioned above. Land trusts are described within the chapter, but are not contained
in the tables because land trusts are mechanisms to implement the tools rather than
tools in themselves. The matrices' columns consist of two categories: the themes
receiving thirteen or more points at the workshops (see Chapter Two), and Additional
Issues. Reading left to right, the themes are listed in descending order based on
the weight assigned them by the workshops. Themes not listed on the matrices include
unique and natural flora, education, tax issues, housing issues, and other issues.
In Tables 3.1 and 3.2 all tools and techniques have
been rated for their potential effectiveness in addressing the themes and
Additional Issues; a high rating for a specific theme or issue does not mean the
tool is currently, has been, or will be used to its full potential. In addition,
the ratings are subjective, and are based on the research performed while writing
this chapter, the opinions of the planning staffs from the Town, County, and NRVPDC,
and input from the citizen committees from Blacksburg and Montgomery County.
Although most of the columns in Tables 3.1 and 3.2
are self-explanatory, some may need additional explanation to avoid misunderstandings.
The column titled "Protect Landowner Rights" is intended to address the effects
a tool has on the "rights" of landowners who would have to follow the measures outlined.
The landowner-rights column does not address how the tools affect the rights of
the adjacent landowner or general public. A high measure of effectiveness in the
landowner-rights column means a landowner maintains all or most of the inherent
rights of property ownership without substantial restrictions. The "Insure Orderly
Growth and Development" column pertains to how well each tool or technique provides
for orderly growth and development at the Town and County scale, not at the individual
development level. The column titled "Address Road and Traffic Concerns" rates the
effectiveness of each tool or technique in providing safe, well-planned roads. The
columns titled "Identify Recreational Locations" and "Identify Recreational Activities"
are similar in nature but slightly different. Identifying a location for recreation
consists of selecting land or water resources suitable for recreational purposes,
while identifying a recreational activity refers to the identification of an actual
resource for recreation (a playground or ball field). The "Amount of Administration
or Enforcement" column rates the various tools and techniques based on the ease
of developing, adopting, implementing, or enforcing them. The "Cost of Implementation"
column rates each tool or technique for the time, resources, and capital required
by an organization or agency to develop and manage the tool or technique. The "Duration
of Protection" column rates each tool or technique for its political longevity and
the amount of time protection will be provided once the tool or technique is applied.
This chapter is designed to be used with the information
provided in Chapters Two and Four. After reviewing the information provided in these
chapters, the recommendations in Chapter Five were developed to address how the
Town and County can better protect and conserve open space and critical resources.
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Table 3.1: Tools and Techniques
Currently Used in the Town and County and How They Address Open-Space Issues
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Table 3.2: Tools and Techniques
Currently Not Used in the Town and but How They Could Address
Open-Space Issues
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© Montgomery County Department of Planning
Last Updated 19 September 2001
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