Natural Resource Amendment to the Fulton County Comprehensive Development Plan Of 1998 Prepared By Fulton County Regional Planning Commission Steven Brown, Director Leitha Sackmann, Planner & GIS Director Seth Brehm, Planner Adopted April 27, 2004 Revision Adopted June 28, 2011 by the Fulton County Regional Planning Commission Adopted June 28, 2004 Revision Adopted August 4, 2011 by the Fulton County Commissioners TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Maps ............................................................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................................................v Task Force Members ................................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Comprehensive Development Plan Update ........................................................................................................ 1 Assessing the Need ........................................................................................................................................... 1 NRCS Project .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Interest and Advancements in Local Open Space and Farmland Protection ....................................................... 3 Policies that Influence and Shape Growth .......................................................................................................... 4 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Updating and Revising the Amendment ................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2: NATURAL RESOURCE ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................... 7 Natural Resource Inventory ................................................................................................................................... 7 Geological History .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Existing Open Space, Natural Areas and Parks ................................................................................................. 7 Unique Habitats ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Wetlands .......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Woods ............................................................................................................................................................. 23 Land Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Existing Land Use Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 29 Procedure ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 Results ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 Wind Energy Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Solar Energy ........................................................................................................................................................ 39 Industrial Minerals Mining .................................................................................................................................... 40 Other Natural Resources to Consider .................................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 3: CULTURAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 43 Patterns of Development ...................................................................................................................................... 43 National And State Patterns Of Development ....................................................................................................... 43 Local Development Patterns ................................................................................................................................ 44 Trends in Fulton County’s Farm Economy ........................................................................................................... 48 Community survey ............................................................................................................................................... 50 General Highlights of the Survey .......................................................................................................................... 52 Swan Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Plan ................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 4: COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ....................................................... 60 Agricultural Land .................................................................................................................................................. 60 Agriculture with Regard to Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 60 Conservation Easements ................................................................................................................................. 60 Policies for Farmland Preservation ................................................................................................................... 64 Natural Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 65 Create a Green Infrastructure Management Plan ............................................................................................. 65 Clean Ohio Funds: Green Space Conservation and Recreational Trails ........................................................... 65 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program ................................................................................................ 65 Preserve Quality of Aquifers, Streams and Lakes ............................................................................................ 67 Preserve and Increase Land for Parks and Recreation .................................................................................... 67 Wind Energy Management ................................................................................................................................... 67 Ohio's Sunny Outlook .......................................................................................................................................... 70 Mine Reclamation and Restoration ...................................................................................................................... 72 Urban Gentrification ............................................................................................................................................. 74 Chapter 5: LAND USE PLANNING WITH RESPECT TO INHERENT NATURAL RESOURCES.............................. 76 “Best” Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 76 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 76 Land use Suitability Models ................................................................................................................................. 77 Model: Areas of Agricultural Significance ......................................................................................................... 77 Model: Areas of Ecological Significance 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