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Training Modules / Interactive Presentation

Introduction :: Presentation Format & SCEA Overview
Module 1 :: How to Determine Which Resources Should be Considered in a SCEA
Module 2 :: How to Establish the SCEA Geographical Boundary
Module 3 :: How to Determine SCEA Time Frames
Module 4 :: How to Develop SCEA Land Use Information
Module 5 :: How to Prepare the Analysis & Reach SCEA Conclusions
Module 6 :: Presentation of SCEA in the Environmental Documentation

Module 4

Slide 1 How to Develop Land Use Information

Slide 2 Factors to Consider

• Developing and mapping land use information is part of the analysis section of conducting a SCEA .
• Because of its importance to the analysis process, the development of land use is being treated as a separate section in the training seminar.

SCEA DO
Be aware of how the development and mapping of land use information fits into the overall analysis of resources. Note that the analysis section of conducting a SCEA is discussed in detail in Module 5.

Slide 3 Land Use types generally considered

• Agricultural
• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Open Space
• Parkland
• Other

Slide 4 Land Use Considerations

• Past Land Use
• Present Land Use
• Future Land Use

Slide 5 Land Use Considerations (continued)

Why Develop Land Use Information

• Past Land Use
  Provides a baseline from which trends can be developed.
• Present Land Use
  Provides a current analysis year to conduct overlay analysis.
• Future Land Use
  Provides a buildout analysis year to conduct overlay analysis.

Slide 6 Mapping Land Use

SCEA DO
As part of the process for developing land use, map any available data sources. This will be helpful in preparing the data for the analysis methodologies that will be presented in Module 5. Be sure to map land use once all available data sources have been collected. Only land use information within the SCEA geographic boundary should be mapped.

Slide 7 Past Land Use (Key Data Sources)

Slide 8 Present Land Use (Key Data Sources)

Slide 9 Present Land Use

SCEA CAUTION
The appropriate development size(s) (i.e., subdivisions of a certain number of units, etc.) to be analyzed must be determined on a projectbyproject basis. It is not necessary to scour the entire SCEA study area for proposed development such as individual residential lots less than one acre. Be sure to document the rationale for why a particular development size was chosen.

Slide 10 Present Land Use (continued)

SHA Regional & Intermodal Planning Division (RIPD) Major Development Matrix

• Urban Developments 500 units residential, 5,000 square feet commercial and 1,000,000 square feet industrial.
  
• Rural developments 250 units residential, 2500 square feet commercial and 500,000 square feet industrial.

Slide 11 Future Land Use (Key Data Sources)

Slide 12 Future Land Use (continued)

Development of future land use scenarios (done for each alternative including the nobuild) for SCEA is primarily based on two sources:

• Travel Forecasts Review and map future land uses with assumptions based on travel forecasts.
• Local/Regional Planning Resources Meet with local planners and utilize planning resources such as the Regional & Intermodal Planning Division (RIPD), Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the Constrained Long Range Plan (CLRP) and local master plans to develop future land use scenarios.

Slide 13 Future Land Use (continued)

In special cases, Expert Land Use Panels can be convened to identify future land use scenarios, if a project is especially complex or if local jurisdictions, agencies or special interest groups disagree that a particular land use will or will not occur. The Expert Land Use Panels are not required when developing land use for a SCEA , but are considered on a project by project basis.

Slide 14 Future Land Use (Key Data Sources)

SCEA DO
In situations where two or more different future land use scenarios are predicted for a project alternative: " Determine the scenario that will most likely reflect future land use. " Try to come to an agreement; if you cant, determine how to proceed on a project by project basis.

Slide 15 MRECAS (MD 43 Expert Land Use Team)

• Baltimore County originally performed an economic Analysis for properties designated for development under the county's economic development plan.
  
  This analysis was originally used to support SHA's Project Purpose and Need Statement.
  
  In general, the study was based upon projections of new business types and potential employee base associated with these businesses.
  
  The study determined that approximately 50% of the developable land would be developed.
  
  
• The Environmental Resources Agencies requested that an independent study be performed to confirm the Countys findings prior to concurring upon the project purpose and need.

NOTE: The MRECAS expert land use panel considered the development of land use within the area where secondary effect were expected to occur; not the whole SCEA geographic boundary.

Slide 16 MRECAS (MD 43 Expert Land Use Team continued)

• The independent study was performed by a team of real estate, development and engineering professionals.
  
  Environmental resources (wetlands, stream buffers, cemeteries, parks and schools) were subtracted out of the land designated for development to determine the total amount of actual developable land.
  
  The results of the analysis projected that the economic development plan would create 13,830 jobs and would require 7,274,520 s.f. (approximately 170 acres) of new development that may potentially be builtout over a 10year period.
  
  It was therefore determined that the projected economic development could be accommodated within the county's developable land envelope (this includes consideration of environmental resources).
  
  
• The study was found to be acceptable by the resource agencies and concurrence on the project purpose and need was attained.

Slide 17 Future Land Use

Assessing Land for Cumulative Effects

The cumulative impact analysis must account for the secondary development resulting from a project alternative, plus any additional development within the SCEA geographical boundary that is not dependent upon a/the project alternative.

Slide 18 Future Land Use (continued)

Types of Impacts that cause Land Use change within a SCEA Boundary

• Secondary Impacts Land use changes that occur because of a Project Alternative.
• Cumulative Impacts Land use changes that would occur or have occurred regardless of a Project Alternative.

Slide 19 Future Land Use (continued)

Coordination with Local Planning Officials

Coordination with local governments and/or developers should indicate planned development that will not proceed without approval of a specific transportation alternative.

NOTE: Planned development may be unique to each project alternative.

Slide 20 Future Land Use (continued)

Coordination with Local Planning Officials

Identify any local zoning implications and identify changes in land use or level of development that may occur as the result of each project alternative.

Slide 21 Future Land Use (continued)

SCEA DO
Your meeting with the local planners may be your most important coordination in developing your future land use scenario, especially in respect to secondary development. It is important to present alternatives mapping when identifying potential secondary impacts with local planners. This will help illustrate differences in land use changes that may result from two or more alternatives.

Slide 22 Future Land Use (continued)

Access Control or Lack of it

• Access Controlled Facilities Secondary impacts generally occur near intersection and interchange areas.
• Nonaccess Controlled Facilities Secondary impacts can be spread out over the entire direct impact study area (i.e. strip development).

Exercise 1

Slide 23 MD 5 Land Use Development

MD LAND USE NOTE: Note that future development, as analyzed in the MD 5 EA, generally falls within a 1 5 year timeframe. Under current SHA Guidelines, this development would be interpreted as being within the present time frame.

Slide 24 MD 5 Proposed Major Developments within the SCEA Boundary

Slide 25 MD 5 Proposed Development & CTP Areas within the SCEA Boundary

See map

Slide 26 MD 5 SCEA Boundary

SCEA Guidelines recommend that land use from all three time frames be developed and mapped. Below are two main decisions in the SCEA process for MD 5 that are not consistent with SHAs SCEA Guidelines.

• Only some of the information for the present time frame existed as readily available. Based on current SHA Guidelines the MD 5 SCEA should document map development for all three time frames including rationale for not mapping existing readily available land use.
• Some of the analysis methodologies used in determining secondary and cumulative effects did not necessitate mapping past, present or future land use. (It is good practice not to select analysis methodologies prior to completing acquisition of all land use materials. The availability of land use mapping should guide the rationale for which analysis methodologies to use).

Exercise 2 | Back to top

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© 2000 Maryland State Highway Administration.
Last modified: Friday September 15, 2000.