FRLP Proposal River Resources

"From 1990 to 2000, impervious surfaces (in the bay’s watershed) increased by 41 percent a rate five times greater than the 8 percent rate of population growth during that time."

www.chesapeakebay.net

Did you know? In 2006, American Rivers named the Shenandoah River the 5th most endangered River in the U.S.?

The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) works with communities to provide the solutions for clean water and healthy natural resources. The CWP’s ‘Community Codes and Ordinances Worksheet’, rates a local communities development rules in relation to their impact on the local watershed (the Shenandoah River!). We thought it would be interesting to use this worksheet and rate Front Royal... guess what we found out?

Front Royal’s development rules scored 16 out of 100 – with 100 being the most environmentally friendly.
What does that mean? Well according to the rating system…

  • Scores less than 60 is the lowest rating they give - it means that your ‘Development rules definitely are not environmentally friendly. Serious reform of the development rules is needed’. Front Royal wasn't even close to the 60 score-we were 16!!! In addition...

    • On principles 1-10 (parking, roadways, and driveways) Front Royal scored a 4 out of 40.

    • On principals 11-16 (lots, density, overall design and appearance of neighborhoods Front Royal scored a 7 out of 36.

    • Principles 17-22 addressed the codes or ordinances that promote (or impede) protection of existing natural areas and open space. Front Royal scored 5 out of 24 points.
These are the standards that are currently in place, and unless changed the ones we would have to use in our development. And this does not pertain to only our development - they would apply to any developments in Town. Are these really the standards we want to use? There are environmentally friendlier ways to develop being used across the country (minimize impervious surfaces, provide rain gardens, Low Impact Development etc.) but they are illegal in Front Royal’s Subdivision and Land Development regulations. To learn more about how the Town could improve its Subdivision and Land Development regulations Click Here to go to our Town Codes Page.