Policy Recommendations

Policy/Action: Increase available green space for drainage along roadways, including bioswales, by providing guidance and incentives to convert selected neighborhoods from two-way to one-way or one-lane roads and widen the drainage areas along the ROW.

Policy/Action: Implement a program that provides incentives for property owners to convert impervious areas to pervious areas on private property for purposes of drainage.

Policy/Action: Enhance on-site storage capacity requirements for land being developed or redeveloped, promoting better stormwater management and resilience.

Policy/Action: Revise and adjust parking space requirements for new developments and redevelopments to promote additional pervious areas/storage/infrastructure, more efficient land use, encourage risk-informed transportation options, and reduce the footprint of parking areas, supporting community-oriented growth.

Policy/Action: Provide incentives to encourage property owners to replace asphalt parking lots with parking garages or alternative solutions that reduce impervious surfaces.

Policy/Action: Provide development incentives and variances at new developments and redeveloping properties in exchange for additional storage and/or significant stormwater infrastructure if a “net benefit” to the community would be achieved.

Policy/Action: Revisit minimum elevation requirements for tidal flood barriers as sea levels rise and prepare a revised seawall ordinance accounting for additional SLR and added adaptation.

Policy/Action: Incorporate resilience standards into complete streets projects and standard designs.

Policy/Action: Conduct a study to identify and prioritize areas for development and redevelopment that align with the County’s resilience objectives, promoting risk-informed growth and community preparedness.

Policy/Action: Provide development incentives and variances at new developments and redeveloping properties in exchange for additional storage and/or significant stormwater infrastructure if a “net benefit” to the community would be achieved.

Policy/Action: Provide tools, incentives, and other resources for homeowners to make resilience improvements to their properties.

Policy/Action: Explore mechanisms to address rising homeowners and flood insurance costs.

Policy/Action: Implement resilience improvements to County facilities and encourage municipalities and other public entities to improve their facilities.

Policy/Action: Coordinate to establish a framework to enable remote monitoring and control of newly adapted structures, facilitate timely adjustments to water level changes, and provide effective management.

Policy/Action: Provide incentives for redevelopment in overlay areas where additional storage will improve flooding and reduce heat.

Policy/Action: Require routine cleaning and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure.

Policy/Action: Develop a resilient land development code to document requirements for compliance with the Resilience Plan.

Policy/Action: Provide information to prepare for future modifications to the seawall ordinance.

Policy/Action: The County would adopt guidance and standards to ensure land use proposals and major redevelopment deliver optimized heat and flood mitigation benefits.