American Planning Association

Planning and Zoning for Natural Resource Protection September 27, 2011 In recent decades, planners have continued to be involved in natural resource protection as a core area of both interest and expertise. However, in many places, mitigation takes precedence over more meaningful efforts to avoid or minimize environmental damage. When wetlands are disturbed or mature trees replaced with seedlings, it may take decades for the natural system to return to its prior value, and in terms of net carbon emissions, the debt may never be repaid. Now that planners are taking a renewed interest in sustainability, the time is right to rediscover planning and zoning principles to protect natural resources. Lane Kendig, founder of Kendig Keast Collaborative, discussed how planners can use performance zoning for resource protection.