Planning for the WUI · 2019. 3. 13. · WUI Landscape Regulations • Home Ignition Zone...

Tools, Tips, and TrendsPlanning for the WUI

ImageCredit:LeonKonz,TDF

ImageCredit:ScottStory

WhyLandUsePlanning?

ImageCredit:USDAForestService ImageCredit:WPI

ImageCredit:WPI

Building Code

Wildfire Overlay Zone District

Site-Specific Assessment

Wildland-Urban Interface

Regulations

FIRE CODE

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS

Site Design StandardsConservation Easement

Land Acquisition

Landscaping Requirements

Post-Disaster Building Moratorium

USE-SPECIFIC STANDARDS

Comprehensive Plan

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Hazard Mitigation Plan

DevelopmentFees

WildfirePlanningTools!

Future Land Use Map

Nuisance Ordinance

Maintenance Agreements

Open Space Plan

WildfirePlanningTools• Plans• Regulations• Incentives/VoluntaryPrograms

CommunityPlanningAssistanceforWildfire

• LandUsePlanning• HazardAssessments• CapacityBuilding• Research

Comprehensive Plan

Hazard Mitigation

Plan

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

CommunityPlans

ImageCredit:WPI

WascoCounty,OR

WascoCounty,OR

ImageCredit:WPI

WascoCounty,OR

Wasco County 2040

Comprehensive Plan

Wasco County Natural Hazards

Mitigation Plan

Wasco County

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Wasco County 2040

Comprehensive Plan

Wasco County Natural Hazards

Mitigation Plan

Wasco County

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Whereandhowshouldgrowthoccur?

Wasco County 2040

Comprehensive Plan

Wasco County Natural Hazards

Mitigation Plan

Wasco County

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Whatkindoffireprotectionresourcesareavailable?

Wasco County 2040

Comprehensive Plan

Wasco County Natural Hazards

Mitigation Plan

Wasco County

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Whatkindofmitigationrequirementsarenecessary?

Comprehensive Plan

Hazard Mitigation

Plan

Community Wildfire

Protection Plan

Regulations

WUILandscapeRegulations• HomeIgnitionZonevegetation

mitigation• Basedonlocalwildfirerisk• Locallyapplicableandconsistent

approach- communitybenefit• Alignment:

– Betweennewandexistingdevelopmentmitigationefforts

– Otherregulationsandcommunityvalues

CommonProblems• Misconceptionsofwildfiresusceptibility• Noconsistentlocalguidance/requirements• Conflictingcommunityvalues• Conflictingregulationsorinitiatives• Limitationsto

compliance• Capacity

ImageCredit:WPI

TownofMammothLakes,CA

ChallengesandSuccesses• Treepreservation“Villageinthe

Trees”• Townlandscapeplanrequirements• Townvisualscreening

requirements• MammothLakesFireProtection

Districtrequirements

ImprovingAdministration

• Streamlinedpermittingprocess• IntegrationofMLFPDintoplan

reviewprocess• Provideaprescriptiveapproach

withaperformancealternative

PartnershipandOutreachSupport• Recommendedplantlist• Partnerwithlandscapeindustry:

– Suppliers,nurseries– Horticulturists,Landscapearchitects– Landscapecontractors

• Collaborativepublicoutreach– TownofMammothLakes– MammothLakeFireProtectionDistrict– MammothLakesFireSafeCouncil– Landscapeindustry

SuccessfulRegulatorySolutions• Relatetolocalwildfireriskassessment• Measurablycontributetowildfireriskreduction• Involveslocallandscapeindustry• Addressconflicts(regulatory,practice,communityvalues)• Provideprescriptiveand/orperformancepath• Compelcomplianceandmaintenance• Accountforlocaladministrativecapacity

BUILDINGCODESASAWILDFIREMITIGATIONTOOL

FIRECODEHISTORY• BuildingCodesdevelopedoutoftragedy• GreatChicagoFire

– 17,000building– 300lives

• Peshtigo– 1,200,000Acres– 2,500killed

• Current– lookaround

WILDFIRECODES– TheBig3

• NFPA1144• IWUIC(ICC)• CaliforniaBuildingCode– Chapter7

• ConsensusCodes• LocalCodes

WUISTRUCTURALCODES• 3RD LEG• Timetofocusontheexterior• Howstructuresignite• Designedtoslowfire,not

stopfire• Wildlandfire,noturban

conflagration

WHENTHEYFAIL• California• Statisticalaverage• Weakestlink• Nocontrolgroup

OREGONCODES• Progressive?• Mini/Maxi• RoofOrdinance• SB360• Consequences

R327/AppendixW• Pathtoadoption– ChiefKlienburg– ChiefSartain

• BCD• Concessions• Nowinlocalhands• Hurdles

HALLELUJAH!(KINDOF……..)

MOVINGFORWARD• Heavyliftbegins• Changingthenarrative– costvs.safety• Cost?– HeadwatersEconomicsstudy• Ourresponsibilitytoourcommunity• Can’textrapolatedatafromthepast

LESSONSLEARNED“Wisemenlearnmanythingsfromtheirenemies.”

―Aristophanes

• Alwayssomethingtobelearnedfromtheotherside• Understandopponents• Bridgethedivide• Getsupportfromhigherpowersearly• Whatareyouwillingtoaccept?• Thebestwaystopersuadeothersisbylisteningtothem

DesignReviewStandardsandGuidelines• In2016theTownofVailamendeditsDesignStandardsto

includeuseofIgnitionResistantBuildingMaterialsandLandscaping

• InclusionswereaimedatchangingdecadesworthofirresponsiblebuildingandlandscapingpracticesintheWUI– Designedtocreateanewaesthetic

DesignReviewStandardsandGuidelines

Pastdesiredaesthetic Newaesthetic

DesignReviewStandardsandGuidelines• 2016– Townamendeddesignguidelinestorecommend

useofignitionresistantbuildingmaterialsandlandscapingdesigns

• FireDepartmentreviewsdevelopmentapplicationsandprovidescommentsonincorporationofdesignelements

DesignReviewStandardsandGuidelines

DesignReviewStandardsandGuidelines• Opportunities

– “Softer”approachthanregulation– Educationaltool-- Community,Professionals,BoardsandElectedOfficials– Usesnon-prescriptivestandards

• Challenges– Onlyaddressesnewconstructionorsubstantialremodels– Inconsistentlyapplied– Requiressubstantialeducationforacceptance

• Firststepinlongtermchangestothecommunityaestheticandwildfireadaptation

LandUsePlanningTools• Plans• Regulations• Incentives/VoluntaryPrograms

Planningforwildfire.org

ContactInformationmolly@wildfireplanning.comkelly@wildlandprofessional.cadgreen@sistersfire.compcada@vailgov.com

MollyMoweryKellyJohnstonDougGreenPaulCada