Currently, only the counties are required to adopt and update Comprehensive Land Use Plans.  It would be helpful to require all state agencies whose mission(s) has (have) land use implications, as well as all municipalities, to adopt and update long-range or comprehensive land use plans on a schedule similar to the counties'.

        Continue to foster coordination with the State and local governments as outlined in the Shaping Delaware's Future Act and the land Use Protection Act.  Use new technology mechanisms such as Internet GIS and e-mail as a platform to exchange land use information. 

        Consider Infrastructure Impact to Municipal services (i.e. fire and police) when reviewing subdivision development within the intergovernmental zone. 

        Better define the roles of both County and Municipal governments regarding the Intergovernmental Coordination Zone.       

  A major goal of this Comprehensive Plan is to conserve agricultural land.

  The Land Use Plan formally designates growth and non-growth areas in the County, with the intent of limiting development outside of growth areas and encouraging continuing agricultural production, as well as the protection of woodlands and environmentally sensitive areas. Non-farm residences, along with other uses, are permitted outside the growth area, but only to the extent that new development does not lead to a reduction of prime agricultural land or a degradation of areas of scenic beauty and/or environmental sensitivity. Preservation of farmland should not be a responsibility and goal only of the Levy Court and Regional Planning Commission.   A major share of the responsibility lies with the agricultural community and farm organizations to actively work to keep land in farm use and to support legislation and/or programs, which will aid this objective.

        Create a new zoning classification for agricultural district(s) that would:  promote agricultural industry; utilize the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Agriculture Preservation Strategy Map to preserve Class I and II rated lands when and where practicable; incorporate forestry related industries; establish “Rural Character and/or Conservation Zones”; establish large lot zoning where practicable; right to farm policies; increased setbacks and buffering requirements; require subdivision regulations compatibility; maintain rural character; encourage protection of prime agriculture lands; support agriculture as a business through first permitted uses;  protect Kent County’s agriculture heritage; and promote Kent County as a agriculture-friendly community.

       Develop a Purchase and Transfer of Development Rights cooperative program between Kent County and the Delaware Department of Agriculture that would:  establish a Transfer Development Rights program between land owners and developers and facilitate participation with the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Purchase of Development Rights Program.

        Restrict subdivision growth outside the Kent County Growth zone through land use ordinances that utilize impact fees and create incentives for inside growth area development.

                    Protect critical agricultural lands within the Kent County Growth Zone through Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s)
          management strategies by requiring tie into Central Sewer Systems for buildings on and/or adjacent to agricultural lands identified
          as Class I and/or II of the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Agriculture Preservation Strategy Map, where
           practicable.

      Enact Conditional Use for major subdivisions to be located outside the Kent County Growth Zone.  This would allow
agricultural concerns to be considered in the design of any potential major subdivision in agriculturally sensitive areas.

During the implementation phase of the Comprehensive Plan Update, revise zoning and subdivision ordinances to further
protect wetlands, natural areas, flood hazards areas, woodlands, and watersheds  (possibly through the use of performance measures and overlays)

        Continue to work with DNREC, Department of Agriculture, and the Kent Conservation District for the conservation and protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

        Incorporate where practicable, zoning Overlay Maps that would require specific building and development measures to protect environmentally sensitive areas of Kent County.  These Overlay Maps would act as environmental protection provisions and “best management” practices into our zoning code, and help meet goals specified in the “1999 Protecting Delaware’s Natural Heritage: Tools for Biodiversity Conservation” written by the Environmental Law Institute.

        Solicit DNREC to provide Kent County specific data that could be used in the development of Overlay Maps.  Data to include but not be limited to:  Number, amount, and types of Open Space, Forests, water bodies (streams, etc..), endangered/threatened species, Wetlands, and Coastal areas.

        Require a conditional use for subdivision approval outside the growth zone.  This will help direct subdivision development within the growth zone where:  vehicle trips may be reduced due to the location of supporting businesses for the new homes; environmentally sensitive areas outside the growth zone could be protected; and sprawl may be better mitigated with infrastructure use (i.e. public water and sewer).

        Encourage new subdivisions within the growth zone with higher density rewards while limiting subdivisions outside the growth zone through conditional uses.

        Establish the Kent County Historic Preservation Commission providing appropriate staff and funding levels to carry out the duties pursuant to Kent County Code, Article XXV.

       Initiate process and complete application for approval of Certified Local Government status.

        Continue appropriate stewardship of those historic resources in county ownership including protection, preservation, and interpretation of these sites.

    Identify growth areas and critical areas with important archaeological sites, by identifying historic landscapes and farmlands with important historic buildings and archaeological sites, by encouraging the rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings, and by helping to define and consider in planning what is important and appropriate to each community to preserve for general livability.

Promote County incentives and remove disincentives for historic preservation, and improve protection for historic properties including:
 

Explore the possibility of enacting additional plans and ordinances that protect, preserve, and restore important cultural and historic resources within the County.

Provide a series of recommendations to municipal officials, groups, and citizens outlining more effective regulatory measures for community preservation management and provide language which can be added to existing zoning ordinances and building codes 

        Continue to identify, evaluate, and update cultural resource surveys and provide survey data in a variety of formats including electronic media.

        Continue to identify and nominate eligible properties and districts to the National Register of Historic Places

             Provide adequate programs for the documentation of threatened sites and structures and for the publicizing of strategies and
          incentives that would encourage rehabilitation and adaptive use of threatened resources.

        Provide sources of information on the County's historic places and heritage to:

    Encourage heritage tourism by publicizing historic resources and cultural activities within the County.

        Convey to Kent County residents the value and community benefits of historic preservation by helping the citizens to gain an understanding and awareness of what is historically important about each community or area of the County.

         Provide zoning and other incentives to promote residential development within designated growth areas in lieu
     of agricultural and resource protection areas.  

  Encourage a mixture of housing types and sizes, combined with open space, through a program of development incentives
built into the zoning district requirements.

Promote the concept of residential clustering for a more efficient use of land, conservation of natural resources, and creation of useable open space and recreation lands.

Continue to participate in, administer, and coordinate federal and state funding programs for housing rehabilitation, low and moderate income housing construction and infrastructure improvements, and support efforts which would ensure the continued existence and sufficient funding of these types of programs.

        To create a network of open space and suitable recreational facilities to serve the existing and projected populations of Kent County.

       Protect and preserve key natural resources throughout the County from unwarranted development.

        Kent County should continue to play a leadership role in the Dover/Kent County MPO

        The County, in cooperation with municipalities and private water suppliers, should work with DNREC to develop a comprehensive water supply management program including the reallocation of water resources, and the protection of wellhead and aquifer recharge areas.

        Solicit DNREC to provide Kent County specific water information to include but not limited to:  locations and potential of Ground Water Re-charge areas; Public and private water draw data for gallons per day; Long range consumption rates and aquifer recharge rates; Wellhead protection and aquifer protection areas.  This information should be incorporated into a Water Protection Overlay Zone that would require specific building criteria (i.e. density) in order to ensure protection of Kent County’s drinking water.