Introductory Remarks About Gap Analysis

Presentation to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners to submit the
EPCC Regulatory Gap Analysis
Andy Zoutewelle
April 3, 2007

I’m excited to present this Gap Analysis report to you this evening.  The EPCC includes 2-dozen members, and I’d like to thank each of them for their work to review and approve this report.  In particular:
Randy Perkins = Air Quality Comm.
Julie Chiu = Planning Comm.
Christina Fisher = Waste Mgmt. Board
Bruce Andersen = Storm Water Advisory Comm.
Brian Sigmon = Building Development Comm.
William Chandler = Park & Recreation Comm.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE TOWNS, Marine Commissions, CharMeck Utilities Advisory Comm. And Transit Services Advisory Comm.

          In 2004 B.O.C.C. directed the EPCC to organize the Environmental Forum in response to various environmental concerns raised about major development projects (such as Northlake Mall).
In response to the resulting “Forum Report” submitted by EPCC to you in June, 2005, you then requested the EPCC to submit a summary of environmental laws & regulations & policies implicated during Major Development projects.
We have defined “major developments” as either: (1) 400,000 s.f. of building space or (2) projects with 2,500 parking spaces or (3) projects with greater than 100 residential units (single-family or multifamily).
I have asked Heidi Pruess of LUESA staff to join me (1) to help answer your questions and (2) to take credit for the report.
This report summarizes these laws & regulations & policies on a Town-by-Town basis.  And it also goes on to identify Gaps in environmental priorities (topic areas).  The report has been unanimously accepted by the EPCC members.
Please refer to the Gap Analysis for detail; however, the broad-brush conclusion is that few regulatory gaps exist, except for Post-Construction Stormwater ordinances.  Rusty Rozzelle of the LUESA Water and Land Resources staff has previously spoken before you about the Post-Construction Controls Ordinance.  With the exception of pending resolutions from the City of Charlotte and Mint Hill, the Post-Construction regulatory gap is nearing closure as of this summer.
The report also comments on policy gaps.  Please refer to the Gap Analysis for detail; however the broad-brush conclusion is that 2 policy areas have not been addressed:  (1) measurement of whether our ordinances successfully accomplish the intended goals and (2) assessment of cumulative impacts of numerous smaller developments within a specific area.

That’s the report.  We’re proud of it.  I’m happy to answer your questions.