TUgis Conference 2019

The loss of undeveloped land in rapidly urbanizing areas decreases quality of life. State and local governments have prioritized initiatives establishing guidelines to aid in land-preservation and resource management as planning decisions begin to be more closely scrutinized for impact on existing resources. The administration of New Castle County Delaware, aware of increasing population trends (.35% growth rate in 2017), has focused on of the fitness of existing planning processes for the preservation of limited open spaces and natural resources within the county.
To meet the challenge of protecting valuable undeveloped land, a GIS analysis-based evaluation process has been developed which offers consistency, documentation, and reproducibility. Land value types of open space, farm land, protected lands, and parks are assessed for their proximity to each other, sewer access, and public transportation. Calculated proximity scores are then used to assign a land valuation to be considered during the approval stage of a proposed land development. Through the assessment of pre-determined criteria and the determined valuation in the land review process, long-range planning, assessment, and the management of existing and proposed open space can develop. This discussion details a complete needs assessment for New Castle County and describes the process developed for calculating land value scores intended for land preservation strategies that ultimately will improve the quality of life in New Castle County.