A Case Study of Form-Based Solutions for Watershed Protection Hannah E. Berg • Todd K. BenDor Received: 3 August 2009 / Accepted: 4 June 2010 / Published online: 20 June 2010 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Despite an array of policies at the federal and state level aimed at regulating stormwater discharges, engineered solutions enforced by local governments often fall short of meeting water quality standards. Although the implications of land use planning and development regu- lations are important for stormwater management, they are often overlooked as critical initial steps to improving water quality. This study explores the role of ‘form-based’ reg- ulations as tools for achieving urban planning and water quality objectives. Form-based codes are a new generation of development codes aimed at regulating urban develop- ment based on urban form and density, rather than land use. We present an exploratory case study of the feasibility of form-based codes in the Jordan Lake Watershed in North Carolina, a rapidly growing region where fragmented local governments face stringent nutrient reduction standards under new state regulations. Through program analysis and interviews, we explore the viability of form-based codes for reducing development impacts on Jordan Lake’s water quality. We consider the legal feasibility of code enforce- ment, regional and local barriers and opportunities, and implementation given existing regulatory frameworks. Our findings suggest that high quality information and data modeling are foundational to gaining support for a con- sensus agreement on the sources and degree of water quality impairment. Furthermore, implementing form- based solutions for water quality is greatly aided by (1) experienced regional planning bodies that have regulatory authority, and (2) local governments whose staff are experienced in implementing complex development ordi- nances, reviewing architectural renderings, and communi- cating development requirements with the public and developers. Keywords Water quality Á Form-based codes Á New urbanism Á Stormwater ordinance Á Environmental planning Á Urban form Introduction In recent years, water shortages, frequent flood events, and alarming levels of nutrient content in North Carolina have brought attention to the declining state of surface water bodies (WRRI 2009). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2009b) has identified over 900 impaired waters in North Carolina, only 125 of which are monitored under total maximum daily load (TMDL) limitations. The majority of these impaired lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers are found in urbanized areas. Despite numerous policies at the federal and state level aimed at regulating stormwater discharges, engineered solutions enacted by local governments often fail to meet water quality stan- dards (Albrecht 2005; National Research Council 2008). Although the implications of land-use planning and development regulations are important for stormwater management, land-use planning strategies to direct the location, rate, and extent of urban development are often overlooked as critical initial steps to improving water quality (Claytor 2000). Dispersed patterns of development lead to increased per-capita impervious surface levels, thus diminishing the land’s ability to absorb and treat water naturally (NALGEP 2003). Although planners have begun to recognize that sustainable planning techniques (e.g. H. E. Berg Á T. K. BenDor (&) Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Box 3140, New East Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3140, USA e-mail: bendor@unc.edu 123 Environmental Management (2010) 46:436–451 DOI 10.1007/s00267-010-9516-0