Green infrastructure for integrated land use planning and stormwater management: content analysis through evaluation of thirty municipal comprehensive plans

Green infrastructure has been shown to be an effective strategy to address current emerging environmental issues of stormwater runoff and sustainability. Yet, the lack of the integration of urban land use planning and urban stormwater management results in practical limitations in green infrastructure implementation. The study addresses not only the limitations but also possible synergetic outcomes of increased integration between two practices in implementing green infrastructure. This study assesses the extent of the current integration status of green infrastructure concepts in land use planning practice by evaluating adopted municipal Comprehensive Plans using a specially developed evaluation rubric. The evaluation includes 1) the assessment in integrating green infrastructure concepts for addressing urban runoff issues, 2) the assessment in integrating green infrastructure concepts for improving the urban living environment quality, and 3) the assessment in implementing green infrastructure at a regional level through collaboration between two practices. The evaluation results are analyzed by evaluation indicators within the frame of five dimensions defined for this study through the lens of the aforementioned three analysis aspects. The result shows different levels of green infrastructure integration depending on its dimensions and analysis aspects. Overall, the study finds that the extent of integration of green infrastructure concepts in land use planning practices within thirty evaluated Comprehensive Plans in addressing urban runoff issues is quite limited. Specifically, it shows a relatively more intensive level of green infrastructure integration in addressing general environmental quality for urbanized areas than addressing urban runoff issues or the better collaboration with urban stormwater management practices. The study finds it as an opportunity for possible improvements in municipal Comprehensive Plans as an integrated land use planning tool. The study aims to contribute to discussions on green infrastructure for integrated land use planning practices in promoting successful collaboration with stormwater management practices toward environmentally sustainable urban development.