Kansas City's Stream Setback Ordinance: A Case Study on the Benefits of Stream Buffers in Urban Areas

Riparian buffers provide direct public and environmental benefits by stabilizing streams, separating people and structures from flood hazards, protecting public infrastructure from damage, and improving water quality. They also provide indirect benefits such as habitat preservation, recreational opportunities, public amenities and increased property values. Over the past 5 years the City of Kansas City, Missouri (City) systematically evaluated stream quality throughout the city and quantified the relationship between riparian buffers and stream quality. A comprehensive stream asset inventory demonstrated that the health and stability of the City's streams is influenced by the quantity and quality of riparian buffers. The results are bolstered by other studies from the Kansas City region, and support national research on the importance of stream buffers as a watershed management tool. for this reason, the City adopted a stream setback ordinance in August 2008 that prohibits floodplain development, while focusing on preserving adjacent riparian buffers through development controls, low-impact development provisions, and incentives. This groundbreaking stream setback ordinance uniquely addresses stormwater management, natural resource protection, and future development by protecting sufficient riparian buffer to maintain the City's streams and environmental quality, while providing development incentives and flexibility to developers affected by the buffer. Flexibility, through the provision of "conservation development" options protects significant riparian resources while at the same time allowing development within the outer zone of the buffer.