Developments of Regional Impact (DRI)
The six Centre Region municipalities, as signatories to the Centre Region Comprehensive Plan and Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan, established a formal process to evaluate when expansion of the Regional Growth Boundary (RGB) and Sewer Service Area (SSA) may be warranted. The Development of Regional Impact (DRI) process is designed to support informed, coordinated regional decision-making by requiring a property owner to demonstrate why proposed growth cannot reasonably be accommodated within the existing boundary and to document the potential regional impacts of extending public infrastructure.
Through this process, municipalities evaluate not only sewer capacity, but also potential impacts on public water systems, the transportation network—including transit—emergency services, and environmental features. By providing a consistent, regionwide framework for reviewing these issues, the DRI helps ensure that decisions about growth are fiscally responsible, infrastructure-ready, and aligned with the Centre Region Comprehensive Plan.
According to the RGB and SSA Implementation Agreement, the following proposals are designated as Developments of Regional Impact (DRI):
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Any request to expand the Regional Growth Boundary and Sewer Service Area.
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Any proposal to rezone property outside the Regional Growth Boundary and Sewer Service Area to a density greater than one equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) per acre.
Due to the impact that a DRI can have on the community’s wastewater collection and treatment system and on its overall infrastructure network, the Centre Region Municipalities have agreed that these proposals warrant increased regional discussion and deliberation by the Centre Regional Planning Commission and COG General Forum.
Helpful resources on the DRI application and process: