SAVING THE WORLD THROUGH ZONING: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CODE AUDIT

Transcription

1 SAVING THE WORLD THROUGH ZONING: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CODE AUDIT Presented By: Christopher Duerksen US EPA/Smart Growth America Technical Assistance for Sustainable Communities Building Blocks- Charlottesville, VA April 2015

2 ZONING: EVOLVE OR R.I.P.

3 What is a Sustainable Community? Then I say the earth belongs to each generation during its course, fully and in its own right, [but] no generation can contract debts greater than can be paid during the course of its own existence. Thomas Jefferson (1789)

4 Sustainable Communities meet the needs of the present while ensuring that future generations have the same or better opportunities. Brundtland Commission 1987 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ARE ABOUT PRESERVING CHOICES ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL

5 AMERICA S BABY BOOMERS = THE SKI GENERATION SKI = SPENDING the KID S INHERITANCE

6 A SUSTAINABLE WORLD??? Food: China will demand more food in 2030 than the entire world produces today. Health: 34% of U.S. population obese. Childhood obesity has tripled in last 3 decades. Costs the nation $147 billion annually in weight-related hospital bills. Biodiversity: Habitat destruction ocean acidification = 6 TH major species extinction event looming?? Energy: World oil consumption is expected to increase by 50% by Climate: Last decade--hottest on record; violent storms and flooding; 3-foot sea level rise??

7 A SUSTAINABLE WORLD: GOOD NEWS Carbon Emissions: CO2 emissions in USA at lowest level since 1992 Alternative Energy: Solar already as cheap as oil in New York, California, and Hawaii. Wind added more electricity to grid in 2012 and solar in 2014 than any other source Climate Change: Large majority of Americans believe in man-made climate change Local Governments Leading The Way

8 Local Sustainability Programs Typical Focus: Gov t Operations Hybrid fleets Compact fluorescent and LED bulbs Mass transit Plant street trees Green city buildings Purchase renewable power Recycling programs

9 Local Sustainability Programs WHAT S MISSING?? Little focus on: Development patterns/ private development Development code barriers to green projects and industries Code incentives

10 WHY DO DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND CODES MATTER?? 100 MILLION MORE OF US BY 2043!! MILLION NEW HOUSING UNITS MAJOR SHIFT AWAY FROM LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS NEED FOR HOUSING CHOICES

11 How Can a Development Code Support Sustainability? Development codes CAN help address critical issues: RENEWABLE ENERGY FOOD SUPPLY HEALTH NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION MOBILITY HOUSING CHOICES

12 THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY DON T WAIT: Mandatory elements in comp plans States preempting/suing local govts. Federal laws GHGs; ESA; MBA, CWA/MS4 Save money Adaptation alternative is expensive and uncertain

13 DEVELOPMENT CODES: THREE PATHS TO SUSTAINABILITY BARRIERS THINK B-I-G!! > Remove barriers to community gardens and alternative energy systems INCENTIVES > Count on-street spaces towards offstreet parking requirements. GAPS > Fill regulatory gaps such as energyefficient outdoor lighting standards

14 Sustainable Code: Energy Conservation Outdoor Lighting KEY ISSUES Applicability single-family residential? Street lighting? Which Uses? (parking lots, gas stations, electronic signs, etc.) Location (residential, commercial, etc.) Individual luminaire intensity Maximum overall site lumens Timing

15 Sustainable Code: Energy Conservation Outdoor Lighting Remove Barriers --Adopt clear standards vs. vague requirements (e.g., outdoor rec facilities) Sports stadium lighting --Basic approach is very inflexible no option except full cutoff shielding.

16 Sustainable Code: Energy Conservation Outdoor Lighting Create Incentives Allow flexibility for light retrofits on existing sites Provide simple site lighting budget option for smaller sites

17 Sustainable Code: Outdoor Lighting Fill Regulatory Gaps: Adopt modern regulatory system tailored to use and location Require lighting to be reduced or turned off when business not open Control electronic sign brightness, not just glare

18 Sustainable Code: Green Infrastructure Remove Barriers Reduce excessive offstreet parking requirements. Promote green infrastructure approaches such as pervious pavement and green roofs

19 Sustainable Code: Green Infrastructure Create Incentives Count on-street spaces adjacent to development towards off-street parking requirements Give credit towards stormwater retention requirements for tree protection/retention

20 Sustainable Code: Green Infrastructure Fill Regulatory Gaps Establish parking maximums to limit impervious surface Revamp tree protection/ replacement standards

21 Sustainable Code: Health/Safety Remove Barriers: Allow community gardens Adopt more flexible standards for farmers markets

22 Sustainable Code: Health/Safety Create Incentives: Reduce vehicle parking requirements for projects that provide bicycle facilities or adopt transportation demand management programs

23 Sustainable Code: Health/Safety Fill Regulatory Gaps: Require pedestrian connectivity in new developments Adopt minimum bicycle parking standards Apply CPTED review to all projects help maintain low crime rate

24 Sustainable Code: New Issues New Mindsets Recycling Housing choices Hazard resiliency Natural resource protection OLD PARADIGM

25 Sustainable Code Implementation: Low-Hanging Fruit Strategy Green Infrastructure Reduce excessive parking lot requirements Community Health Adopt community garden standards

26 THE TIME IS RIPE: LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE LEADING THE WAY!!! SALT LAKE CITY GREEN vision.htm OMAHA SUSTAINABLE PLAN AND CODE REVIEW ha/

27 HERE S TO THE CRAZY ONES THE ONES WHO ARE CRAZY ENOUGH TO THINK THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AND ARE THE ONES WHO DO IT! Steve Jobs

28 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BEGIN WITH SUSTAINABLE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT CODES Chris Duerksen (303)