Sustainability and the Comprehensive Plan. April 14, 2016 Austin, MN

Transcription

1 Sustainability and the Comprehensive Plan April 14, 2016 Austin, MN

2 Transforming the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy to be both economically and environmentally sustainable. Sustainable Communities: GreenStep Cities Renewable Energy Planning Resilience/Sustainability Planning ENERGY STAR Challenge Metro CERT

3 Sustainability In Austin What is Sustainability? the Brudtland Commission issues a report to the United Nations in 1987, calling for a new framework for development activities around the globe. - Development activities often diminished the functioning of natural systems and frequently disrupted social and community systems. - Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. - Diminished natural and social systems ultimately undermined the goals of development.

4 Sustainability In Austin What is Sustainability? 1. Clean up your messes 2. Share - Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

5 Sustainability In Austin GreenStep Cities - Austin has been a GreenStep City since Currently a Step 2 City, ready to move up to Step 3 - Austin s Comprehensive Plan process uses the GreenStep Cities framework and best practices to guide the Plan s sustainability and resiliency elements

6 Action Sustainability In Austin GreenStep Cities Step 3 Qualified! Step 3 Qualified! Step 3 Qualified! Buildings and Lighting Best Practices Land Use Best Practices Transportation Best Practices Action Needs #15, action 1 Needs #24, action 2 Environmental Management Best Practices Community Development Best Practices

7 What is Resiliency? GreenStep Cities BP 29 Resilient Cities Framework > Infrastructure & Environment Leadership & Strategy Healthy Communities Economy & Society

8 GreenStep Cities - Resiliency Best Practice 1. Integrate climate resilience into planning and budgetary processes 2. Prepare to maintain public health and safety during extreme weather, proactively reduce risk 3. Provide opportunities for economically vulnerable residents Increase social connectedness through engagement and capacity building Protect public and critical facilities and infrastructure Increase the capacity of buildings and infrastructure through resiliency Make long-term investments through sustainable best practices to prepare for anticipated impacts and resiliency over time

9 Resiliency Best Practice City of Austin residential properties bought out after floods in the 1980s and 90s. 2. Loss Avoidance Study analyzed the avoided loss, based on the 2004, 2008, and 2010 flood events 3. The buyouts have paid for themselves in avoided loss several times over. 4. Moreover, some of the buy-outs created green and park space, that have their own value-added component

10 Get More Out of Your Plan: Infrastructure & Environment Manage Increased Stormwater Runoff Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effect Limit Impact of Invasive Species Resilient City Infrastructure Incorporate green infrastructure into stormwater management practices. Limit contaminants in stormwater runoff. Assess waste water infrastructure for vulnerabilities. Increase vegetative cover throughout city. Encourage residents and businesses to practice water conservation.

11 Get More Out of Your Plan: Energy Infrastructure Set city energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for the city. Reduce Emissions Improve Air Quality Enhance Reliability Back-up Critical Infrastructure Achieve SPARC certification. Install renewable energy and battery storage at critical infrastructure sites. Encourage residents and businesses to participate in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Develop enhanced partnership with utility to support local energy systems (local generation, micro-grid etc.).

12 Get More Out of Your Plan: Heathy Communities Conduct a Health Impact Assessment. Access to healthy food options Encourage local food options. Access to recreation Good Air Quality Support vulnerable populations Increase and improve access to recreation. Reduce emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Implement cool pavement policy. Identify vulnerable populations (age, ability, language, income, etc.).

13 Get More Out of Your Plan: Economy & Society Robust city budget Strong community engagement Thriving local economy Empower vulnerable populations Integrate climate into city budgetary process. Increase social connectedness through direct engagement of populations that are generally underrepresented in community participation. Engage residents in broad sustainability and resilience education. Encourage private building owners to take basic actions to prevent damage from weather events. Diversify economic base and build economic opportunity and access

14 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Existing Conditions Desired Conditions (Vision, Goals, & Policies) Strategies

15 Solar Ready Community Existing Conditions (Infrastructure & Environment: Active Solar Example) Austin s rooftop solar reserves are approximately equal to 45% of the total electric energy sales in the City

16 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Desired Conditions (E&I: Active Solar Example) Vision: Austin transitions to a sustainable energy system. Goal: Austin maximizes use of its local solar resource. Policies: I. 25% of new residential developments and 20% of commercial buildings have rooftop solar systems installed. II. Land unsuitable for development is used for solar farm or gardens.

17 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Strategies (E&I: Active Solar Example) I. Adopt zoning ordinances that enable accessory and appropriate principal use solar development. II. III. IV. Identify Austin s solar resource and prioritize sites for solar development. Install solar-with-storage systems on critical public facilities and encourage installations on private critical facilities to accelerate recovery from extreme weather events or disrupted electrical service. Provide educational and financial resources for residents and businesses to know their solar options and make investments.

18 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Vulnerable Populations Existing Conditions (Leadership and Strategy: Addressing Vulnerabilities) Less than high school diploma (population over 25) Non-English Speaking Poverty Level Elderly (population over 65) State of Minnesota City of Austin 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

19 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Desired Conditions (Leadership and Strategy: Addressing Vulnerabilities) Vision: Austin residents enjoy economic opportunity, social stability, and healthy lives and environment. Goal: Economic upward mobility is reflected across all communities of culture, language, and household type. Policies: I. Ensure access to capital and business assistance for entrepreneurs from all cultural or language subgroups II. Reduce or eliminate racial or cultural disparity in educational outcomes.

20 Comprehensive Planning: Resilience Framework Strategies (Leadership and Strategy: Addressing Vulnerabilities) I. Develop business assistance programs that target entrepreneurs in cultural minority populations. II. III. Promote and celebrate Austin s cultural diversity as an asset for business and capital recruitment. Continue to minimize language barriers in the provision of public and private sector services and programs.

21 Austin Comprehensive Plan Austin Draft Vision Statement Austin Minnesota is a diverse and welcoming community providing a full range of employment and housing options within attractive, walkable neighborhoods, well maintained parks, and natural areas, convenient shopping, a vibrant mixed use downtown offering multi-generational arts, cultural and entertainment activities, connected by a safe and accessible multimodal transportation network.

22 Austin Comprehensive Plan Sustainability and Resilience Themes Sustainability 1. Sustainable Economic Development 2. Sustain Existing Building Stock and Infrastructure 3. City Leadership to Enable Private Sector Action Resiliency 1. Address Social and Economic Vulnerabilities 2. Better City/County Cooperation 3. Safe Growth and Climate Adaptation

23 Thank you.