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The Walkable City
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Sustainable Urban Planning: Sustainable Urban Planning:
A More Energy Efficient Lifestyle A More Energy Efficient Lifestyle
with a Return to the Walkable Citywith a Return to the Walkable City
Elizabeth MonterrosaElizabeth Monterrosa
Energy LawEnergy Law
Spring 2009Spring 2009
emonterrosa@kentlaw.eduemonterrosa@kentlaw.edu
Walkable City v. Urban SprawlWalkable City v. Urban Sprawl
�� European cities, the epitome of European cities, the epitome of
walkable cities, where residents may walkable cities, where residents may
transport by public transit and on foot transport by public transit and on foot
to navigate the to navigate the
city to get to city to get to
destinations, destinations,
shop, socialize, shop, socialize,
etc.etc.
Walkable City v. Urban SprawlWalkable City v. Urban Sprawl
�� American American
suburbs and suburbs and
sunsun--belt cities belt cities
are the are the
epitome of epitome of
urban sprawl, urban sprawl,
which creates a which creates a
lifestyle dependent lifestyle dependent
on the automobile.on the automobile.
What is Urban Sprawl?What is Urban Sprawl?
�� Components:Components:–– Low density of land usesLow density of land uses
–– Land uses expand in an unlimited & Land uses expand in an unlimited & noncontiguous way outward from the urban corenoncontiguous way outward from the urban core
–– Lack of integrated & comprehensive land use Lack of integrated & comprehensive land use planning at the regional or community levelplanning at the regional or community level
–– Spatially segregated land usesSpatially segregated land uses
–– Consumption of exurban agricultural and other Consumption of exurban agricultural and other lands in abundancelands in abundance
–– Reliance upon the automobile to access individual Reliance upon the automobile to access individual land usesland uses
Energy Costs Energy Costs
of Urban Sprawlof Urban Sprawl�� By worldwide standards, the type of sprawl By worldwide standards, the type of sprawl
that plagues the U.S. is more accurately that plagues the U.S. is more accurately deemed deemed ““hypersprawl.hypersprawl.”” Densities in Densities in European development are about 10 times European development are about 10 times greater and Asian cities can be 15 to 20 greater and Asian cities can be 15 to 20 times greater than density in the U.S.times greater than density in the U.S.
�� This hypersprawl requires expensive This hypersprawl requires expensive infrastructure and large amounts of energy, infrastructure and large amounts of energy, increasing the urban footprint.increasing the urban footprint.
�� The U.S. comprises 5% of the worldThe U.S. comprises 5% of the world’’s s population yet consumes 25% of the global population yet consumes 25% of the global oil production, most of which is used in oil production, most of which is used in transportation. transportation.
How Did We Get Here? How Did We Get Here?
EuclidEuclid
�� In 1926 in the In 1926 in the Village of Euclid, Ohio v. Village of Euclid, Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co., Ambler Realty Co., the Supreme Court the Supreme Court upheld Euclidupheld Euclid’’s zoning ordinance as a s zoning ordinance as a reasonable extension of the village's police reasonable extension of the village's police power. power.
�� This decision provided the legal basis for This decision provided the legal basis for urban sprawl as sprawl generally occurs urban sprawl as sprawl generally occurs because local governments encourage because local governments encourage development through zoning ordinances development through zoning ordinances that reflect the desires of their respective that reflect the desires of their respective citizens. citizens.
EuclidEuclid--Style ZoningStyle Zoning
�� Therefore, the traditional zoning utilized Therefore, the traditional zoning utilized since since Euclid Euclid has created the segregated land has created the segregated land uses and urban sprawl that contribute to uses and urban sprawl that contribute to energy inefficiency in the U.S. energy inefficiency in the U.S.
�� EuclidEuclid--style zoning divides land uses into style zoning divides land uses into residential, commercial, and industrial residential, commercial, and industrial zones, with the primary purpose of zones, with the primary purpose of protecting property values and human protecting property values and human health by segregating these health by segregating these ““incompatibleincompatible””land uses from one another. land uses from one another.
How Did We Get Here? How Did We Get Here?
PostPost--WWII Land Use WWII Land Use
DevelopmentDevelopment�� In addition to the new zoning scheme that In addition to the new zoning scheme that
allowed for segregated land uses, the allowed for segregated land uses, the
following factors helped create the American following factors helped create the American
hypersprawlhypersprawl: :
–– Widespread use of private autos;Widespread use of private autos;
–– Inexpensive energy;Inexpensive energy;
–– Federally subsidized Interstate Highway System;Federally subsidized Interstate Highway System;
–– Federal home ownership programs; andFederal home ownership programs; and
–– Federal encouragement of new land Federal encouragement of new land
development via friendly federal tax policies. development via friendly federal tax policies.
PostPost--WWII Land Use WWII Land Use
DevelopmentDevelopment
�� With local zoning ordinances that With local zoning ordinances that separated commercial and residential separated commercial and residential uses and federal incentives to develop uses and federal incentives to develop new commercial space, developers new commercial space, developers created the shopping created the shopping ““stripstrip”” on on cheaper, primarily autocheaper, primarily auto--accessible accessible suburban land. Taking sales away suburban land. Taking sales away from urban downtowns, businesses from urban downtowns, businesses increasingly moved to the suburbs, increasingly moved to the suburbs, feeding this feeding this hypersprawlhypersprawl pattern. pattern.
““Leave It to BeaverLeave It to Beaver””
Lifestyle Spells A Lifestyle Spells A
Development DisasterDevelopment Disaster�� After WWII, local After WWII, local
citizens became citizens became especially concerned especially concerned with distancing new with distancing new development from development from economic and social economic and social problems of older city problems of older city cores, protecting the cores, protecting the property values of property values of suburban singlesuburban single--family homes, and family homes, and accommodating accommodating the automobile the automobile needed for the needed for the suburban lifestyle.suburban lifestyle.
How Did We Get Here?How Did We Get Here?
PostPost--WWII WWII
American LifestyleAmerican Lifestyle
�� A new American lifestyle emerged in the PostA new American lifestyle emerged in the Post--WWII WWII era that continues to pervade our society today. In era that continues to pervade our society today. In this lifestyle, convenience is king as resources this lifestyle, convenience is king as resources seemedseemed to be limitless, leading to culture plagued to be limitless, leading to culture plagued by an unsustainable level of consumption. by an unsustainable level of consumption.
–– In just one generation the new home size has In just one generation the new home size has doubled. Until very recently, trucks and SUVs doubled. Until very recently, trucks and SUVs comprised 50% of all automobile sales. With comprised 50% of all automobile sales. With larger, usually suburban, homes and energy larger, usually suburban, homes and energy inefficient automobiles, we consume more inefficient automobiles, we consume more energy, especially oil, and emit more greenhouse energy, especially oil, and emit more greenhouse gases. More disturbingly, all this occurs with gases. More disturbingly, all this occurs with largely complete disregard for the unsustainable largely complete disregard for the unsustainable nature of this lifestyle driven by our insatiable nature of this lifestyle driven by our insatiable taste for convenience. taste for convenience.
Moving Away from Energy Moving Away from Energy
Inefficient Hypersrpawl?Inefficient Hypersrpawl?
�� The value of singleThe value of single--family households, family households, segregated from the hustle and bustle of segregated from the hustle and bustle of urban life, has waned in recent years. urban life, has waned in recent years.
�� Evidence of a rising demand for a walkable Evidence of a rising demand for a walkable lifestyle: lifestyle: –– Price premium the consumer is willing to pay to Price premium the consumer is willing to pay to
live in a walkablelive in a walkable urban place, which is now urban place, which is now from a 40% tofrom a 40% to 200% price premium on the price 200% price premium on the price per square foot basis for a walkable urban per square foot basis for a walkable urban residence as opposed to a competitive nearby residence as opposed to a competitive nearby drivable suburban residence. drivable suburban residence. �� In 2003, for the first time in U.S. history, condos, both In 2003, for the first time in U.S. history, condos, both
old and new, cost more on the price per square foot old and new, cost more on the price per square foot basis than single family housing. basis than single family housing.
Using Sustainable Using Sustainable
Development to Fuel the Development to Fuel the
Move Away from SprawlMove Away from Sprawl�� According to the President's Council on According to the President's Council on
Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development, ““[[E]conomicE]conomic
growth, environmental protection and growth, environmental protection and
social equity should be social equity should be
interdependent, interdependent,
mutually mutually
reinforcing reinforcing
goals."goals."
Using Sustainable Using Sustainable
Development to Fuel the Development to Fuel the
Move Away from SprawlMove Away from Sprawl�� The Three Es of Sustainable Development:The Three Es of Sustainable Development:
–– Economy Economy
–– EcologyEcology
–– Equity Equity
�� Sustainable development seeks to balance Sustainable development seeks to balance and integrate the need for economic growth and integrate the need for economic growth with the need for environmental with the need for environmental preservation and conservation, and preservation and conservation, and intergenerational and intergenerational and intragenerationalintragenerationalequity in decision making, therefore, equity in decision making, therefore, cautioning for moderation in the pace and cautioning for moderation in the pace and scale of redevelopment efforts.scale of redevelopment efforts.
Zoning to Recentralize Zoning to Recentralize
the Walkable Citythe Walkable City
�� Sustainable development initiatives can be Sustainable development initiatives can be applied to the conventional zoning applied to the conventional zoning framework. framework.
�� Conventional zoning promotes sprawl by Conventional zoning promotes sprawl by prohibiting mixedprohibiting mixed--use and high density use and high density development, requiring minimum setbacks, development, requiring minimum setbacks, etc.etc.
�� Under the police power, state and local Under the police power, state and local governments can rewrite comprehensive governments can rewrite comprehensive plans and conventional zoning ordinances to plans and conventional zoning ordinances to mandate sustainable development mandate sustainable development principles, such as mixed use and highprinciples, such as mixed use and high--density development. density development.
Modern Approaches of Modern Approaches of
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
�� New UrbanismNew Urbanism: focuses on generating : focuses on generating
denser development via citizen participation denser development via citizen participation
in planning. It emphasizes architecture and in planning. It emphasizes architecture and
community design to create more community design to create more
pedestrianpedestrian--friendly streets. It advocates for friendly streets. It advocates for
mixed commercial and residential mixed commercial and residential
development to create a denser, less development to create a denser, less
automobileautomobile--dependent walkable community.dependent walkable community.
�� New UrbanismNew Urbanism: Criticized from the Left as : Criticized from the Left as
not going far enough. not going far enough.
Modern Approaches of Modern Approaches of
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
�� Smart Growth:Smart Growth:
–– Encourages a unique sense of community Encourages a unique sense of community
and place;and place;
–– Preserves and enhances valuable natural Preserves and enhances valuable natural
and cultural resources;and cultural resources;
–– Equitably distributes the costs and Equitably distributes the costs and
benefits of development;benefits of development;
–– Expands the range of transportation, Expands the range of transportation,
employment and housing choices in a employment and housing choices in a
fiscally responsible manner;fiscally responsible manner;
Modern Approaches of Modern Approaches of
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
�� Smart Growth:Smart Growth:
–– Values longValues long--range, regional range, regional
considerations for sustainability over considerations for sustainability over
shortshort--term, incremental, geographically term, incremental, geographically
isolated actions; andisolated actions; and
–– Promotes public health and healthy Promotes public health and healthy
communities. communities.
Modern Approaches of Modern Approaches of
Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development
�� Smart Growth: Smart Growth: ““Such goals are achieved Such goals are achieved
through measures including through measures including ‘‘[[t]axt]ax
incentives, incentives, brownfieldbrownfield redevelopment, redevelopment,
elimination of sprawlelimination of sprawl--enhancing subsidies, enhancing subsidies,
[the development of] urban growth [the development of] urban growth
boundaries, and transferable development boundaries, and transferable development
rights.rights.’”’”
�� Smart Growth:Smart Growth: Criticized by the Right as Criticized by the Right as
going too far. going too far.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Redevelopment Agency: Redevelopment Agency: Establishing a redevelopment Establishing a redevelopment agency to oversee the agency to oversee the implementation of reimplementation of re--zoning and zoning and urban redevelopment enacted urban redevelopment enacted by a city council can create a by a city council can create a more accountable, centralized, more accountable, centralized, and efficient redevelopment and efficient redevelopment process. Redevelopment should process. Redevelopment should create a multifunctional create a multifunctional downtown. Today, most cities downtown. Today, most cities have a redevelopment agency. have a redevelopment agency.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� A Multifunctional Downtown: A Multifunctional Downtown: A A
wide variety of functions and activities wide variety of functions and activities
should occupy downtown, including should occupy downtown, including
housing, work, shopping, government, housing, work, shopping, government,
tourist attractions, and culture. tourist attractions, and culture.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� PedestrianPedestrian--Friendly Downtown: Friendly Downtown: By providing sufficiently wide By providing sufficiently wide sidewalks and/or pedestrian zones sidewalks and/or pedestrian zones and markets closed off from and markets closed off from automobiles, a city can create a automobiles, a city can create a pedestrianpedestrian--friendly downtown. friendly downtown. Additional aesthetics include:Additional aesthetics include:
–– public art, active storefronts, public art, active storefronts, attractive landscaping, attractive landscaping, decorative benches, cafes decorative benches, cafes and outdoor tables, sidewalk and outdoor tables, sidewalk merchandise displays and merchandise displays and vendors, and signs. vendors, and signs.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Historical Structures or Historical Structures or
Memorials that Mark the Memorials that Mark the
Unique Culture of the Unique Culture of the
Urban Area: Urban Area: Preservation Preservation
of historical structures and of historical structures and
the erection of historical the erection of historical
memorials help establish the memorials help establish the
citycity’’s unique identity, luring s unique identity, luring
tourists and locals tourists and locals
downtown for its unique downtown for its unique
assets. assets.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Waterfront Development: Waterfront Development: provides provides
a visual and physical attraction to the a visual and physical attraction to the
waterfront, generally located adjacent waterfront, generally located adjacent
to urban downtowns. For example, to urban downtowns. For example,
Navy Pier, Chicago.Navy Pier, Chicago.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Office Development: Office Development: attracts attracts
economic development, which feeds economic development, which feeds
the recreation of the walkable city as the recreation of the walkable city as
office personnel and traveling business office personnel and traveling business
persons become patrons of downtown persons become patrons of downtown
businesses, including hotels, businesses, including hotels,
restaurants, shops, and stores. This restaurants, shops, and stores. This
fuels mixed uses of the walkable city. fuels mixed uses of the walkable city.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Mass Transportation Mass Transportation
Enhancement: Enhancement: Offering Offering
rapid mass transit, including rapid mass transit, including
subways, trams, shuttles, and subways, trams, shuttles, and
buses, creates a less buses, creates a less
automobileautomobile--dependent urban dependent urban
core, decreasing energy core, decreasing energy
consumption and attracting consumption and attracting
patrons who can rely of patrons who can rely of
dependable mass transit dependable mass transit
systems for transportation. systems for transportation.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Mass Transportation Enhancement Mass Transportation Enhancement alsoalso
includes incentives such as parkincludes incentives such as park--andand--ride ride
lots. Legislatures are increasingly utilizing lots. Legislatures are increasingly utilizing
incentiveincentive--based regulations to make based regulations to make
transportation more sustainable by transportation more sustainable by
decreasing automobile use, rewarding those decreasing automobile use, rewarding those
who reduce their driving and penalizing who reduce their driving and penalizing
those who do not. Incentivethose who do not. Incentive--based based
regulations include gasoline taxes and toll regulations include gasoline taxes and toll
collection.collection.
Specific Strategies to Specific Strategies to
Recreate the Walkable CityRecreate the Walkable City
�� Alternative Human Powered Alternative Human Powered
Transit: Transit: Foot and bicycle Foot and bicycle
transportation transportation
are increasingly are increasingly
encouraged by encouraged by
creating wider creating wider
sidewalks and sidewalks and
bike lanes in bike lanes in
urban cores. urban cores.
Sustainable Development: Sustainable Development:
From From HypersprawlHypersprawl to to
Walkable CityWalkable City�� In conclusion, sustainable In conclusion, sustainable
development can accomplish fardevelopment can accomplish far--reaching changes in our built reaching changes in our built environment. By encouraging public environment. By encouraging public participation in the formulation of participation in the formulation of more equitable planning and zoning more equitable planning and zoning ordinances, sustainable development ordinances, sustainable development can foster the movement to American can foster the movement to American walkable cities. walkable cities.
A New Conception of A New Conception of
Land Use PlanningLand Use Planning
A new conception of land use planning A new conception of land use planning must be utilized in local communities must be utilized in local communities or on even larger regional or state or on even larger regional or state levels to address urban sprawl, moving levels to address urban sprawl, moving into a new era of integrated land uses into a new era of integrated land uses that demand less energy and facilitate that demand less energy and facilitate a lifestyle in which familial, economic, a lifestyle in which familial, economic, and social interests may intersect in a and social interests may intersect in a single built community. single built community.
What More?What More?
�� While sustainable development will likely While sustainable development will likely
prove key to transitioning from a prove key to transitioning from a
hypersprawlhypersprawl society to a walkable society, a society to a walkable society, a
cultural revolution is the root of the problem cultural revolution is the root of the problem
and, therefore, the ultimate solution. and, therefore, the ultimate solution.
�� With WWII came a transition to an With WWII came a transition to an
unsustainable lifestyle based on unsustainable lifestyle based on
individualism and the insatiable desire for individualism and the insatiable desire for
ultimate convenience of the automobile. ultimate convenience of the automobile.
Downsizing Our LifestyleDownsizing Our Lifestyle
�� We shouldnWe shouldn’’t stop at t stop at ““sustainable sustainable
development.development.”” Rather we are in need of a Rather we are in need of a
““sustainable lifestyle.sustainable lifestyle.”” A true transition to a A true transition to a
sustainable society will only occur by sustainable society will only occur by
downsizing to a sustainable national downsizing to a sustainable national
lifestyle, embracing mutual responsibility for lifestyle, embracing mutual responsibility for
our environments and neighbors, and our environments and neighbors, and
participating in our communities to create a participating in our communities to create a
cohesive culture of sustainability.cohesive culture of sustainability.
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