Atlanta – Coming to Grips with Growth: The Evolving Health Connection

Accounting for Health in Planning PolicyDesign for Health, University of Minnesota

April 30, 2007

Jim Durrett, Executive DirectorLivable Communities Coalition

www.LivableCommunitiesCoalition.org

Atlanta Atlanta Region Land Region Land

CoverCover

’’72-’9372-’93

• Emory University, Georgia Tech, CDC, others

• Started 2003, meets monthly

• Outcomes: HIA activity; Dannenberg (CDC) and Ross (Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development) collaboration

• Report (with ARC): The Role of Local Boards of Health in Community Design and Development

• Working with ARC to identify opportunities to integrate health into regional planning– Developing strategy with ARC to incorporate health-

related measures into LCI program (physical activity, obesity risk, emissions, pedestrian/vehicle safety)

Identify a set of key growth strategies to successfully accommodate the next 2.3M people to be added by 2030

Recommend the policies and actions necessary to achieve these key strategies

Marshal business, public and political support for implementation

Public-Private Task Force convened 2003 to:

Metro Atlanta Quality Growth Task Force

Benchmarking the Atlanta Region

Atlanta

Los Angeles*

San Francisco

Washington D.C.

Dallas

Houston

Boston

San Jose

Nashville

0

25

50

75

1982 1992 2002

Annual hours of delay per capita

Average: 0.29

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St.

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ttle

Bal

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New

York

Dal

las

Chic

ago

Phila

del

phia

Det

roit

Den

ver

Port

land,

OR

Phoen

ix

Mia

mi

Los

Angel

es

San

Fr

anci

sco0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Median lot size (acres) within MSA

Benchmarking the Atlanta Region

Median lot size (acres) within Region

Los An

geles

San

Fran

cisco

New Y

ork

Miam

i

Chica

go

Phoe

nix

Was

hing

ton-

Balti

mor

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roit

Houston

Dallas-

Fort

Wor

th

Phila

delphia

Seat

tle

Boston

Minne

apolis-

St. P

aul

11.0

9.6

8.3

6.96.1

5.75.1 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.4

3.63.1 2.8

0

3

5

8

10

13

Population density ofurbanized area* (people/acre)

Top 15 Metropolitan Area

Benchmarking the Atlanta Region

Population density of urbanized area (people/acre)

National Demographic Changes

2006 – 2012

Persons Turning 65

Region’s Demographic Changes

65+ 55-65

35-54

20-34

Under 20

2000 2030

3.7M

6.0M

0

2

4

6M % Change

43%

43%

37%

136%

241%

Household Demographic Changes

2000 Agingpopulation

Smallerhouseholds

2030

0.8M

0.8M

0.3M 1.9M

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0M

No. of people preferring higher density housing in centers and corridorsNumber of people preferring higher density, mixed use housing, some of which could be in centers/corridors

Regional Household Demand

Different Land Use, Same Transportation Network

Today Status Quo Alternative

36

44

33

0

10

20

30

40

50

Duration of Delay (Minutes/Household)

We can accommodate population growth and reduce the time spent in traffic delay

• The region’s centers and corridors make up less than 10% of the region’s land area

• Portions are ripe for higher density, mixed-use development and redevelopment

We can accommodate population growth and reduce the time spent in traffic delay

Status Quo

AcresSaved

Alternative

439

-107332

0

100

200

300

400

500K

Acres ofLand Consumed

• Preservation of land

• More efficient use of infrastructure investments

• Preserves more options for both growth and greenspace beyond 2030

Benefits

This land use approach can also save 107,000 acres of land

A Diverse Network of Leaders:

• A strong, diverse Board of Trustees• 39 member organizations• Advisory Committee

– Project Implementation Subcommittee– Policy Subcommittee– Communication/Education

Subcommittee

Livable Communities CoalitionLivable Communities Coalition

• AARP Georgia• AIA Atlanta• Alliance for Quality Growth• ASLA Georgia• Association County Commissioners of

Georgia• Atlanta Apartment Association• Atlanta Board of Realtors• Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors• Atlanta Neighborhood Development

Partnership• Atlanta Regional Council for Higher

Education• Atlanta Regional Health Forum• Center for Quality Growth and Regional

Development• Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance• Citizens for Progressive Transit• Clean Air Campaign• Congress for the New Urbanism• Council for Quality Growth

• Cumberland CID• Fanning Institute• Georgia Affordable Housing

Coalition• Georgia Apartment Association• Georgia Concrete & Products

Association• Georgia Conservancy• Georgia Municipal Association• Georgia Planning Association• Georgia State Trade Association of

Nonprofit Developers• Greater Atlanta Home Builders

Association• MARTA• Metro Atlanta Chamber of

Commerce• Park Pride• PEDS• Perimeter CIDs• Regional Atlanta Civic League• Regional Business Coalition• Sierra Club• Southface• Trees Atlanta• Trust for Public Land• Urban Land Institute

A Mission Based on Four Principles:

1. Support greater densities and mixed-use development in appropriate areas

2. Integrate transportation and land use

3. Increase housing choice

4. Guide “greenfield” development

Livable Communities CoalitionLivable Communities Coalition

Working for quality growth in 3 Ways:

1. Engage communities to implement quality growth projects

2. Support public policy for quality growth

3. Educate the public on quality growth (LivableCommunitiesCoalition.org)

Livable Communities CoalitionLivable Communities Coalition

Meeting the Market: New Opportunities for Building Healthy

Communitiesfeaturing

- New Data for a New Era -

Paulding

Carroll

Lamar

Butts

DeKalb

Clayton

Barrow

Forsyth

Dawson

Haralson

Heard

Douglas Fulton

Bartow Cherokee

Cobb

Coweta

Fayette

Gwinnett

Henry

Jasper

Meriwether

Newton

Pickens

Pike

Rockdale

Spalding

Walton

Project completed or in final stages

Project underway or in planning

$10 million over 10 years for studies

$500 million for transportation funding

79 Studies 67 funded by ARC

12 grandfathered

$6,307,250 in study funding

$1,047,900 in supplemental funding

$107,666,806 in transportation funding

$115,021,956 in total funding

• Mix of land usesMix of land uses

• Multiple transportation modesMultiple transportation modes

• Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

Town Centers – Activity Centers – CorridorsTown Centers – Activity Centers – Corridors

Completed LCI Studies by County

Atlanta – 13

Cherokee – 4

Clayton – 5

Cobb – 11

DeKalb – 15

Douglas – 1

Fayette - 2

Fulton – 10

Gwinnett – 11

Henry – 2

Rockdale – 1

Outside – 4

Total – 79

Clarkston, GA - The city measures just 1.1 square miles.  Yet there’s a big vision in place that will soon transform this former railroad town into a model of walkable urban living.

Last night, Clarkston City Council unanimously passed a sweeping new zoning ordinance that sets the stage to remake its downtown into an inviting town center, while retaining the city’s intimate small town character.  “We realized the old zoning wasn’t working,” admits Mayor Lee Swaney.  “With active community participation, we now have a zoning plan that will connect the pieces and enhance what we have.  People want to walk to offices, shops and parks.  For the first time in our history, the new zoning strongly encourages it,” Swaney says.

Press Release April 24, 2007Clarkston Passes New City-wide Zoning:Sounds the Call for Quality Development

Suwanee

Woodstock

PROJECT STATUS REPORT

Sandy Springs Pedestrian Improvements

A Comprehensive Standard for Green Residential DevelopmentMike AlexanderJackie BensonCyrus BhedwarBrian BordenWalter BrownTed BrownChristopher BurkeJim ChapmanHarold CunliffeLaurel DavidJim DurrettBruce FergusonJohn FishHaley FlemingLaurie FowlerArthur GibertMike GuinanBryan HagerTal HarberHarry HousenAndy HullShannon KetteringSusan KiddWayne KingJonathan LewisBill LincicomeCharles McMillanDee MerriamPaul MorganLiza MuellerSteve NygrenKatherine PringleJeff RaderRobert ReedDan ReuterPam SessionsErling SpeerRon SprinkleSusan VarlamoffRandy VinsonAlycen WhiddenOrtrude White

Performance Categories

• Site Selection• Water Management• Planning and Design• Preservation Landscape• Community Engagement• Green Building

www.Southface.org

Certification Process

• Submit an initial application that includes the information detailed and requested specifically in the text of each guideline

• Undertake a pre-development site review with the EarthCraft staff

• Receive designation as a “Certified EarthCraft Community”

• Submit additional documentation as the site design is developed and construction is commenced

• Annual renewal of Certification through site inspections, periodic reviews and an annual charrette with EarthCraft staff and community development team

Certified Communities

• Clark’s Grove, Covington, GA• Glenwood Park, Atlanta, GA• Long Leaf at Callaway, Pine Mountain, GA• Serenbe, Fulton County, GA• Vickery, Forsyth County, GA• Lakewood, Athens, GA• Barbour Pointe, Savannah, GA• Sustainable Fellwood, Savannah, GA• Kanawha, Fort Mill, SC

Local Government Adoption

• Coweta County, GA, Zoning Ordinance– EarthCraft House – 10% density bonus– EarthCraft House, 4-side brick – 15%– EarthCraft Community – 20% bonus

Current Landscape Traditional Practices

Balanced Development

Village•Concentrates development and preserves the surrounding landscape•Benefits of this type of clustered, high-density development: lower development cost, lower service costs, less land consumption, more walkable•In order for Villages zoning to work, Transfer of Development Rights must be used

Hamlet

•Small version of a village•Allows mixed-use and dense development with residential, office, retail and commercial uses

•40% maximum developable area

•60% minimum open space requirement

Conservation Subdivisions

•Preserves a significant portion of the land as open space while maintaining the same density of houses by clustering homes.•Sets aside conservation areas before selecting roads and house sites

Summary of ProgressLand Use Plan Amended and

Overlay District Adopted (Oct 2002)

VillageHamletConservation Subdivision

State TDR Legislation Amended (April 2003)

County TDR Resolution Adopted (March 2003)

Area Wide Standards Amended (May 2005)

Lessons Learned• Get Everyone Involved in the Planning Process

Early, Including Developers

Lessons Learned• Expect the Planning Process to Take Twice as

Long as You Think it Should.

Concept Adoption

Lessons Learned• Don’t Assume Existing Ordinances are

Consistent with the Revised Land Use Plan

– CHC Changes-• Overlay District Regulations Adopted• TDR Legislation Changed• Area Wide Standards Created• Overlay District Regulations Amended

• Walkable, high-density (18,000 in 4.2 sq. mi.), mature town, urban core of Atlanta region, “Active Living Community”

• Community transportation planning underway– Health Impact Assessment integrated into process– Community Workshop TODAY to identify/prioritize health

impacts, ID affected groups, identify/prioritize recommendations– Mobility concepts: pedestrian recommendations; bicycle

recommendations; street typologies– Intersection concepts: intersection redesigns– Safety concepts: traffic calming; railroad quiet zone

- 49 -

ATLANTA BELTLINE, INC.

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc – March 19, 2007

25-YEAR BELTLINE OVERVIEW

• Covers 6,500 acres or 8% of City’s land area

• Nearly 1,300 acres of new greenspace

• 33 miles of trails

• 22-miles of transit

• ~30,000 new jobs in 20 economic development areas

• 5,600+ affordable workforce housing units

• Touches and connects 45 neighborhoods

• Investments in transportation / pedestrian access and streetscapes, public art, historic preservation and environmental clean-up

Key attributes of the BeltLine

Ponce / Old4th Ward

Inman Park / Hulsey Yard

Midtown / Virginia

Highlands

Ansley

Armour yard

Lindbergh

Peachtree

UpperMarietta / Westside

Park

RDA / Cascade

West End / McDaniel Glenn

MurphyTriangle

University /Metropolitan

Lowery /Hollowell

Simpson /Maddox Park

University /Pryor

BoulevardCrossing

Memorial Drive / Glenwood

Northside

Oakland City

North AvePark

Boulevard Crossing Park

IntrenchmentWoods Park

MurphyCrossing Park

Hillside Park

Maddox Park

WestsidePark

WaterworksPark

Ansley Sq.

North Woods Park

Field ofDreamsPark

Glenwood W.Park

Southside H.S. Park

DL StantonPark

Lawton StPark

Enota Park

UpperWest Side

2

3

4

5

6

7

9

10

1

Colonial Park

TallulahPark

Peachtree Ck Park

8

ORMEWOODPARK

BEDFORD PINE PONCEYHIGHLANDS

ATKINS PARK

CANDLERPARK

EDGEWOOD

REYNOLDSTOWN

CABBAGETOWN

GRANTPARK

INMANPARK

ST. CHARLESMIDTOWN

MORNINGSIDE-LENOX PARK

SHERWOODFOREST

BROOKWOOD

BROOKWOODHILLS

PIEDMONT HEIGHTS

LINDRIDGE MARTIN MANOR

VIRGINIAHIGHLAND

ANSLEY PARK

SUMMERHILL

PEOPLES-TOWN

VILLAGESAT CARVER

HIGH POINTCAPITAL

VIEWMANOR

CAPITALVIEW

SOUTHATLANTA

JOYLAND

AMAL HEIGHTS

MURPHYCROSSING

ADAIRPARK

MCDANIELGLENN

MECHANICSVILLE

PITTSBURGH

CHOSEWOODPARK

BOULEVARDHEIGHTS

ENGLEWOODMANOR

BENTEEN

CUSTER /MCDONOUGH

OAKLANDCITY

VENETIAN HILLS

CASCADE ROAD

WESTVIEW WESTEND

MOZLEYPARK

ATLANTA UNIV.

HUNTER HILLS

WEST LAKE

GROVE PARK

BANKHEAD

WASHINGTONPARK

ENGLISH AVENUE

VINECITY

BLANDTOWN

KNIGHT PARKHOWELL STATION

ROCKDALE

BERKELEYPARK

CHANNING VALLEY

COLLIERHILLS

WILDWOOD

SPRING LAKE

LORINGHEIGHTS

HOME PARK

UNDERWOOD HILLS

Ponce / Old4th Ward

Inman Park / Hulsey Yard

Midtown / Virginia

Highlands

Ansley

Armour yard

Lindbergh

Peachtree

UpperMarietta / Westside

Park

RDA / Cascade

West End / McDaniel Glenn

MurphyTriangle

University /Metropolitan

Lowery /Hollowell

Simpson /Maddox Park

University /Pryor

BoulevardCrossing

Memorial Drive / Glenwood

Northside

Oakland City

North AvePark

North AvePark

Boulevard Crossing Park

IntrenchmentWoods Park

MurphyCrossing Park

Hillside Park

Maddox ParkMaddox Park

WestsidePark

WestsidePark

WaterworksPark

Ansley Sq.

North Woods Park

Field ofDreamsPark

Glenwood W.Park

Southside H.S. Park

DL StantonPark

Lawton StPark

Enota Park

UpperWest Side

2

3

4

5

6

7

9

10

1

Colonial Park

TallulahPark

Peachtree Ck Park

8

ORMEWOODPARK

BEDFORD PINE PONCEYHIGHLANDS

ATKINS PARK

CANDLERPARK

EDGEWOOD

REYNOLDSTOWN

CABBAGETOWN

GRANTPARK

INMANPARK

ST. CHARLESMIDTOWN

MORNINGSIDE-LENOX PARK

SHERWOODFOREST

BROOKWOOD

BROOKWOODHILLS

PIEDMONT HEIGHTS

LINDRIDGE MARTIN MANOR

VIRGINIAHIGHLAND

ANSLEY PARK

SUMMERHILL

PEOPLES-TOWN

VILLAGESAT CARVER

HIGH POINTCAPITAL

VIEWMANOR

CAPITALVIEW

SOUTHATLANTA

JOYLAND

AMAL HEIGHTS

MURPHYCROSSING

ADAIRPARK

MCDANIELGLENN

MECHANICSVILLE

PITTSBURGH

CHOSEWOODPARK

BOULEVARDHEIGHTS

ENGLEWOODMANOR

BENTEEN

CUSTER /MCDONOUGH

OAKLANDCITY

VENETIAN HILLS

CASCADE ROAD

WESTVIEW WESTEND

MOZLEYPARK

ATLANTA UNIV.

HUNTER HILLS

WEST LAKE

GROVE PARK

BANKHEAD

WASHINGTONPARK

ENGLISH AVENUE

VINECITY

BLANDTOWN

KNIGHT PARKHOWELL STATION

KNIGHT PARKHOWELL STATION

ROCKDALE

BERKELEYPARK

CHANNING VALLEY

COLLIERHILLS

WILDWOOD

SPRING LAKE

LORINGHEIGHTS

HOME PARK

UNDERWOOD HILLS

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

REGIONAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

Recent History – Defining Needed Resources

• March 2004 Greenspace Stakeholders Meeting

• May 2004 Greenspace Symposium

• Dec 2004 Greenspace Stakeholders Meeting

• Feb 2005 Data and Technical Committee

• Sept 2005 Begin Primary Tasks

• Nov 2006 Release of key resources

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

PROTECTED LANDS INVENTORY & REGIONAL PRIORITY MAPPING

Resource – Green Infrastructure Toolkit

• Provide a better understanding of the necessity of greenspace and its associated benefits

• Outline a common language with which to discuss greenspace acquisition and preservation

• Suggest the steps necessary to create a local greenspace strategy

Best Practice?

• Monthly “Planners Breakfast”– MPO, local government planners, ULI, CIDs,

MARTA, Coalition, others– No agenda, open discussion of policies and

activities, idea generation

• ARC’s Envision6– Land use / transportation linkage

Atlanta – Coming to Grips with Growth: The Evolving Health Connection

Accounting for Health in Planning PolicyDesign for Health, University of Minnesota

April 30, 2007

Jim Durrett, Executive DirectorLivable Communities Coalition

www.LivableCommunitiesCoalition.org