Urban Development Areas (UDA)Urban Development Areas (UDA)& &

Virginia’s UDA Planning Assistance Grant Virginia’s UDA Planning Assistance Grant ProgramProgram

Paul Grasewicz, AICPPaul Grasewicz, AICP

Transportation & Mobility Planning DivisionTransportation & Mobility Planning Division

Virginia Department of TransportationVirginia Department of Transportation

Housing Policy Group RecommendationHousing Policy Group Recommendation

• Address Linkage of Housing, Employment, and Address Linkage of Housing, Employment, and Transportation.Transportation.

• VDOT Actions: VDOT Actions:

Assist localities to plan Urban Development Areas for Assist localities to plan Urban Development Areas for

compact, mixed use development.compact, mixed use development.

Promote benefits of traditional neighborhood mixed use Promote benefits of traditional neighborhood mixed use development design.development design.

Urban Development Areas LegislationUrban Development Areas Legislation

The Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation that The Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation that

requires certain localities to adopt Urban Development Areas requires certain localities to adopt Urban Development Areas

(UDA) into their Comprehensive Plans. (UDA) into their Comprehensive Plans.

Virginia Code 15.2-2223.1 Virginia Code 15.2-2223.1

as amended April 2010as amended April 2010

What is an Urban Development Area?What is an Urban Development Area?

Town planning pre-WW2

Suburban planning

post-WW2

Compact Mixed Use

Design

The UDA is a geographical area designated in a locality’s Comprehensive The UDA is a geographical area designated in a locality’s Comprehensive

Plan appropriate for higher density, mixed use development.Plan appropriate for higher density, mixed use development.

Transportation Benefits from Designating UDAsTransportation Benefits from Designating UDAs

Focusing growth in UDAs & a compact, mixed use TND designFocusing growth in UDAs & a compact, mixed use TND design

- Generates significantly less vehicular tripsGenerates significantly less vehicular trips

- Produces fewer miles of new subdivision streets for state Produces fewer miles of new subdivision streets for state

maintenancemaintenance

- Reduces the need for d Reduces the need for d

improvements to to improvements to to

suburban highwayssuburban highways

- Offers opportunities for Offers opportunities for

public transportationpublic transportation

Suburban vs. Traditional Neighborhood DesignSuburban vs. Traditional Neighborhood Design

Housing Market BenefitsHousing Market Benefits

Providing a variety of housing types & costs to expand choiceProviding a variety of housing types & costs to expand choice

Apartments, condos & town homes makes entry into the market easierApartments, condos & town homes makes entry into the market easier

Living in a walkable /bikeable community can lower transportation costs Living in a walkable /bikeable community can lower transportation costs A greater share of household income can go to rent and mortgage paymentsA greater share of household income can go to rent and mortgage payments

Can accommodate people with special needs and of all agesCan accommodate people with special needs and of all ages

Civic area, parks, stores, walking and bicycling are attractive to home Civic area, parks, stores, walking and bicycling are attractive to home buyersbuyers

Fiscal Benefits for LocalitiesFiscal Benefits for Localities

• Shorter travel distances for school buses, trash collection, emergency Shorter travel distances for school buses, trash collection, emergency response, and other public servicesresponse, and other public services

• Compact infill projects maximize existing infrastructure Compact infill projects maximize existing infrastructure

• Higher market value of TND real estate means increased property tax Higher market value of TND real estate means increased property tax revenuerevenue

• Reduced maintenance costs for compact streets and shorter utility Reduced maintenance costs for compact streets and shorter utility networksnetworks

Phasing in Phasing in Urban AreasUrban Areas

• Secretary of Transportation Office fundingSecretary of Transportation Office funding

• VDOT administrationVDOT administration

• Four planning consultants selected via procurement rulesFour planning consultants selected via procurement rules

• To help localities designate UDAs and comply with state lawTo help localities designate UDAs and comply with state law

• Two tiers/types of grants of planning assistanceTwo tiers/types of grants of planning assistance

• Secretary of Transportation Office fundingSecretary of Transportation Office funding

• VDOT administrationVDOT administration

• Four planning consultants selected via procurement rulesFour planning consultants selected via procurement rules

• To help localities designate UDAs and comply with state lawTo help localities designate UDAs and comply with state law

• Two tiers/types of grants of planning assistanceTwo tiers/types of grants of planning assistance

Establishing the Grant ProgramEstablishing the Grant ProgramEstablishing the Grant ProgramEstablishing the Grant Program

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Grant ProgramGrant ProgramGrant ProgramGrant Program

Tier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistanceTier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistance

• Designate at least one UDA in their comprehensive planDesignate at least one UDA in their comprehensive plan

• Create a zoning district classification for TND designCreate a zoning district classification for TND design

• Revise subdivision regulations to accommodate designRevise subdivision regulations to accommodate design

• Analyze and demonstrate the transportation benefitsAnalyze and demonstrate the transportation benefits

• Involve the publicInvolve the public

Tier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistanceTier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistance

• Designate at least one UDA in their comprehensive planDesignate at least one UDA in their comprehensive plan

• Create a zoning district classification for TND designCreate a zoning district classification for TND design

• Revise subdivision regulations to accommodate designRevise subdivision regulations to accommodate design

• Analyze and demonstrate the transportation benefitsAnalyze and demonstrate the transportation benefits

• Involve the publicInvolve the public

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26 Grant Recipients26 Grant Recipients26 Grant Recipients26 Grant Recipients

Tier 1Tier 1CarolineCarolineCity of HarrisonburgCity of HarrisonburgBedfordBedfordAmherstAmherstAlbemarleAlbemarleGoochlandGoochlandTown of WoodstockTown of WoodstockAmeliaAmeliaCumberlandCumberlandGloucesterGloucesterIsle of WightIsle of WightCity of MartinsvilleCity of MartinsvilleWashington Washington City of Virginia BeachCity of Virginia BeachDinwiddieDinwiddiePagePageCity of WinchesterCity of Winchester

Tier 1Tier 1CarolineCarolineCity of HarrisonburgCity of HarrisonburgBedfordBedfordAmherstAmherstAlbemarleAlbemarleGoochlandGoochlandTown of WoodstockTown of WoodstockAmeliaAmeliaCumberlandCumberlandGloucesterGloucesterIsle of WightIsle of WightCity of MartinsvilleCity of MartinsvilleWashington Washington City of Virginia BeachCity of Virginia BeachDinwiddieDinwiddiePagePageCity of WinchesterCity of Winchester

RockinghamRockingham

Town of BroadwayTown of Broadway

Town of BlacksburgTown of Blacksburg

Town of OrangeTown of Orange

FluvannaFluvanna

King WilliamKing WilliamHalifaxHalifaxTown of South BostonTown of South BostonMecklenburgMecklenburg

RockinghamRockingham

Town of BroadwayTown of Broadway

Town of BlacksburgTown of Blacksburg

Town of OrangeTown of Orange

FluvannaFluvanna

King WilliamKing WilliamHalifaxHalifaxTown of South BostonTown of South BostonMecklenburgMecklenburg

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Grant ProgramGrant Program Grant ProgramGrant Program

Tier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant helpTier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant help

• Meet Tier 1 requirementsMeet Tier 1 requirements

• Create small area plans within UDAsCreate small area plans within UDAs

• Analyze transportation impacts of the planAnalyze transportation impacts of the plan

• Consider accommodation of transit oriented developmentsConsider accommodation of transit oriented developments

Tier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant helpTier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant help

• Meet Tier 1 requirementsMeet Tier 1 requirements

• Create small area plans within UDAsCreate small area plans within UDAs

• Analyze transportation impacts of the planAnalyze transportation impacts of the plan

• Consider accommodation of transit oriented developmentsConsider accommodation of transit oriented developments

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Six Grant RecipientsSix Grant RecipientsSix Grant RecipientsSix Grant RecipientsTier 2Tier 2FauquierFauquier

MontgomeryMontgomery

New KentNew Kent

StaffordStafford

SpotsylvaniaSpotsylvania

Town of HerndonTown of Herndon

Prince WilliamPrince William

Tier 2Tier 2FauquierFauquier

MontgomeryMontgomery

New KentNew Kent

StaffordStafford

SpotsylvaniaSpotsylvania

Town of HerndonTown of Herndon

Prince WilliamPrince William

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Results of State UDA Grant ProgramResults of State UDA Grant Program

32 localities provided planning consultant 32 localities provided planning consultant assistance to comply with the UDA state law assistance to comply with the UDA state law

• 45% of the UDA counties45% of the UDA counties

• 42% of the UDA cities42% of the UDA cities

• 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population

32 localities provided planning consultant 32 localities provided planning consultant assistance to comply with the UDA state law assistance to comply with the UDA state law

• 45% of the UDA counties45% of the UDA counties

• 42% of the UDA cities42% of the UDA cities

• 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population

Urban Development Areas Legislation

The 2012 Virginia General Assembly amended the statute so

locality designation of Urban Development Areas (UDA) in their

Comprehensive Plans becomes optional.

Urban Development Areas Legislation

The 2012 Virginia General Assembly amended the statute so

locality designation of Urban Development Areas (UDA) in their

Comprehensive Plans becomes optional.

Offers information on principles and design best practices, the benefits of Offers information on principles and design best practices, the benefits of

such design, planning for transportation efficient growth, methods for such design, planning for transportation efficient growth, methods for

engaging the public in the planning process, and implementation strategiesengaging the public in the planning process, and implementation strategies.

Prepared a publication Prepared a publication

to promote the benefits to promote the benefits

of compact mixed use of compact mixed use

development:development:

The results ….The results ….

for residential

The results ….The results ….

for mixed-use

The Guide and Appendices are available on the VDOT Web Site

The Guide and Appendices are available on the VDOT Web Site