The Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLCWRT
APA National ConferenceMinneapolis, MN
April 26, 2009
Agenda
1. Introduction and Emerging Trends
2. Sustainability in the Comprehensive Planning Process
3. Case Study: Union County Comprehensive Plan
• Union County Background• Community Outreach• Cultivating Community: A Sustainable Comprehensive Plan for Union County
4. Questions and Discussion
David Rouse, AICP, Principal, Wallace Roberts & Todd
Shawn McLaughlin, AICP, Planning Director, Union County, PA
Robert Kerns, AICP, Associate, Wallace Roberts & Todd
Introduction and Emerging Trends
The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan
• Values-Driven
• Collaborative
• Thematic Based
• Linking Process and Outcome
• Regional in Focus
• Beyond Paper
Source: The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan, presentation and paper prepared by David Rouse, Michael Chandler, and Jon Arason for the 1999 National APA Conference in Seattle, WA
• Critical Environmental Stresses (Lester Brown)1
– Deteriorating oil and food security
– Climate change: rising temperatures and sea levels
– Emerging water shortages
– Natural systems under stress
– Growing divides between rich and poor
• Two Great Oversights of Our Time (Rob Hopkins)2
– Peak oil
– Climate change
1 Plan B 3.0, 20082 The Transition Handbook, 2008
Sustainability Issues
• Definitions
…Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, 1987)
…Development that improves the long-term health of human and ecological systems (Stephen M. Wheeler, Planning for Sustainability, 2004)
• The Three “Es”
– Environment– Economy– Equity
What is Sustainability?
• The Leaders
– Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan: Towards a Sustainable Future
– Portland, OR: Portland Plan
– Plan NYC: A Greener, Greater New York
– Greenburg, KS: Sustainable Comprehensive Master P:lan
• Other Examples
– Minneapolis, MN: Plan for Sustainable Growth
– Salem, OH: Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
– Washtenaw County, MI: A Sense of Place, A Sustainable Future
• Cities with Extensive Sustainability Initiatives
– San Francisco
– Chicago
Sustainable Comprehensive Plans
• State Legislation
– California: Climate change legislation
– Massachusetts Green Community Act (Comprehensive Energy Reform)
• Natural Step Framework
– Eco-Municipalities (Sweden)
– Santa Monica, CA Sustainable City Program
– Grassroots initiatives (e.g., Lewisburg, PA)
• Transition Initiatives
– 64 adopted Transition Initiatives as of 6/08
– 54 in UK, 4 in New Zealand, 2 in US, 1 in Ireland
– US communities: Boulder, CO and Sandpoint, ID
Emerging Trends
Sustainability in the Comprehensive Planning Process
• Outreach / Input
• Analysis
• Synthesis/Choice
• Plan Development
• Implementation
Typical Comprehensive Planning Process
• Outreach / Input: “Values-driven” planning meets the “environmental imperative”
• Analysis: Sustainability scan
• Plan Development: Sustainability “building blocks” (organizing the plan)
• Implementation: Sustainability indicators and tools
Sustainability in the Planning Process
• Energy Reduce fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions through the planning and design of communities, sites, and buildings
• ResiliencyReduce vulnerability to external environmental and economic threats through planning, design, and increased reliance on local resources, goods, and services
• Mobility Locate and design transportation systems to reduce reliance on the automobile andpromote alternative modes
• StewardshipPreserve and restore natural, cultural, and built resources. Integrate natural and humanecological systems in the planning and design of communities
• EquityProvide housing, transportation, and employment opportunities for persons of all socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities
Sustainability Principles
Vision: Define in relation to environmental challenges and sustainability principles
Education: Frame sustainability issues to resonate with community
• Economic Challenges
– Impacts of volatile energy costs
– Fiscal impacts of inefficient development patterns
• Environmental Challenges
– Impacts on climate change and security
– Vulnerability to natural and human disasters
• Social Challenges
– Lack of affordable workforce housing
– Effects on community health (obesity)
Outreach / Input
• Sustainability Scan: How sustainable is your community?
• Level 1 (Qualitative)– Review existing plans, policies, and regulations
– Evaluate land use patterns / infrastructure systems
• Level 2 (Quantitative): Impact modeling (e.g., INDEX by Criterion Planners)
– Carbon footprint /greenhouse gas emissions
– Energy consumption
– Stormwater runoff
– Traffic impact modeling
– Fiscal impact modeling
– Land consumption/development patterns
Analysis
• Model 1: Conventional Plan Elements
• Establish overarching sustainability framework
• Define sustainability principles and themes with the community
• “Activate” framework, principles, and themes through strategies and actions in different elements
• Land Use
• Transportation
• Housing
• Natural & Historic Resources
• Agricultural Resources
• Recreation and Open Space
• Community Facilities
• Economic Development
Potential New Elements:
• Energy Conservation
• Community Form
• Hazard Mitigation
Plan Development: Building Blocks
• Model 2: Systems Approach
• Organize elements into “systems”
• Define sustainability principles and themes with the community
• Emphasize interconnectedness between elements
• Energy (utility infrastructure, energy sources/ production, conservation)
• Food (local networks, production, distributions, health, access)
• Mobility (complete streets, connectivity)
• Green Infrastructure (greenways, sensitive environmental resources, urban “greening”, etc.)
• Housing (community character & form, types, affordability, need vs. supply)
• Economic (employment, diversity, accessibility, local “asset-based” community development)
• Social (education, recreation, cultural and historic resources, safety and security, community health)
Plan Development: Building Blocks
• Action Plan– Types of actions (policy, regulatory, capital
investment)
– Schedule / timeframes
– Responsible parties
• Capacity-Building / Partnerships– Municipal government
– Other levels of government
– Non-profit organizations / institutions
– Private sector businesses
– Citizens
• Plan Monitoring– Measures of progress (sustainability indicators)
Implementation
Union County Background
• Located along the Susquehanna River 60 miles N of Harrisburg,165 miles NW of Philadelphia, and 200 miles E of Pittsburgh
• Comprehensive plan for 13 municipalities
• 3 multi-municipal plans
Union County Background
New York, NY Union County
Washington DC
Philadelphia, PA
Harrisburg, PA
• Attractive rural quality of life with strong agricultural heritage and small towns / villages
• Forests and agriculture represents 60% and 30% of total land use, respectively
• Access to major urban areas via I-80 and other routes
• Historic downtown districts in Lewisburg and Mifflinburg
• Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg
Union County Background
Existing Land Use
• 80% of County zoned for Agricultural or Woodlands / limited low-density housing is permitted in most of these districts
• Residential housing growth: 14% from 1990-2000 and 8% from 2000-2006
• 40% housing growth projected by 2030 / highest growth expected in agricultural townships
Union County Background
New Structures 2001-2006 (+1,000 units)& Land Preservation
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
Popu
latio
n
Year
Union County Population, 1820-2050
2000
Total Land Area Needed for 2006-2050
@ 1 DU/Net Acre*
+ 8,826 Housing Units
= 10,590Net Acres in
Union County*
* 1) An additional 20% in land area is included in acreage calculation to accommodate utilities and ROW; 2) Gregg Township is included in the total projection, but is excluded from the Planning Area totals.
1 2 4 miles
640Acres
Community Outreach
• Website • Advisory Teams• Branding, Advertising & Marketing• Citizen Survey• Public Forums• Meeting In a Box• Stakeholder Interviews• Municipal Officials Meetings• School Programs
Outreach & Involvement Techniques
www.cultivatingcommunity.net
• Countywide Plan Advisory Team • 28 volunteers – Represented diverse County stakeholders• Met every other month on average
• 3 Multi-Municipal Advisory Teams • Elected Officials & Planning Commissioners• Met as needed
Advisory Teams
Citizen Survey Results
Outreach & Involvement Themes
• Energy Conservation & Sustainability• Preservation of Agriculture & Natural Resources• Growth Management• Create Trails & Pedestrian-Friendly Development• Expand Public Transportation• Vitality of Town Centers• Regional Cooperation• Concern About Quality of New Growth• Economic Opportunity for Current Residents• Strategic Infrastructure Investment
Cultivating Community: A Sustainable Comprehensive Plan for Union County
Union County will be a prosperous and beautiful valley in 2030 by:
Vision Statement
• Protecting precious natural resources & agriculture
• Supporting sustainable economic growth
• Promoting its unique town & country lifestyle
The western region will be a home for rural enterprise and
connecting with nature.
The central region will be the heart of Union
County’s agricultural and small town heritage.
The eastern region will be a center of county government, medical service, and higher
education in a town and country setting.
Three concurrent regional visions will contribute their special strengths to achieving these goals:
Citizen Direction & Sustainability
Continue Small Town Patterns
Future Growth Management Framework
Recommended Growth Management Framework
What the Future C
ould Look Like
Union County’s Cultivating Community Comprehensive Plan: A Hybrid Approach
• Topical Plan Elements• Natural and Agricultural Resources• Land Use• Housing• Economic Development• Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources• Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation• Implementation
• Integrating Factors• Sustainability Principles• Sustainability Keys• Sustainability Indicators
Sustainability Principles
1. Focus new development in and around established communities
• Promote reinvestment in existing towns and villages
• Develop in close proximity to existing infrastructure
2. Preserve rural resources
• Maintain agriculture and prime farmland soils
• Preserve sensitive natural features and scenic views
3. Conserve energy
• Decrease fossil fuel consumption
• Reduce automobile use / promote transportation alternatives
4. Conserve fiscal resources
• Limit the negative impacts of new development on municipal budgets
• Limit the negative impacts of new development on community services
1. Natural and Agricultural Resources - System Integrity
2. Land Use - Mixed Use
3. Housing - Diversity
4. Economic Development - Building Local Assets
5. Transportation – Multi-Modal Choices
6. Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources - Adaptive Reuse
7. Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation - Energy Conservation
Sustainability Keys
System Integrity
Sustainability Key
• Maintain integrity of woodlands, greenways, waterways, wetlands, habitats, open space, soils, and agricultural lands
Sample Sustainability Indicators
• Water Quality• Animal and plant indicator species• Agricultural / forest lands preserved (e.g., easements, TDR)
– Natural and Agricultural Resources
Natural and Agricultural Resources
Sample Actions
• Create a countywide Green Infrastructure Plan
• Educate farmers about alternative livestock production systems with lesser impacts on land and water quality (e.g. organic, free-range, non-confinement, grass-fed meat and poultry)
Cultivating Community
Mixed Use
Sustainability Key
• Strengthen the County’s traditional land use pattern of compact, mixed-use development focused on small towns and villages
• New development inside vs. outside growth areas• Vertical vs. horizontal mixed-uses• Carbon footprint / greenhouse gas emissions
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Land Use
Cultivating Community
Land Use
Sample Actions
• Prepare regulations to promote walkable, mixed-use communities (e.g., TND, form-based zoning, incentives, etc.)
• Develop conservation subdivision / tree preservation standards for use in rural areas
Housing Diversity
Sustainability Key
• Provide choices in housing types and prices to meet different segments of the County’s population
• Mix of housing types vs. housing demand based on demographics• Affordability• Access to services (e.g., community facilities, parks and recreation, retail)
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Housing
Housing
Sample Actions
• Provide different housing types in designated growth areas for a changing and aging population
• Implement a “green building” program through new code requirements / incentives, education, grants / loans, and partnerships (electric companies)
Building Local Assets
Sustainability Key
• Build economic activities that:• Draw on County’s intrinsic values – high quality of life, fertile
agricultural soils, quality educational and medical institutions• Reduce dependence on outside resources (e.g., use locally produced
goods and services rather than imported goods)
• Locally-owned businesses• Employment opportunities / living wages
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Economic Development
Cultivating Community
Economic Development
Sample Actions
• Focus programs on businesses that “fit” with growing industry clusters • Healthcare• Education• Lumber and wood products• Diversified manufacturing• Hospitality/tourism
• Expand partnerships with area educational / healthcare institutions
Cultivating Community
Transportation Choices
Sustainability Key
• Provide convenient choices for people to use different forms of travel (autos, bicycles, transit, and walking) to meet their mobility needs.
• Reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)• Length of sidewalks / bike lanes / multi-use trails• Connectivity index
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Transportation
Cultivating Community
Transportation
Sample Actions
• Designate a network of on-road routes with adequate paved shoulders for non-motorized travel (horse and buggy, bicycles)
• Provide for pedestrian / bicycle facilities in land development / roadway improvements (e.g., traffic impact study ordinances, roadway design guidelines)
Adaptive Reuse
Sustainability Keys
• Refers to modification or rehab of existing structures to serve new uses (e.g., “recycling: former schools for retail, office, or residential uses)
• Historic resources recognized / preserved• Recycled buildings• Heritage tourism activity
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Cultural, Historic, and RecreationalResources
Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources
Sample Actions
• Implement a countywide preservation program to encourage rehab or adaptive reuse of historic resources and other older buildings
• Designate Union County as part of the Middle Susquehanna State Heritage Area
Energy Conservation
Sustainability Keys
• Energy is required for all life’s activities; minimizing energy usage both conserves resources and yields economic returns by lowering costs.
• Compactness of infrastructure systems• Renewable energy installations• Green buildings• Reduction in VMT
Sample Sustainability Indicators
– Community Facilities, Utilities, andEnergy Conservation
Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation
Sample Actions
• Support opportunities for energy production on farms (e.g., methane from dairies, regional manure digester)
• Upgrade high school facilities as model “green” facilities• Sustainable building systems• Site / stormwater management
practices• Multi-modal transportation access
Union County’s Cultivating Community Comprehensive Plan: Implementation
• Geographic Scale• Countywide Action Plan• Multi-Municipal Action Plans
• Actions• Types (regulatory, policy / planning, capital investment, partnerships)• Timeframes• Responsibilities• Funding sources
• Monitoring• Annual Assessments / Work Programs• Measures of Progress (sustainability indicators)
Key Issue: Capacity-Building
• Union County and its municipalities have a small population and limited resources• Three municipalities do not have zoning ordinances
• Partnerships among the public, private, and nonprofit / institutional sectors will be key to success• Public / public (e..g., PA State Agencies / Union County / municipalities)• Public / private (e.g., Lewisburg Area Recreation Park – LARA / Playworld;
Pennsylvania House redevelopment)• Public / institutional (e.g., Union County / Bucknell University)
The Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLCWRT
APA National ConferenceMinneapolis, MN
April 26, 2009
Contact Information
David Rouse, AICP, Principal, Wallace Roberts & [email protected]
Shawn McLaughlin, AICP, Planning Director, Union [email protected]
Robert Kerns, AICP, Associate, Wallace Roberts & [email protected]
www.cultivatingcommunity.net