sart4 2008

10 Years of Action by ARCManaging Growth in the Region

Dan Reuter, Atlanta Regional Commission

Post Riverside

Downtown Smyrna

In 1988, Post Riverside and Downtown Smyrna were new town center projects.

Blueprint Midtown

Decatur Strategic Plan

In 1998, “small area planning” was occurring in Decatur and Midtown

Positive Steps - 1998 vs. 2008• National advances in sustainability and smart growth • Resurgence of City of Atlanta and urban core• New tools (CIDs, TADS)• Improved local government planning and codes• Many “smarter” private developments• New organizations…..

Regional or State Non-Profits • Georgia Conservancy • Southface Energy Institute • Sierra Club• Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP)• Livable Communities Coalition• Civic League for Metro Atlanta

Place Based Non-Profits• Central Atlanta Progress • Midtown Alliance• Perimeter CID• Cumberland CID

1983 Ga Constitution inhibits regional solutions and grants immense authority to local governments to manage growth.

#1 Local Government Home Rule

Three Big Issues to Remember

Atlanta Zoning Maps Online

#2 Funding Authority at State Level

Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) under federal rules has primary authority for 85 to 90% of new transportation construction funds.

Roads and access drive new development.

Region has little control over transportation investments.

Three Big Issues to Remember

#3

Limited Transit Funding

MARTA rail system was completed to its current size in 2000.

The MARTA system was built with substantial federal construction funding. State does not fund transit operations. Georgia is one of few without state assistance.

Funding available for new fixed-guideway or other major transit expansions is now very limited.

Three Big Issues to Remember

Metropolitan Area Planning and Development Commission Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) originally created in 1947 with regional planning responsibility for 10 counties.

ARC produces the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning in the 20 county region.

ARC produces a Regional Development Plan (RDP) ARC manages local government comprehensive planning rules for a 10 county area under Georgia law administered by Georgia DCA.

ARC staff’s the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District.

ARC serves as a regional Area Agency on Aging and Regional Workforce Board.

ARC Planning Responsibilities

Several programs to highlight:

1. Envision6 and UGPM2. Transit Planning Board (TPB)3. Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)4. Housing planning and data5. Greenspace planning6. Green Communities

1998 vs. 2008 - ARC

ARC began to rethink all plans, programs and investments in terms of linking land use, transportation, water, aging and health.

#1 Improved Regional Planning

Envision6 was the 2007 process to update and link regional transportation with land use through:

• Development scenarios – growth map• Integrates local plans and forecasts for region• Improved transportation prioritization• Programs to link land use with transportation

2009 will begin another update of regional plans!

Growth focused in centers and corridors

Adopted annually by ARC Board

Consolidated policy map with annual updates

#2 Transit Planning Board (TPB) created Concept 3plan for regional transit!

ARC helped initiate and supports TPB.

ARC originated a way to use transportation dollars to:

• Encourage local governments to plan and implement strategies that link transportation improvements with development strategies

• Link implementation actions to receipt of transportation project funding

• Build on existing infrastructure in centers & corridors

#3 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)

ARC Board commitments to LCI have resulted in:

• $10 million for 94 studies over 10 years

• $500 million for transportation projects in LCIs

• 40 activity centers, 41 town centers, 13 corridors

• 9 counties and 48 cities with LCI studies

LCI requires a process to consider:LCI requires a process to consider:

• Mix of land usesMix of land uses

• Multiple transportation modesMultiple transportation modes

• Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

Atlanta – 17

Cherokee – 4

Clayton – 5

Cobb – 11

DeKalb – 15

Douglas – 2

Fayette - 2

Fulton – 15

Gwinnett – 14

Henry – 2

Rockdale – 1

Outside – 6

Total – 94

• Pedestrian Facilities – 58%

• Multi-Use Trail – 6%

• Bike/Ped Facility – 14%

• Roadway Operations – 9%

• Roadway Capacity – 3%

• Transit Facilities – 9%

LCI provided approximately $132 million for 83 transportation projects

Midtown Peachtree Pedestrian Improvements

Decatur MARTA Plaza Redevelopment

#4 Regional Housing PlanningQuarterly Forums 5 years of speakers addressing housing policy ARC developed new housing data sourcesHousing Data Monthly overviews (Snapshots) Regional Housing Resource Center

http://www.atlantaregionalhousing.org/

Housing Policy and Codes Accessory Dwelling Units (Granny Flats) Foreclosures program support

#5 Greenspace PlanningDeveloped tools and data to help local governments and non-profits during past 3 years

Protected Lands Database – All greenspace sites in 20 counties

Green Infrastructure Toolkit

Resource for Protecting Land

Set of tools available to local governments in Georgia that can be used to acquire and preserve greenspace

#6 Coming in 2009 – Green Communities Program

Transportation & Air Quality Green BuildingRecycling & Waste Reduction Energy

Efficiency Land Use Green PowerEducation & Outreach Water

EfficiencyInnovative Tree Planting Greenspace

www.atlantaregional.com/greencommunities

New program in 2009 to certify local governments on their “sustainability” efforts such as:

SummaryDuring past 10 years, ARC has led the region towards greater sustainability with local governments, partner NGOs and private developers.

But….

We forecast much more growth will occur through natural increase (births) and migration (persons attracted to region for jobs, retirement, etc.)

Need to focus all public and private planning towards sustainable growth and development.

0.9 1.32.0

2.8 3.24.0

4.89

1.6 2.0

3.0

4.2 5.1

5.9

6.97

01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,0007,000,0008,000,000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

Employment

Population

Population 65%

Increase, 2000-2030

Employment 75%

Increase, 2000-2030

Forecasting

EconomyAtlanta economy (as measured by GDP) is larger than 35 U.S. states, as of 2005. The region’s population (28-county MSA) is larger than 30 states, as of 2007. Atlanta’s GDP is 67% of the State of Georgia GDP, as of 2005 (also, Atlanta’s population is 54% of the state’s pop).

2000

1990

1970

1950

Source: U.S. Census

Where will we be in 2018?

What can you do? Focus on your local government policies Engage elected officials at state and local

level Support a non-profit that encourages

sustainable development Help integrate new places for people who

walk Support new transit infrastructure and green

development Protect land and encourage smart growth

Resources

Livable Communities Coalition - Guiding Growth and Development in Georgia – A Handbook on Planning and Land Use Law and Practices. http://www.livablecommunitiescoalition.org/resources/tools.cfm

ARC LandMatters E-Newsletters http://www.atlantaregional.com/html/4560.aspx

ARC Community Choices Program and Toolkithttp://www.atlantaregional.com/html/393.aspx

Smart Growth Americahttp://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/

Atlanta Regional Commission

40 Courtland Street, NE

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

www.atlantaregional.com/lci

Dan Reuter, AICP

dreuter@atlantaregional.com

404.463.3305

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