implementing smart growth and sustainability for...
TRANSCRIPT
IMPLEMENTING SMART GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS
Joyce Allgaier, AICP
City of Ketchum, ID
Benjamin A Herman, FAICP
Cameron Gloss, AICP
Clarion Associates
Session Overview
• Overview/Introduction
• Implementation Challenges and Opportunities
• Tackling Smart Growth & Sustainability as a Small Town Planner – a Focus on Ketchum, Idaho
• Lessons Learned–Overcoming Potential Hurdles and Barriers
What are some of the challenges facing
Rural and Small Town America?
The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America
• Changing demographics – More diverse
– aging population
– outflow of young adults--inflow of older adults, birth rates declining
• Health issues – Obesity above national rates for all age
groups
– rural kids less likely to walk to school
– Populace is very auto-reliant
– High child poverty rates—for every racial and ethnic group
– Lack of access to specialized medical care
• Housing “calamity” looming—increased demand by down-sizing seniors, young professionals, trades people, and minorities for smaller homes and multi-family housing vs. oversupply of single-family homes
• Rental share of housing market will increase substantially nationwide and be particularly challenging in nonurban areas
• Energy Issues – Cost of fuel—population very reliant on autos
– Climate change implications
The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America
Growth and Development Challenges in
Small Cities and Rural Areas
• Declining downtowns
• Incompatible development at edges
• Loss of community character
• Loss of natural areas and open lands
• Limited housing choices
• Lack of transportation options
• Limited planning capacity
• Opposition to regulations
How do we define rural and how can smart growth & sustainability be
used to address challenges in small cities and rural communities?
Rural Smart Growth
What Is Rural Smart Growth?
Rural Sustainable Development?
• Urban smart growth well-defined…not so much with rural
• Many different development types and pressures vs. urban areas…and politics
• Some urban smart growth tools (e.g., high-density mixed use, transit-oriented development) may not be appropriate
• Fewer financial, technical, staff resources in rural areas
Smart Growth Principles
1. Mix land uses
2. Compact development patterns
3. Range of housing opportunities
4. Walkable neighborhoods
5. Distinct, attractive communities
6. Preserve working farmlands, open space, critical
environmental areas
7. Direct development towards existing communities
8. Provide a variety of transportation choices
9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and
cost effective
10. Stakeholder and community collaboration in
development decisions
Source: Smartgrowth.org
Sustaining Places Principles
1. Livable Built Environment
2. Harmony with Nature
3. Resilient Economy
4. Interwoven Equity
5. Healthy Community
6. Responsible Regionalism
7. Authentic Participation
8. Accountable Implementation
Source: American Planning Association
Smart Growth: A Response to Small Town
and Rural Challenges
Create Choices: where to live and how to get around
Vibrant Economy stronger, more resilient
Healthy Lifestyles
Community Assets: Protect the things people love about the place where they live
Smart Growth and Sustainability Resources
for Rural Areas and Small Towns
1. Environmental Protection Agency
2. International City & County Management Association
3. U.S. Department of Agriculture
4. Lancaster County, PA
Putting Smart Growth to Work in
Rural Communities: ICMA
Source: icma.org
1. Support the rural landscape by creating an economic climate that enhances the viability of working lands and conserves natural lands.
2. Help existing places thrive by taking care of assets and investments such as downtowns, Main Streets, existing infrastructure, and places that the community values.
3. Create great new places by building vibrant, enduring neighborhoods and communities that people, especially young people, don’t want to leave.
Office of Sustainable Communities: EPA
Source:
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/publications.htm
1. Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning, and Development Codes
2. Federal Resources for Sustainable Rural Communities
3. Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments
Essential Smart Growth Fixes
1. Determine Areas for Growth and for Preservation
2. Incorporate Fiscal Impact Analysis in Development Reviews
3. Reform Rural Planned Unit Developments
4. Use Wastewater Infrastructure Practices That Meet Development Goals
5. Right-Size Rural Roads
6. Encourage Appropriate Densities on the Periphery
7. Use Cluster Development to Transition From Town to Countryside
8. Create Annexation Policies and Development Standards That Preserve Rural Character
9. Protect Agricultural and Sensitive Natural Areas
10. Plan and Encourage Rural Commercial Development
11. Promote Housing Choices
12. Address Premature and Obsolete Subdivisions
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Smart Growth Toolbox
Source: www.co.lancaster.pa.us
Tools in the Toolkit:
• Heritage
• Rural Areas
• Sustainable Growth
• Traditional Communities
• Tourism
• Green Infrastructure
• Grey Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Housing
• Economic Development
Tackling Smart Growth & Sustainability as a Small Town Planner
Ketchum, Idaho
Ketchum, Idaho
Local Smart Growth and
Sustainability Opportunities
• Mix of land uses and infill • Range of housing opportunities • Create walkable neighborhoods - connectivity • Foster a strong sense of place – attractive communities, vital, and distinct • Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environments • Direct development inwards – no sprawl • Variety of transportation options
• Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective • Encourage community engagement/collaboration • Alternative energy & building efficiency • Recycling and waste reduction • Food production • Water conservation • Arts and culture • Urban forestry • Community health
Local Smart Growth and
Sustainability Opportunities
Ketchum Community
Profile & Challenges
A Bundle of Challenges – Sound Familiar? • Small town character and local businesses • Revenues are down/budgets cut • Minimal staff resources and community capacity • Implementation $ for projects • Limited Awareness about
Sustainability and Smart Growth • Getting the Public involved
Ketchum Community
Profile & Challenges
A Bundle of Challenges – Sound Familiar? • Limited economic diversity:
living wages – seasonal jobs • Cost of housing and limited
choices • “Down valley - Up valley”
commute & living • Loss of population &
seasonal • Aging population, need
young people and families • Lack of connectivity
Taking Steps
A New Comprehensive Plan – a New Focus • Speaks to Sustainability – What does it mean to Ketchum? • “Vision statement” • Clear community core values • States challenges head-on. Keep it simple! • Implementation is realistic so the plan has value • Engaged many people with core community advisors • Realistic about time lines
Comprehensive Plan
Structure & Strategy
10 Core Community Values
• A “Greener” Community
A Strong & Diverse Economy
Vibrant Downtown
Community Character Preservation
A Variety of Housing Options
Environmental Quality & Scenic Beauty
Exceptional Recreational Opportunities
Well-Connected Community
Enlivened by the Arts & Culture
Working as a Region
Comprehensive Plan
Structure & Strategy
Comprehensive Plan
Structure & Strategy
Challenges Are Clearly Stated...Implementation Possible...
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Finding funds to create and implement community plans. Opportunity: Partner with Federal, State, County and non-governmental agencies for funding. Smaller communities often can enlist non-profit and other non-governmental agencies. A Quick Example: E. 5th Street Corridor Plan, Sheridan, WY
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Increase the opportunity for a range of attainable housing in Ketchum Opportunity: Modify the regulatory environment by: • Rezone parcels in strategic locations to accommodate greater housing
diversity, including worker housing options.
• Develop design guidelines aimed at improving disabled access.
• Revise height, density and parking standards to maximize housing affordability.
• Adjust zoning standards to provide greater opportunity for elderly continuum care.
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Understanding and respecting local priorities and values Opportunity: Strong interpersonal ties found in small towns give a better chance to accurately capture community values IF there is a transparent public process.
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Correct “scaling” of the Plan for successful implementation. Opportunity: Do a reality check when considering Goals and Policies Consider… Is there the political will? Who will take ownership of the task? Is the timeframe plausible for completion? Are staffing resources available? and are those resources under control of the Town or City?
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Resistance to Regulations. Opportunity: Evaluate different solutions in their context to get the best “fit” -Are regulations needed to make a sudden shift in market trajectory? -Can regulations use market power to their advantage? -Is a non-regulatory approach better?
Policy
Non-Regulatory
Regulations
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Overcoming Rigid Engineering Standards Opportunity: Sustainable design practices often costs less: -narrower streets with lower maintenance costs -hillside/steep slope protection requiring less infrastructure -On-street or shared parking to satisfy adjacent off-street requirements
This Not This narrower streets Street parking Hillside protection
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: Development Code Barriers to Sustainable Design Opportunity: Allow Solar Panels and other energy saving devices “by-right”, adopt energy conserving lighting regulations, permit rain water harvesting and gray water use.
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenge: “Selling” Density Opportunity: With the “gray tsunami” coming to rural areas, there is the chance to provide the benefits of different housing types, and show how well-crafted moderate and higher-density housing options can be an attractive alternative.
Implementation
Challenges & Opportunities
Lessons Learned –
Overcoming Hurdles and Barriers
1. Communicate • Listen– people in small towns know the issues they are facing! • Raise awareness – talk the language to make it the “new norm” • Reinforce community values and introduce new ones
2. Build Capacity • Engage others and build teams, talk with leaders
3. Implement • Prioritize what you take on. It’s ok to take small steps • Share successes – look back over time and see the progress • Be patient and become comfortable with piecing the patchwork together
over time
IMPLEMENTING SMART GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS
Joyce Allgaier, AICP
Benjamin A Herman, FAICP
Cameron Gloss, AICP