Sustainability  &  Place  

Community  Matters  Conference  

Denver,  Colorado  

©  Ed  McMahon  

-- Brent Toderian, Planning Director, Vancouver, B.C

What  is  Sustainable  Development  and  why  is  it  vital?  

development is development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

Source: United Nations, Bruntland Commission Report

It is about our children

-Aldo Leopold

harmony between man and

Sustainability Goals

Healthy Environment Vigorous Economy

Vibrant Community

Why Sustainability Now ?

Climate Change Energy Issues Infrastructure Deficit Unsustainable Land use Population Growth Makes Business Sense

Global Warming

unequivocal, and human activity is the main driver, very likely causing most of the rise in temperatures since

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Feb. 2007

Moral Imperative?

Climate Chaos

hottest summer, in the hottest year, in the hottest decade

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2010

Regulatory Imperative? 33 states representing 70% of US population are developing climate action plans. 21 states have set carbon reduction targets. 1060 US Mayors, representing over 100 million people have adopted the Kyoto Protocol. President Obama endorsed and the US House of Representatives passed legislation to cap & trade carbon emissions. US EPA is now regulating carbon Sources: Newsweek, US Conference of Mayors,

High Energy Prices?

In 1970 the US imported 24% of its oil from foreign providers In 1990 the US imported 42% of its oil In 2008 the US imported 70% of its oil The cost of imported oil reached over $600 billion per year in 2008

Do you think the long term trend for energy prices is to go up or down?

Unsustainable Land Use in USA

Large  Lot  Subdivisions   Strip  Commercial  

Taking Up More Space Household vs. Lot Size

Lot Size

Family Size

Even though the number of people per household has decreased from 3.57 to 2.62 over the last 50 years, the amount of land that each individual home consumes has increased by nearly 60 percent.

Growth Trends Reinforce Driving

Infrastructure Deficit US needs $220 billion per year for needed repairs to roads, bridges & other infrastructure Fed. state & local government spend less than half this amount

raised since 1993

global competitors

I-35 Bridge Collapse Minneapolis

Train Service in Europe & Japan

FAST Frequent Goes Everywhere

Train Service in US Slow

Infrequent, or Non-Existent

Population Growth

100 Million New Residents by 2050 44 Million New Housing units 1.1 Million Units per year Demographic shifts and Immigration Decline of Traditional Households

Demographic Shifts

Baby Boomers and Retirees 80 million Immigrants 40 million Millennials (18 to 30 year olds) 80 million Women (single-parent households) - 30 million 75 % of American households do not have school age children

Sustainability in Action

Sustainability - More Than Technology

The top issues: Energy Water Land use Transportation Waste Carbon Community Character

It is about quality of life Affordability Walkability Placemaking Community Building

23

Doug Kelbaugh, Dean, University of Michigan, School of Architecture

not beautiful, it will not be loved, if it is

National  Automobile  Slum  

                                                   Venice,  Italy    -­‐    Venice,  California              

Sense  of  Place    That  which  makes  are  physical  surroundings  

worth  caring  about  

place may be the only truly defensible source of

competitive advantage for

The Distinctive Community

Joe Cortwright, City Vitals

Secrets of Successful Communities Develop a vision for the future Inventory local assets and resources Build plans around the enhancement of assets Use education, incentives, partnerships and voluntary initiatives not just regulation Pick and choose among development proposals Cooperate with neighbors for mutual benefit Protect community character as well as ecology and economics Have strong leaders & committed citizens

Most Polluted City

Model for Sustainable Development

Key Lesson Learned

How much something costs is not the most important question.

Key Lesson Learned

Why would anybody invest in a

Inventory Assets Natural Resources Cultural Resources Human Resources Economic Resources Educational Resources

Sometimes the Assets are Obvious

Sometimes They Are Not Obvious

Explore  Beyond  Regulation  

Education Incentives Partnerships Voluntary Initiatives

Why Do We Educate?

Why Should We Use Incentives?

Community Character Matters

take stock of a man. The clothes or appearance are the externals

- Mark Twain

Community Character

Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York

Deteriorates One Project at a Time

Grand Union Grocery Store, Saratoga Springs, New York

And it Can Get Better One Project at a Time

Grand Union Plaza & Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York

SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES PICK

AND CHOOSE AMONG DEVELOPMENT

PROPOSALS

Would you rather shop here?

Or here?

spend more money and come back more often to places that attract their

Source:  Urban  Design  and  the  Bottom  Line,  ULI,  2009  

Hometown  Hero's!  

Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever

- Margaret Mead

It Is Not Always Easy

Leadership is Important But often Unappreciated

Vision counts but

implementation is priceless!

Thank You! Ed McMahon, Urban Land Institute

emcmahon@uli.org

First Road Trip Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall K. Crocker & Bud

Source: www.pbs.org