Development In Our Neighborhood And Sustainability

Development in our Neighborhood and

Sustainability“Sustainable Ballard, a Blueprint for Everytown, USA, educates, inspires, and engages neighbors to take action to live more sustainably both individually and collectively. Our vision is an inclusive, joyful, sustainable community co-creating a world, for this and future generations, where eco-systems are healthy and peace is inevitable.”

Outline• What is Sustainability?• Our Stories• Planning Framework – Where • Global > Regional Problems – Why• Planning for Sustainability – What• Neighborhood Planning Toward a

Sustainable Seattle – How • A Role for Everyone

What is Sustainability?“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – Bruntland Commission, 1987

“Then I say the earth belongs to each generation during its course, fully and in its own right, [but] no generation can contract debts greater than can be paid during the course of its own existence.” – Thomas Jefferson

“We are part of the earth and the earth is part of us.” – Chief Sealth

What is Sustainability?

The Natural Step Funnel

My Story

“This family supported by timber dollars.”

Your Story

Talk to your neighbor and discuss:–Why are you interested in sustainability?

–What’s your sustainability story?

Planning Framework – Where Growth Management Act

“The legislature finds that uncoordinated and unplanned growth, together with a lack of common goals expressing the public’s interest in the conservation and the wise use of our lands, pose a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and high quality of life enjoyed by residents of this state…” (RCW 36.70A.010)

Planning Framework – Where

Graphic Courtesy of PSRC

CURRENT LAND USE

Seattle

Tacoma

Everett

King County

Kittitas County Pierce County

Snohomish County

Seattle

Tacoma

Everett

King County


Snohomish County

2100 ALTERNATIVE FUTURE

Seattle

Tacoma

Everett

King County


Snohomish County

2100 “PLANNING” FUTURE

New Map1TacomaTacoma

PuyallupPuyallup River

River

Prime FarmlandPrime Farmland

Puget SoundPuget Sound

TacomaTacoma

Puyallup River

Puyallup River

Prime Farmland ?Prime Farmland ?

Puget SoundPuget Sound

Would you rather locate you business here…Or here…

Planning Framework – Where


Benefits of Compact Growth• Reduced GHG Emissions• Housing and Transportation

Affordability• Infrastructure and Fiscal Savings• Cleaner Air and Water• Walkable Neighborhoods• Improved Public Health• Conserves Natural and Resource

Lands

Planning Framework – Where State – Growth Management Act

Region – PSRC Vision 2040

County-wide Planning Policies

City – Comprehensive Plan

Development Regulations

Project ReviewNeighborhood Plan


Urban Village Strategy – Where

“The strategy of focusing future development in urban villages continues to direct new development away from Seattle’s single-family areas.”



Urban Village – Where

“By concentrating growth in these urban villages, Seattle can build on successful aspects of the city’s existing urban character, continuing the development of concentrated, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use neighborhoods of varied intensities at appropriate locations throughout the city.”


Urban Village Strategy – Where

“No increases in designated residential densities or increases in the allowable intensity of commercial uses beyond those specified in the existing Land Use Code shall be sought for the neighborhood under the Queen Anne Plan.” – Policy LU3.1


Growth in Our Region – Where

From 2000 – 2007: • 307,000 More People• 45,000 in Outer Suburbs• 41,000 in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue,

Everett and Bremerton• 80,000 Outside of Regional Growth

Centers• Significant Growth Outside of UGAs

Global Problems – Climate Change – Why

Global Problems – Peak Oil – Why

Global Problems – Population Growth – Why

Global Problems – Biodiversity Loss – Why

Global Problems – Economic Meltdown – Why

Regional Problems – Energy and Climate Uncertainty – Why

Whitechuck Glacier – 1973

Whitechuck Glacier – 2006

Regional Problems – Energy and Climate Uncertainty – Why

Regional Problems – Puget Sound – Why

Regional Problems – Infrastructure – Why

Regional Problems – Economic Meltdown – Why

Regional Problems – Population Growth – Why

Graphic Courtesy of PSRC

So Many Problems!!!

Planning for Sustainability – What

“The best way to predict the future is to plan it.” – Buckminster Fuller

• We have the SOLUTIONS to these problems• Why aren’t we TALKING about these issues?• We have to ACT NOW• YOU can make a difference• TOGETHER, WE CAN solve these problems


• Existing planning framework about accommodating expected growth, but…

• WE CAN DO MORE!!!– Land Use and Transportation– Building Construction and Energy

Efficiency– Local Economic Development– Community Involvement





• One Planet Living• American Planning Association Planning Guide for

Sustainability• The Natural Step for Communities• Post Carbon Institute• Resilient Cities• Earth Charter Community Action Tool• Aalborg Commitments• Urban Environmental Accords • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for

Neighborhood Development • ICLEI (Under development)• Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute


• Social Equity• Economic Opportunity and Security• Environmental Stewardship• Transportation Choices• Participatory Planning Process• Educate >> Baseline >> Vision >>

Strategies >> Actions >> Evaluation and Reporting

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – How

Problem Statement: How to Incorporate Sustainability into the Neighborhood Plan Updates in a Tangible and Measurable Fashion?

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – Existing

Plans “The long term social, economic and environmental health of our community. A sustainable culture thrives without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

• Comp Plan Core Values– Community– Economic Opportunity and Security– Environmental Stewardship– Social Equity


Plans Zero CarbonAchieve net CO2 emissions of zero from OPL developments.

Zero WasteEliminate waste flows to landfill and for incineration.

Sustainable TransportReduce reliance on private vehicles and achieve major reductions of CO2 emissions from transport.

Local and Sustainable MaterialsTransform materials supply to the point where it has a net positive impact on the environment and local economy.

Local and Sustainable FoodTransform food supply to the point where it has a net positive impact on the environment, local economy and peoples’ well-being.

Sustainable WaterAchieve a positive impact on local water resources and supply.

Natural Habitats and WildlifeRegenerate degraded environments and halt biodiversity loss.

Culture and HeritageProtect and build on local cultural heritage and diversity.

Equity and Fair TradeEnsure that the OPL community’s impact on other communities is positive.

Health and HappinessIncrease health and quality of life of OPL community members and others.


Plans • Sustainable Transport

– Reduce Single Occupancy Vehicle Transport– Addressed in EVERY plan

• Walkability, bicycle improvements, pedestrian amenities and transit

• Example:– Queen Anne – Multi-modal enhancements

• “Encourage land uses and urban character development which will facilitate the establishment of a high-capacity transit/multi-modal node(s) in the Urban Center…”

– EVERY other plan


Plans • Culture and Heritage

– Vision Statements: Preserve Neighborhood Character

– Preserve Cultural and Historic Character

• Example: – Queen Anne – Preserve Neighborhood

Character– “Preserve the individual characteristics of the

single-family and mixed-use neighborhoods.”


Plans • Health and Happiness

– Quality of Life• Public Safety, community revitalization, and

natural amenities• Live, work, shop, play

• Example:– Queen Anne – Seattle Center

– “Encourage Seattle Center to plan and implement development which will enhance the quality of life in the Queen Anne neighborhood.”


Plans • OPL Principles

– Equity and Fair Trade– Zero Waste– Local Materials– Local Food

• Contain Many Elements – Lack Framework


Plans • Reduced Auto Dependence vs. Increased Parking

– Belltown Transportation Vision: Live Without a Car vs. Adequate Parking

– Queen Anne: “Too much auto use” on the same page as “inadequate parking for shops/office and inadequate parking for multifamily and single family areas.”

• Affordable Housing vs. Encroachments on Single-Family– Green Lake Rejection of any more low income housing

units– Queen Anne: “Threats to single-family neighborhoods”

are noted along with “lack of affordable housing” and “decreasing range of option in housing types.”


Plans • Transportation Choices

• Neighborhood Character

• Quality of Life

• Affordable Housing

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – Focus

Groups6 Sectors – 3 Focus Groups per Sector

“Sustainability has been discussed a lot in the media lately and is a key component of the city’s approach to the next round of plans. Have there been changes in your neighborhood that you would call sustainable? (Were the changes related to items in the previous plans?)”


Groups• Sustainability

– Varying Levels of Knowledge– Need for Consistent Definition– Neighborhood Impacts

“You need to give a definition of sustainable. If you’re going to ask that question you must have a definition.” – West Sector Participant“Sustainability on the neighborhood level is different. Other than design, what is there? Storm water, transportation, and habitat – these are broader than the neighborhood.” – Northwest Sector Participant


Groups• Transportation

– Frustration with Infrastructure– Improve Transit– Concerns over Parking– Walkability

“It’s a question of infrastructure – the transportation infrastructure is not being built to accommodate the new density. It is Ron Sims’ stated policy to make driving a car so inconvenient that people will do other things. But there are no “other things” to do!” – West Sector Participant“It’s not sustainable when you have growth with a lack of amenities – you can't get around by bus. It's a big problem.” – Northwest Sector Participant


Groups• Neighborhood Character

– Aesthetics of New Development– Challenges of Density and Development– Housing Affordability

“The biggest threat (to my neighborhood) is terrible architectural design.” – Southwest Sector Participant“We are losing the character that originally drew us to particular neighborhoods – that’s not sustainable.” – West Sector Participant“Low-income residents are already here, but new housing is not affordable. The City is not encouraging upgrade of existing housing stock. Not everyone qualifies for subsidized housing; we need to maintain existing stock.” – Southeast Sector Participant

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle –

Prospects• Need a Consistent Definition of

Sustainability– Holistic Framework with Supporting

Principles• Connect the Dots

– Established Values and Goals to Strategies

• City-wide Assessment– Measure What Matters



Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – Educate

• Social Equity• Comp Plan Core Value and Common Theme in Frameworks

• Economic Opportunity and Security• Comp Plan Core Value and Common Theme in Frameworks

• Affordable Housing• Urban Village and Environmental Stewardship in Comp Plan and Existing Plans

• Transportation Choices• Every Existing Plan, Comp Plan and Common Theme in Frameworks

• Tightly Woven Communities• Every Existing Plan, Comp Plan and Common Theme in Frameworks

• Local Food• Common Theme from Frameworks, but Missing from Comp Plan and Existing Plans

• Environmental Stewardship• Comp Plan Core Value and Common Theme in Frameworks


Baseline• Persons Covered by Health Insurance• Poverty Rate• Housing and Transportation Affordability Index• Vehicle Miles Traveled• People Who Volunteer in Community Activities• Acreage of P-Patches• Renewable Energy Potential

– Wind– Solar– Geothermal

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – Vision

“A vision without a plan is just a dream. A plan without a vision is just drudgery. But a vision with a plan can change the world.” – An Old Proverb


Strategies• Co-location of Public Services• “Green Jobs” Training Programs• Enhanced Incentive Zoning, Reduced Parking

Requirements• Light Rail, Streetcar, Bike Facilities• Design Guidelines > Form Based Code >

Sustainable Development Code• Transfer of Development Rights, Permit

Greenhouses• Green Building Incentives and Standards• Green Infrastructure Incentives and Standards• Incentives for Incorporating Renewable Energy

Neighborhood Planning Toward a Sustainable Seattle – Evaluate and

Report

• Determine Effectiveness of Investments

• Update Neighborhood Plan


• Community Centers• Libraries• Parks

• Renewable Energy• Transportation Choices• Affordable Green Buildings• Local Food• Financing Plan for Neighborhood Amenities


• Educate– HONEST CONVERSATION about the issues

• Baseline– KNOWLEDGE of current situation

• Vision– Think LONG-TERM

• Strategies/Actions– We have the SOLUTIONS– ACT NOW

• Evaluate and Report– TOGETHER, WE CAN plan for sustainability

Planning for Sustainability – Benefits

• Reduced impact on environment

• Less economic vulnerability

• Stronger community

• More peace, less war

A Role For Everyone• Sustainability is NOT a code word

– Seattleites are already asking for it!

• We can do more than plan for expected growth…– We can plan for sustainability

• WE ALL NEED TO LEAD

Questions For Discussion• What problems are we trying to solve with our planning

decisions?– How would the decisions change if we focused on solving different

problems?• How can we have more conversations about the long-term

social, environmental and economic consequences of our planning decisions?

• How do we ensure that planning decisions which make long-term sense don’t have negative short-term impacts?

• Does any of this matter if we don’t address population growth at both the national and international levels?– Should we shift our focus to rural renewal and repopulating our

small farming towns?

Peak Oil“ The days of inexpensive,

convenient, abundant energy are quickly drawing to a close.” – US Army, 2005

“…a shortfall of oil supplies caused by world conventional oil peaking will sharply increase oil prices and oil price volatility.” – US Dept. of Energy, 2006

Peak OilThe Importance of Oil:• Transportation• Pharmaceuticals• Agricultural Products (oil-based pesticides)• Chemicals and Plastics• National Defense• Home Heating• Food Production and Distribution

Peak OilAlternatives to Oil – EROI:• Deepwater and Polar Oil

– Risky and Expensive• Tar Sands and Oil Shale

– Environmental Disaster• Coal

– Environmental Disaster• Nuclear

– Fuel Supply, Safety, Cost• Hydrogen

– Energy Carrier• Biofuels

– Food vs. Fuel

Climate Benefit District“A neighborhood-level response that integrates the essential components of green, livable urbanism.”

Designed to:– Focus affordable development in appropriate locations to

maximize transit use and preserve rural areas– Leverage public investment to encourage the green

economy– Connect land use and transportation best practices and

policies to meet GHG reduction goals– Synchronize efforts across the state, giving cities the

same set of tools that streamline regulations, incentives and financing mechanisms

Climate Benefit District

Date post:	25-Jan-2017
Category:	Design
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