HELPING SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS THRIVE

Transcription

1 EPA Office of Sustainable Communities HELPING SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS THRIVE Village of Vinton, Texas May 30, 2013 Katharine Ange, AICP Renaissance Planning Group

2 Overview of Workshop Discussion of rural smart growth issues and key smart growth policy strategies Key issues and opportunities Identifying and prioritizing actions Sustainable Communities Building Blocks Program

3 Smart Growth: a response to small city growth and development challenges.

4 What Is Rural? Includes towns and small cities i as well as working lands, farms, prairies, forests, and rangelands. Five types of rural/small city communities sometimes mix and match Gateway communities Resource-dependent communities Edge communities Traditional Main Street communities Second home and retirement communities

5 What are some of the challenges facing Rural and Small Town America?

6 The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America Nearly 2/3 of all counties classified as rural 75% of U.S. land area and 17% of population Includes towns and small cities outside metro areas 2/3 growing 1/3 not depends on proximity to metro areas. Places with high natural amenities attracting growth (West, Upper Great Lakes, Coastal New England, Southeast Coastal Areas, etc.) as well as edge communities

7 The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America C i i l f l l d 12 Continuing loss of rural area lands 1.2 million acres of prime ag land/1.5 million acres of forest land lost per year to development Fewer farms and fewer farmers only 6.5% of labor force in agriculture; half of all U.S. farmers are between the ages of 45 and 65

8 The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America Changing demographics growing minority population aging population outflow of young adults--inflow of older adults, birth rates declining Household size shrinking % new households with children projected to drop significantly Health issues Obesity above national rates for all age groups rural kids less likely l to walk to school Populace is very auto-reliant

9 The Changing Face of Rural &Small Town America Housing calamity looming increased 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

10 Growth and Development Challenges in Small Towns and Rural Areas Declining i downtowns and incompatible ibl development in historic areas/loss of community character Loss of natural areas and open space Suburban-style large-lot growth at city edges Limited housing choices Lack of transportation options Limited planning capacity Opposition to regulations

11 What is Smart Growth? Many communities have taken the position that they will remain rural without accommodating ggrowth. That error leads to sprawl and sometimes a complete loss of community character. Failure to plan for growth effectively leads to random, sprawling patterns of development. Community character is sacrificed, and opportunities to shape a more vibrant future are forever lost. - Urban Land Institute

12 Rural Smart Growth H t th b d t dd h ll i ll How can smart growth be used to address challenges in small towns and rural communities?

13 What Is Rural Smart Growth? Rural Sustainable Development? Urban smart growth welldefined 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 tools and resources (financial, technical, staff) in rural areas

14 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 off transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Stakeholder and community collaboration in development decisions

15 Assessment Tool Green Building Principles Sustainable Sites and Responsible Land Use Development Material and Resource Conservation Energy Conservation and Atmospheric Quality Water Efficiency, Conservation and Management Indoor Environmental Air Quality 5 environmental areas addressed Sustainable Communities Building Blocks Program

16 Smart Growth: A Response to Small Town and Rural Challenges Choices for where to live and how to get around A stronger, more resilient economy A healthier place to live Opportunities to protect the things people love about the place where they live (e.g., open space, natural beauty, historic character)

17 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities: Three Key Goals 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. Source: ICMA, 2011.

18 Support the Rural Landscape Create an economic climate that enhances the viability of working lands and conserves natural lands Strategies: Ensure the viability of the resource economy of the region Promote rural products in urban areas and support other urban-rural links Link rural land preservation strategies to great neighborhoods Cultivate economic development strategies that rely on traditional rural landscapes

19 Help Existing Places Thrive Tk Take care of assets and dinvestments t such as downtowns, Main Streets, existing infrastructure, and places that the community values Strategies: Invest public and private funds in existing places Encourage private sector investment Build on past community investments Foster economic development in existing downtowns

20 Create Great New Places Build vibrant, enduring neighborhoods h and communities that people, especially young people, don t want to leave Strategies: Update strategic and policy documents to accommodate new growth through compact and contiguous development Reform policies to make it easy for developers to build compact, walkable, mixed-use places Recognize and reward developers that build using smart growth and green building approaches

21 Key Issues and Opportunities 1. What makes this a great community to live in today? 2. What are your concerns about future growth? 3. What local attractions and amenities are here today, what might you want for the future? 4. What are the jobs opportunities today, what do we want for the future? 5. What existing historic or natural areas are important to protect? 6. What kind of housing choices already do you have today, what about tomorrow? 7. What are the transportation concerns?

22 Three Paths to Smart Growth in Plans and Codes THINK B-I-G!! Barriers (remove obstacles) Incentives (make it attractive) Gaps (add what s missing) i

23 Top Priority 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

24 Determine Areas for Growth and for Preservation Challenge: Rural planning is reactive developers often dictate growth location Responses: Designate preferred growth areas based on most suitable location, fiscal impacts, impacts on natural areas, etc. Benefits: Greater predictability for landowners Focus resources in most appropriate areas Cost effective infrastructure provision Preservation of open space and ag lands

25 Determine Areas for Growth and for Preservation Implementation steps Identify and map preferred growth areas Adopt adequate public facilities ordinance Purchase key development sites and land bank Practice pointers Coordinate Capital Improvements Plans with growth plans Take regional approach

26 Incorporate Fiscal Impact Analysis in Development Reviews Challenge: Many rural communities approve development without true picture of long- term costs/benefits Responses: Require basic fiscal impact analysis Benefits: Real understanding of costs/benefits Foundation for mitigation Projects with clear benefits gain citizen support Reduces unproductive intergovernmental competition

27 Incorporate Fiscal Impact Analysis in Development Reviews Implementation steps Adopt simple fiscal impact statement requirement-- require developer to pay for analysis (3 rd party best) Identify fiscal thresholds for acceptable projects Require analysis of impacts on other jurisdictions and service providers Practice pointers Look at cumulative impacts of multiple developments Consider environmental and social impacts also

28 Use Wastewater Infrastructure Practices that t Meet Development Goals Challenge: Many communities struggle with finding the right approach to balancing wastewater infrastructure needs with development goals. Many also must address problems with existing systems, including septic systems. Responses: No one-size-fits-all approach Community-wide approach, not parcel by parcel Cluster or central systems to support growth areas Financing strategies to support growth areas (impact fees, maintenance agreements) Protect existing investments through education, repair, and ongoing maintenance Benefits: Savings through concentrating services in growth areas Coordinated approach can support growth and preservation goals Regional approaches can yield cost savings User-funded system places cost burden on those who benefit

29 Use Wastewater Infrastructure Practices that t Meet Development Goals Implementation steps Inventory infrastructure and evaluate conditions Education to promote septic system maintenance Delineate growth areas and policies to direct development to areas with services Impact fees for infrastructure Fee to fund septic system maintenance Practice pointers Base decisions on community s water quality, land use, and public health goals Assess capacity to determine where to accommodate growth

30 Encourage Appropriate Densities on the Periphery Challenge: Low-density rural growth not dense enough to service efficiently; fragments ag land and habitat Responses: Designated plan growth areas Regulatory reform (e.g., no rural PUDs, appropriate p lot sizes) Benefits: Lower govt. infrastructure costs Open space preservation Support town business districts Increased predictability

31 Encourage Appropriate Densities on the Periphery Implementation steps Allow cluster subdivisions at town s edge Establish town service boundaries Adopt true agricultural zoning (not 1-2 acre lots!) Joint town/county planning and regulations Practice pointers Support regulations with land acquisition Address family lot splits Support land trusts

32 Use Cluster Development to Transition From Town to Countryside Challenge: Cluster subdivisions in wrong place can hamper farming and lead to cluster sprawl Responses: Allow, but utilize in appropriate locations Benefits: Appropriate town/rural transitions More cost effective service provision Avoid interference with farming Avoid cluster sprawl

33 Use Cluster Development to Transition From Town to Countryside Implementation steps Allow cluster subdivisions only at town s edge Prohibit or limit cluster use outside town growth areas Practice pointers Require open space contiguity in clusters Allow reduced lot sizes and community septic

34 Protect Agricultural and Sensitive Natural lareas Challenge: Many rural ecosystems and species at risk due to habitat loss Responses: Adopt plans that t identify critical habitat t and natural resources Enact protective regulations Benefits: Significant contribution to local economies Protection of rural character Green infrastructure value

35 Protect Agricultural and Sensitive Natural lareas Implementation steps Identify sensitive natural areas in plans Adopt protective zone districts and sensitive area protection regulations Practice pointers Use incentives like TDRs Limit it use of cluster subdivisions i i

36 Plan and Encourage Rural Commercial Development Challenge: Scattershot rural commercial development fragments landscape and undermines town business districts Responses: Target most commercial to towns or designated centers Adopt commercial design standards Benefits: Avoid sprawl-inducing scattershot commercial Protection of rural character Increased town tax base Avoid strip commercial outside towns

37 Plan and Encourage Rural Commercial Development Implementation steps Adopt plan policy to target most commercial to designated nodes Prohibit rural commercial in most rural zone districts allow if resource dependent only Practice pointers Joint town/county planning for rural commercial

38 Promote Housing Choices Challenge: Small towns and rural areas challenged to provide variety of housing options for all citizens down-sizing seniors, young professionals, service workers. Responses: Remove barriers to downtown housing Promote mix of housing types or units in new developments MF as well as SF Encourage denser development with compatibility and design standards, in appropriate locations such as nodes or areas with sewer

39 Promote Housing Choices Implementation steps Allow denser development in selected zone districts, with design standards Practice pointers Use incentives like density bonuses to get the type of development that you want Keep design standards simple and have staff administer

40 Key Themes es Identified ed by Village of Vinton 1. Housing 2. Retail & Commercial Areas 3. Natural Areas & Areas for Recreation 4. Walkable Neighborhoods 5. Community Centers 6. History & Culture 7. Access to Agricultural Lands 8. Transportation 9. Keeping Vinton Affordable 10. Growth Paying for Itself 11. New Growth with Distinct Character 12. Planning for Job Diversity 13. Communication & Community Cohesion

41 Top Priority Fixes 1. Growth Direction/Management Determine Areas for Growth and for Preservation Protect Agricultural and Sensitive Natural Areas Create Annexation Policies and Development Standards That Preserve Rural Character Use Cluster Development to Transition From Town to Countryside 2. Jobs & Housing Plan and Encourage Rural Commercial Development Revisit Industrial Zoning Promote Housing Choices 3. Transportation & Walkability 4. Other Non-code/Policy Strategies History & Culture Communication & Cohesion

42 Next Steps 1. Identify potential approaches for each (code changes, policy changes, plans, processes) 2. Identify barriers to success for each approach 3. Identify Incentives or methods to overcome barriers 4. Identify priority actions for moving forward