Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Flood Resilience for Riverine and Coastal Communities Silver Jackets Webinar April 2018 EPA Office of Sustainable Communities
Today s Webinar Building Blocks Overview Flood Resilience Tool: Technical Assistance Approach Examples from Logansport, LA and Myrtle Beach, SC Q&A
EPA s Office of Sustainable Communities Work on cross cutting environmental issues, helping communities grow in ways that protect the environment and human health Communities ask for our help creating a vision for what they want their communities to look like in the future o We provide technical assistance o We convene stakeholders together to have these conversations o We bring federal agencies to communities so they can learn how their programs can help
Building Blocks Topic Areas Bikeshare Planning Smart Growth Guidelines for Sustainable Design and Development Green and Complete Streets Flood Resilience for Riverine and Coastal Communities Green Building Toolkit Planning for Infill Development Linking Land Use and Water Quality Neighborhood Planning for Healthy Aging Parking Audit Preferred Growth Areas Creating Equitable Development Sustainable Strategies for Small Cities and Rural Areas Sustainable Land Use Code Audit Using Smart Growth to Produce Fiscal and Economic Health Walking Audit
Flood Resilience Building Blocks Communities 2017 Logansport, Louisiana Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Pocomoke City, Maryland Skykomish, Washington Wareham, Massachusetts 2015 Mobile, Alabama Newburyport, Massachusetts New Paltz, New York Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, California Scituate, Massachusetts
Building Blocks Technical Assistance Facilitation and engagement of the public and stakeholders Aimed at empowering communities and building local capacity Education in topical areas with local context Technical guidance on best practices Coaching on most promising next steps
Technical Assistance Process Community Self Assessment Context Research Goal Confirmation Stakeholder & Public Engagement Tailoring Materials Logistics Assess Convene Community Tour Community Meeting Technical Workshop Action Planning Refine & Prioritize Actions Document Next Steps Communicate Move Forward 10-18 week engagement 6-12 weeks 1 week (2 days on site) 3-6 weeks
Assess: Pre-workshop Coordination The TA team coordinates with local point-of contact to develop a local steering committee TA team and local steering committee convene via conference call at least twice Plan for workshop Local steering committee completes Flood Resilience Checklist (assessment) and discusses results with TA team
Flood Resilience Checklist How prepared is your community for a possible flood? Checklist developed in 2014, provides the basis for Building Blocks technical assistance Helps communities prepare for flooding and plan for disaster resilience by assessing local plans, policies, and development regulations. Publicly available tool: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/ flood-resilience-checklist
Convene: Day 1 Informal lunch with local steering committee Community tour: opportunity to visit significant sites, guided by local steering committee Public meeting in the evening to gather input Interactive exercises
Convene: Sample Map Exercise Identify flood prone areas, assets, parks, etc. Identify where flood resilience strategies presented are (1) already in place, and (2) could be implemented to inform discussions on day 2.
Convene: Day 2 Technical Workshop Presentations with facilitated dialogue Interactive activities Promote shared knowledge exchange and problem solving Capture individualized ideas and group priorities Action planning Identify and prioritize next steps
Approaches for Flood Resilience Conserve Land and Discourage Development in River Corridors and Coastal Areas Reduce Risk to People, Buildings, and Facilities in Vulnerable Settlements Planning for and Encouraging Development in Safer Areas Implementing Stormwater Management Techniques Photos: City of Red Wing, MN; Gulf Coast News, Biloxi; Eureka Springs, AR; Philadelphia Water Department;
Convene: Day 2 Action Planning
Moving Forward: Next Steps Memo TA team and local steering committee convene via conference call to: Debrief from the workshop Review and refine Action Tables created at the workshop Review and provide comments on Next Steps Memo
Logansport, LA Context 2016 Floods- Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Local economy/infrastructure Investments Highlights Community eager to learn and take action Diverse Steering Committee (Mayor, Police Jury, Church, Students) Benefit to community Met community where they are Developed Next Steps with multiple co-benefits
Logansport, LA Community goals: Goal 1 Develop and Identify Outside of the Box Communication and Engagement Strategies Goal 2 Develop a Comprehensive Plan for the Town Goal 3 Use Available and Existing Resources to Implement Activities to Achieve Community Goals
Myrtle Beach, SC Community Goals The Building Blocks technical assistance identified four overarching goals that are important to the city of Myrtle Beach and encompass all the opportunities discussed: Improve risk identification and communication. Increase community rating system classification. Incentivize proactive stormwater management practices. Enhance public outreach and education. The Cane Patch Swash is one of six in Myrtle Beach (CREDIT: City of Myrtle Beach) Signage on City s new stormwater drainage infrastructure indicating connection to the ocean (CREDIT: Tetra Tech)
Opportunity for Collaboration with Silver Jackets Flood Resilience Building Blocks Tool is tested, adaptable, and can be delivered by others Potential opportunity for collaboration to serve communities that want catalytic, collaborative planning assistance to become more flood resilient by making plans to: - Conserve land and discourage development in river corridors and coastal areas - Reduce risk to vulnerable settlements - Encourage development in safer areas - Implement stormwater management techniques
Thank you! Contact: Michelle Madeley EPA Office of Sustainable Communities Madeley.michelle@epa.gov 202-566-1566 Learn more: epa.gov/smartgrowth/ https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/building-blocks-sustainable-communities
City Planning Commission: Required developer to develop to the newer map information and upcoming standards Required developer to work with City, County and State staff to ensure that water runoff created from elevation would not adversely affect other properties Approved the developer s plan to put use the drainage easements in place as part of a linear park to meet the public open space requirements
The community didn t give up they value all of this.
End Result A Community Worth Fighting For
Thank you! Allison Hardin, CFM 843.918.1059 ahardin@cityofmyrtlebeach.com