Smart Growth as a Sustainable Community Strategy US EPA, Office of Policy Economics and Innovation March 9 th, 2009 1
Connected but Distinct Frameworks Climate Change Typical Scale Global, Regional Smart Growth Typical Scale Regional, Neighborhood, Site Green Building Typical Scale Site / Building Primary Professionals Scientific Researchers, Resource Agencies Primary Professionals Planners, Civil Engineers, Urban Designers / Landscape Architects Primary Professionals Architects, Mechanical Engineers Builders, Construction Managers 2
Why Smart Growth is a Key Sustainability Strategy Vehicle Travel Rapid growth undermines gains from improved fuel economy and low carbon fuels Rising gas prices = public demand for high quality alternatives The Business Case for Smart Growth Changing demographics and housing preferences Solid real estate position in uncertain times Creates attractive, convenient and economically vibrant places 3
2005 = 100% The Impact of New CAFE & Low Carbon Fuel Standards 150% 140% 130% 120% 2020 New 35 MPG 110% 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 1990 CO2 Target Fuel GHG: -10% CO2 40% 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Source: S. Winkelman based on EIA AEO 2008 (revised), HR6 and sources cited in Growing Cooler. 4
2005 = 100% The Impact of VMT Growth on Those Reductions 150% 140% 130% 120% 110% 100% VMT 2020 New 35 MPG CO2 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 1990 CO2 Target Fuel GHG: -10% 40% 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Source: S. Winkelman based on EIA AEO 2008 (revised), HR6 and sources cited in Growing Cooler. 5
Vehicle travel is shaped by Where you grow Downtown areas in larger cities Traditional urban neighborhoods Transit accessible suburban centers Auto oriented suburban / town centers Isolated subdivisions in exurban areas How you grow Well designed streets Mixed use development Compact neighborhood design 6
Sustainability at the Street Level 7 Source: Marcy McInelly, Urbsworks and Phil Erickson, Community Design + Architecture
Sustainability at the Street Level 8 Source: Marcy McInelly, Urbsworks and Phil Erickson, Community Design + Architecture
Sustainability at the Neighborhood Scale 9
Location Matters 10
Location Matters 11
Redevelopment is a Key Strategy Redevelopment of Greyfields Nelson estimated 2.8 million acres were ripe for redevelopment Enough to accommodate a large share of new housing units over the next 20 years The question How much will they actually accommodate? The answer Depends on how effective we are in supporting infill development 12
Reinventing the Suburbs Existing Conditions Smart Redevelopment 13 Source: EPA White Paper: The Placemaking Premium. Victor Dover. 2007. Illustrations courtesy of Dover Kohl and Partners.
Transit Oriented Redevelopment Source: PB PlaceMaking Tysons Corner: Path to the 21st Century: Draft Summary of Findings Prepared for Tysons Land Use Task Force 27 February 2008 14
Sustainable Design at a Small Town Scale Source: EPA White Paper: The Placemaking Premium. Victor Dover. 2007. Illustrations 15 courtesy of Dover Kohl and Partners.
Key Examples 16
Atlantic Station Atlanta, GA 17
Atlantic Station - Outcomes Original EPA estimate = VMT 50% less than comparable greenfield sites Monitoring report surveys Regional Average = 32.4 miles/day per household Atlantic Station = 8.6 miles/day per households 19% of trips made to/from Atlantic Station are by transit, and (ARC 2008) Roughly 40% of all trips stay on site 80% of those are walk trips 18
19
20
From Springfield Mall 21
Tysons Corner / Dulles Metro Extension 22
How do you get from this 23
How do you get from this Source: Washington Post 24
To this Source: PB PlaceMaking Tysons Corner: Path to the 21st Century: Draft Summary of Findings Prepared for Tysons Land Use Task Force 27 February 2008 25
to Springfield Town Center 26
Addison, TX 27
Addison, TX 28
What s Needed - Policy Tools Updating the rules More flexible land use regulations Form based or performance based codes Updated parking requirements Shared parking, context specific standards Revised street design standards Improved traffic impact assessment Providing the right incentives Support for infrastructure in key locations Streamlined development review Public support for site planning Density bonuses and other regulatory relief 29