Integrated Urban Development

April 2009

Reflections from the NZPI Study Tour of Portland, Seattle and Vancouver

Integrated Urban Development

Urban Growth ManagementTransportationTransit Orientated Mixed Use (TOD) – PortlandGreenfields New- Urbanism – Portland and SeattleInner City Redevelopment – Vancouver Affordable and Supportable Housing Amenity with IntensificationCivic Leadership

Comparisons

2.1 million546,000

345,000

8.544%

3.4 million563,000

528,000

4.849%

1.6 million529,000

474,000

2.454%

1.3 million425,000

307,000

2.269%

POPULATIONRegionCentral City

EMPLOYMENTCentral City

HOUSINGDensity (u/ha)Owner Occup.

18671886

2002 (3.8)Mt Baker

18511889

2001 (6.8)Mt St Helens

18431873

2006 (3.8)Mt Rainier

18401873

2007 (4.5)Rangitoto

HISTORYFoundedMajor FireEarthquakeVolcano

VANCOUVERSEATTLEPORTLANDAUCKLAND

Urban Growth Management

Key urban growth tools are:

Urban growth boundaries protect natural areas, farmland, recreation and reduce vehicle miles Portland movable 20 yr. supply, Seattle strong – 3yr negotiation, Vancouver voluntary

Integration of growth management and transportation Regional/metro planning strategies emerging as key policy drivers of changeE.g. increasing housing density requirements Significant public investment in transit networks and subsidising land use change

Mixed use intensification, particularly around transit stationsFuelled by rising oil prices and increasing awareness of urban sustainability

Urban Growth Management

Urban Growth Management

Transportation – Portland

Transportation – Portland

Portland – Supporting Cycling

Transportation – Seattle

1996 – Regional Mass Transit system set up.Still major traffic congestion.Bus-based transit system – now at limit.Four “T’s” response─ Tolls, Transit, TDM, Traffic management.

First light rail line being constructed.“Hot lanes” HOV lanes, Express buses.Directive policy – urban density into Transit Orientated Development.

HOT and HOV Lanes

Park and Ride for Bus Service

Transportation – Vancouver

City Transportation Plan 1997.Shifted emphasis to multi-modal priorities.Walking, cycling, increased transit, goods, car.High density, walkable neighbourhoods supported.Ten years (1997-2007) 23% increase in trips but:─ Walk trips up 44%.─ Cycle trips up 180%.─ Transit trips up 20%.─ Vehicle trips down 10%.

Transportation – Vancouver

Transportation – Vancouver; Greenway Development

Established grid system allows greenway network approach across city.Aim is to get a maximum of 1km between network crossovers.Local streets have traffic calming, beautification gardens, green engineering, art, with walkways and cycleways.Community driven design, planting and maintenance initiative -street competitions supported by Council resources.Creating safer streets.Greening the inner city public spaces and residential streets.Funding a mix of property tax, sponsorship and developers “lift”levies.

Transportation – Funding Issues

Portland – The citizens’ initiated referendums Budget increases limited to 3% per annum.The gas/petrol tax had not been increased since 1994. Seeking other forms of funding e.g. payroll tax (0.6%), public/private ventures.

Seattle – The citizens’ initiated referendums Property tax limited to 1%/annum for the past 6 years.Sales tax at the Regional level used for Transit funding.Gas tax used for roading.Private sponsorship.

Sponsorship of Seattle Transit

Sponsorship of Seattle Transit

Transit Orientated Mixed Use – Portland

Transit Orientated Mixed Use – Portland

Transit Orientated Mixed Use – Portland; Planning Techniques

85% of recent housing in designated urban renewal areas.Deliberate integration of intensive housing/mixed use and public transit along corridors. Eligible TOD sites by transit rail and bus stops because proximity and density are most influential on ridership.Plot Ratios and height limits, higher densities, on-site parking limits by the Transit lines.Design review for all commercial and multi residential buildings inner city – amenity/density driven.

Transit Orientated Mixed Use – Portland; Planning Techniques

Three characteristics that enhance ridership –─ Mix of moderate to high density land uses.─ Physical or functional connection to the transit system.─ Design features that reinforce the pedestrian relationship and

scale – a walkable environment.

Funding formula of TOD compares; base case to ridership and farebox revenue over 30 years and costs of structure (elevators, firewalls, different structural design).

Portland’s Transit Orientated Mixed Use Developments Source Portland Metro Planning Department

-48%-45%+230%+942%

1.9321.7912.7%1.2%Remainder of Region

0.939.8041.9%11.5%Mixed Use/ Good Transit

Auto Ownership per household

VMT per capita Non-auto Modal Share

Transit Modal Share

Area

New Urbanism – Portland and Seattle

Visited Greenfield “new urbanism” developments in Portland and Seattle.Features walkable, human scale communities centred on defined neighbourhoods, town centres, parks and community facilities.Seattle – car orientated adjacent to urban boundary.Portland – transit orientated near new suburban light rail extension.

New Urbanism – Mixed Use Centres

New Urbanism – Mixed Use Centres

New Urbanism – Mixed Use

Zero Lot Line Development

Zero Lot Line Development

Rear Lane Service Access

Rear Lane Service Access

Eyes on the Street

Walkable Sociable Communities

Quality Design and Amenity Provision

Quality Design and Amenity Provision

Quality Design and Amenity Provision

Quality Amenity Provision

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure

Isaquaah Highlands – Planning Techniques

Seattle – Isaquaah Highlands 1991-2012.Long Term Development Agreement for the 20 year planning and construction term between the State, King County, Isaquaah City and the BP.─ Infrastructure.─ Independent administration agency of the unique planning rules and

negotiation on alternative approaches.─ Shared offices. ─ No change in the rules for 20 years. ─ Developer Advance funded $32M of infrastructure.

Comprehensive design and management approach.

Developer’s Perspective

Isaquaah Highlands – 3250 households plus 5000 jobs. Retail and office the most difficult to get. Average housing density at 17 houses/ha.In the town centre it will be at least 43 houses/ha. Success is in the provision of the “soft” features – Highlands Council. Comprehensive maintenance contract – sustainable.

Inner City Redevelopment – Vancouver

Inner City Redevelopment – Planning Techniques

Inner City Redevelopment – Planning Techniques

Walkable Sociable Communities

Vertical Communities

Funding Urban Development

Use financial tools to support growth plan implementation.Examples:Portland

Revenue bonds.Strategic property purchases.Metro and Portland Development Commission funding land use/transit supportive projects from “betterment”.City reaps more taxes from increased density.State TOD funds.Vertical property tax discount.Property tax incentives (10 yr tax holiday) or subsidies for TOD.Parking fees and transportation money amounted to $54M for Tri Met light rail development?

Funding Urban Development

Examples continued:Vancouver (and Portland)

“The Land Lift” and “Betterment” –the baseline is so restrictive it encourages the developers to do more. Negotiate with developers for enhanced community and public amenity.Max profit of 15% for developer, 50 -95% goes to fund amenities.Development fees for utilities.Federal funds for economic development.

SeattleDevelopment Impact Fees (local services only such as schools, parks, fire service, roads).Development connection fees.Concurrency, 6yrs to achieve balance of land use and transportation.

Vancouver – Leading Edge Urban Sustainability

10 things that make Vancouver more sustainable, than 25 years ago:1. Adding over 40,000 residents downtown close to jobs.2. Developing neighbourhood centres outside the downtown to have new

housing near shops, services and transit.3. New rapid transit and rapid buses.4. 200 additional kilometres of cycling routes.5. Car sharing co-operative with 3,000 members.6. Increasing non-market housing units (now over 23,000).7. Urban gardens, “green streets” and greenways.8. Composting, recycling and yard trimmings programmes.9. Pricing for waste removal and water supply based on amount used.10. Pesticide ban on parkland and private land.

Vancouver – Social Planning at Eastside Community Redevelopment

Facilitated by social planners looking at social, economic and cultural networks and facilities – build up trust, not short-term fix. Multi cultural (Chinese) community with 10,000 new units as well as market housing.Aim = no displacement of households.Debate over traditional heritage building reuse vs podium/ high rise buildings.Redevelopment works on 3 levels; enhance public realm, new employment, community buildings.

Vancouver – “Eco density” Strategy

Three themes:Livability – medium rise up to 4 floors with community facilities. Affordability – secondary units on site.Sustainability – green buildings, zero energy buildings to LEED platinum level─ Solar energy.─ Trunk sewer used for heating and cooling.─ Natural greenways for stormwater.─ Water recycling in building.─ Energy “puk” mobile monitors electricity, water heating and water usage.─ Offer density as incentive for affordable rental and non- market housing as

well as bonus floor space in return for affordable units.

Demonstration Redevelopment to Green Building Design and Housing Mix

Affordable and Supportable Housing

Regulatory approach for new development used.

Vancouver City“Not for profit” organisations partner with developers and use sites provided by City.20% of new housing units are for affordable housing.

Portland30% of housing in urban renewal funded projects have to be affordable.

Seattle-Isaquaah Highlands30% of housing must be rental and 10% affordable.

Affordable and Supportable Housing

Affordable and Supportable Housing

Affordable and Supportable Housing

Amenity is Crucial to Intensification

With housing intensification the public and private spaces are more important.

“Betterment/Lift” negotiations get to the detail of the private and public amenity to be provided.1% of capital value from Transit projects goes to public art in Portland and Seattle.Vancouver’s Greenways programme.Urban Growth Strategies protect significant non-urban areas for rural and recreational needs including “trails”.

Public Art

Civic Leadership – Great Public Places

Civic Leadership – Public Amenity and Heritage Reuse

Civic Leadership – Transportation and Amenity

Civic Leadership – Disability Provisions

Civic Leadership – Disability Provisions

Summary – Lessons Learnt

Strong regional/metro plans.Integrated land use and transport policy approach –supports growth boundaries.Key urban growth tool is urban intensification, and raising housing density overall often orientated around transit systems (TOD) in “nodes and corridors”.Greenfields – New urbanism on comprehensive, large scale. Note public/private agreements on infrastructure, provisions and administration.

Summary – Lessons Learnt

Planning regimes allowed for financial instruments and significant negotiation – “the land lift”.Public funding sources varied/ innovative – local government financial systems often constrained by taxpayers willingness to pay.Up-front provision of community/public facilities and quality private amenity including art-works. Creates livable/ memorable, vibrant cities.Affordable and supportable housing provision is a joint public/private sector responsibility (“not for profits” sector).Strong civic vision and leadership gets results.