Smart Growth: More Choices for Our Communities Carlton Eley U.S. EPA Office of Policy, Economics,...

Smart Growth: Smart Growth: More Choices for Our More Choices for Our

CommunitiesCommunities

Carlton EleyCarlton Eley

U.S. EPAU.S. EPA

Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation

March 13, 2008March 13, 2008

Economic Economic development and jobs development and jobs

Strong neighborhoodsStrong neighborhoods Healthy communitiesHealthy communities

What is Smart GrowthWhat is Smart Growth

Smart Growth is growth that serves the economy, community, and environment

Source: www.urban-advantage.com

Transition from the Status QuoTransition from the Status Quo(Conventional Development (Conventional Development

Diagram) Diagram)

Above ground utilities

WIDE STREETS

Narrow SidewalksAuto-oriented

development

No parking in rear

Single use district

Low Density Development

Source: www.urban-advantage.com

Implement Alternatives Implement Alternatives (Smart Growth Diagram) (Smart Growth Diagram)

Street Trees

Bike Lanes

Mixed-Use (Residential

and Commercial)

High Density Development

TOD District

Below- ground utilities Pedestrian-friendly

area

Median for light rail

Topics to be AddressedTopics to be Addressed

Conventional Development: Trends and Conventional Development: Trends and Impacts Impacts

Communities Seek Smart GrowthCommunities Seek Smart Growth

Smart Growth Case ExamplesSmart Growth Case Examples

ConclusionsConclusions

Life Imitating ArtLife Imitating Art

Released Sept. 12, 1958 Released Sept. 12, 1958

The Blob (a.k.a. Sprawl)The Blob (a.k.a. Sprawl) IndescribableIndescribable IndestructibleIndestructible Nothing Can Stop ItNothing Can Stop It

Development Patterns for DC/Baltimore RegionDevelopment Patterns for DC/Baltimore Region

19001900

WASHINGTON, D.C.

BALTIMORE CITY

CHESAPEAKE BAY

Development Patterns for DC/Baltimore RegionDevelopment Patterns for DC/Baltimore Region

19101910Development Patterns for DC/Baltimore RegionDevelopment Patterns for DC/Baltimore Region









20002000

Rate of land development vs. population growth

1982 1987 1992 1997 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

U.S

. Po

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(m

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0

50

100

150

200

Acr

es o

f D

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op

ed L

and

(m

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Population Developed Land

Rate of Land Development vs. Rate of Population Growth

It’s how and where we are growing that are driving our significantly increasing rate of land consumption, not domestic population growth.

Vehicle Miles TraveledVehicle Miles Traveled

Trends in Vehicle Miles Traveled

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Year

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Veh

icle

Mil

es

Tra

vele

d (

bil

lio

ns)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

Po

pu

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(m

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Vehicle Miles Traveled

Population

Note: 2000 figures based on nine months of dataSource: Dana Beach, Pew Oceans Commission

Inefficient Use of Inefficient Use of Farmland & Open Space Farmland & Open Space

America loses two acres America loses two acres of farmland every second of farmland every second of every day. of every day.

From 1992-1997, more From 1992-1997, more than 6 million acres of than 6 million acres of agricultural land was agricultural land was converted to developed converted to developed use. This area is use. This area is approximately the size of approximately the size of the State of Maryland. the State of Maryland.

Loss of habitatLoss of habitat

Land Use & Water QualityLand Use & Water Quality

EPA estimates that over EPA estimates that over 70 percent of urban 70 percent of urban water bodies are water bodies are impairedimpaired

Dispersed development Dispersed development impacts more watershed impacts more watershed area than compact area than compact developmentdevelopment

Dispersed development Dispersed development can produce stormwater can produce stormwater runoff almost 50% higher runoff almost 50% higher than more concentrated than more concentrated development.development.

Land Use & Brownfields Re-useLand Use & Brownfields Re-use

GAO and US Conference of Mayors estimate GAO and US Conference of Mayors estimate that there are over 400,000 brownfields that there are over 400,000 brownfields sites in the US.sites in the US.

Brownfields are typically served by existing Brownfields are typically served by existing transportation, water & sewer transportation, water & sewer infrastructure.infrastructure.

• Redevelopment helps preserve open space and efficiently uses existing infrastructure.

Prevalence of Obesity* among Prevalence of Obesity* among U.S. Adults in 1985, 1995, U.S. Adults in 1985, 1995,

19981998

*Approximately 30 pounds overweight

<10%10%-15%>15%

There is No Single Cause of There is No Single Cause of SprawlSprawlLand Use, Regional Growth Land Use, Regional Growth and Development Affected and Development Affected ByBy:: Action of Developers, Real Action of Developers, Real

Estate InvestorsEstate Investors Lending PracticesLending Practices Local Laws and Practices Local Laws and Practices State and Regional Policies State and Regional Policies Federal PoliciesFederal Policies

The Paradigm Shift: A Matter The Paradigm Shift: A Matter of Built and Natural of Built and Natural

EnvironmentsEnvironments We can’t build our We can’t build our

way out of congestion.way out of congestion. Why are my tax Why are my tax

dollars going to dollars going to replicate replicate infrastructure that I infrastructure that I don’t use? don’t use?

No one benefits when No one benefits when properties are allowed properties are allowed to remain vacant. to remain vacant.

Communities Seek Smart Communities Seek Smart GrowthGrowth

The provision of The provision of transportation choice;transportation choice;

Encouraging development Encouraging development within existing cities, within existing cities, towns, and suburbs.towns, and suburbs.

A wider variety of housing A wider variety of housing choices; and choices; and

Well-planned growth that Well-planned growth that improves quality of life. improves quality of life.

Smart Growth fosters healthy, vibrant and diverse communities through:

Smart Growth PrinciplesSmart Growth Principles

Preserve open space, Preserve open space, farmland, natural farmland, natural beauty, and critical beauty, and critical environmental areas.environmental areas.

Strengthen and direct Strengthen and direct development towards development towards existing communities.existing communities.

Provide a variety of Provide a variety of transportation choices.transportation choices.

Make development Make development decisions predictable, decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective.fair, and cost-effective.

Encourage community Encourage community and stakeholder and stakeholder collaboration in collaboration in development decisions.development decisions.

Mix land uses.Mix land uses.

Take advantage of compact Take advantage of compact building design.building design.

Create a range of housing Create a range of housing opportunities and choices.opportunities and choices.

Create walkable Create walkable neighborhoods. neighborhoods.

Foster distinctive, Foster distinctive, attractive communities attractive communities with a strong sense of with a strong sense of place.place.

Once Upon a Time…. Once Upon a Time…. Development was Designed Development was Designed

to be “Dense” and to be “Dense” and “Appalling”.“Appalling”.

Pruitt-Igoe – St. Louis, MO (1950s)

Cabrini-Green – Chicago, IL (1999)

Development can be Development can be Designed to be “Dense” and Designed to be “Dense” and

“Appealing”!! “Appealing”!!

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him . . . we have the technology. We have the capability. . . ©© Harve Bennett Productions, Silverton Productions Inc., Universal TV

Envisioning New Possibilities Envisioning New Possibilities Courtesy of Urban Advantage & Courtesy of Urban Advantage &

The National Association of REALTORSThe National Association of REALTORS

Smart Growth Case ExamplesSmart Growth Case Examples

Fruitvale Village (Oakland, CA)Fruitvale Village (Oakland, CA)

Old Town Wichita (Wichita, KS)Old Town Wichita (Wichita, KS)

Fall Creek Place (Indianapolis, IN)Fall Creek Place (Indianapolis, IN)

Smart Growth in Oakland, CASmart Growth in Oakland, CAFruitvale VillageFruitvale Village

Smart Growth in Wichita, KSSmart Growth in Wichita, KS Old Town WichitaOld Town Wichita

Fall Creek Fall Creek Place 1956Place 1956

Fall Creek Fall Creek Place 1999Place 1999

Fall Creek Place - - Fall Creek Place - - Before and After Urban Before and After Urban RenewalRenewal

Smart Growth in Indianapolis, IN Smart Growth in Indianapolis, IN Fall Creek PlaceFall Creek Place

Julia Carson (1938 – 2007) Julia Carson (1938 – 2007) U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. House of Representatives

Indiana’s 7Indiana’s 7thth Congressional District Congressional District

What Smart Growth “Is” What Smart Growth “Is” and “Is Not”and “Is Not”

More transportation More transportation choices and less trafficchoices and less traffic

NotNot against cars against cars and roadsand roads

Vibrant cities, suburbs Vibrant cities, suburbs and townsand towns

NotNot anti-suburban anti-suburban

Wider variety of Wider variety of housing choiceshousing choices

NotNot about telling people about telling people where or how to livewhere or how to live

Well-planned growth that Well-planned growth that improves quality-of-lifeimproves quality-of-life

NotNot against against growthgrowth

ConclusionsConclusions

““The greatness of a city depends not alone upon The greatness of a city depends not alone upon great boundaries or a multitude of inhabitants but great boundaries or a multitude of inhabitants but upon the probity and industry of its citizens.” upon the probity and industry of its citizens.”

City Hall of Kansas City Hall of Kansas City, MissouriCity, Missouri

The secret to smart growthThe secret to smart growth

Don’t wait for a crisis, be proactiveDon’t wait for a crisis, be proactive

Freedom to chooseFreedom to choose

EPA HeadquartersEPA HeadquartersCarlton Eley – Carlton Eley – 202-566-2841202-566-2841

Websites:Websites:www.epa.gov/smartgrowth

www.smartgrowth.org

For More Information...For More Information...

http://www.smartgrowth.org/

Smart Growth: More Choices for Our Communities Carlton Eley U.S. EPA Office of Policy, Economics,...

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