Sustainable Communities Project. Sustainable Communities Federal Agencies Shaun Donovan US Housing &...

Sustainable Communities Project

Sustainable Communities Federal Agencies

Shaun DonovanUS Housing & Urban Dev.

Ray LaHoodUS Dept. of Trans.

Lisa JacksonUS Envir. Protection Agency

Livability Principles

• Provide more transportation choices• Promote equitable, affordable housing• Enhance economic competitiveness• Support existing communities• Coordinate policies and leverage investment• Value communities and neighborhoods

Deputy HUD Secretary - Ron Sims said,

“Regions that embrace sustainable communities will have a built-in competitive edge in attracting jobs and private investment. Planning our communities smarter means parents will spend less time driving and more time with their children. More families will live in safe, stable communities near good schools and jobs. And more businesses will have access to the capital and talent they need to grow and prosper.”

ENVIRONMENT

ECONOMYSOCIETY

Equitable social

environment

Sustainable natural & built environment

Sustainable economic

development

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Thurston

Executive Director Lon D. Wyrick stated:

“We believe TRPC was successful because of the remarkable regional partnerships and vision of our members. Our policy makers have long recognized that transportation, land use, and economic development are inseparable and must be integrated in the planning process.”

susta inable thurston

A community-wide conversationGOAL: To develop a vision for a

vibrant, healthy and resilient future as well as the actions and responsibilities to achieve it. We’re not starting from scratch

Did you know….

40% of our built environment available in 2040 will be built between now and then?


Sustainable Thurston Timeline

Develop Scenarios

Develop a Preferred Scenario &

RegionalPlans

Initial Visioning &

Stakeholder Engagement

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

2011 Spring 2012 20122013

Public Outreach Phase 3

Develop Preferred

Scenario & Regional

Plans with Performance

Measures


Scenario Planning (through

models) & Strategies to

Achieve Goals

Establish Vision &

Goals to Achieve

Vision


Panel, Market Studies

& Survey Work


Products Regional Plan for Sustainable Development

Regional Housing Plan

Sustainable Economic Strategy

County-wide Planning Policies

Addition of sustainability policy


Identify what SUSTAINABILITY means in our community


Figure out What it Takes to Get There


What we learned: Confidence in Participation

o 59% of participants believe that their actions and participation as individuals can affect the planning process and future of the region

o 83.5% think that working together as a region to plan for the future will lead to improved quality of life


What we learnedo Collaboration and Cooperation is Essentialo Resources are Getting More Limited,

Leverage Resources, Make Every Dollar Count

o Protect What Matterso Understanding Choice Matters to Build

Community & Neighborhood Resilienceo Everything is Related


General Values Quality of Life Health and Well Being Clean Air Clean Water


Values that are more Specific to Thurston Region

Place Choice Local Decisions – Cross Jurisdictional Collaboration Natural Environment Opportunity Participation


Emerging Issue Areas Preservation of Rural Lands and Agriculture /

Preservation of Property Rights Individual Rights / Community Rights Freedom / Regulation More Services / Fewer Taxes More Transportation Choices / Resistance to

Growth and/or Density More Jobs / Less People More Local Walkable Neighborhood Businesses /

Resistance to Neighborhood Density

VisionDistinct, Livable Communities

…all supported by the right mix of transportation facilities and services.

Pastoral Rural areas

Resilient Small Cities

Healthy Suburbs

Vibrant Urban

n’hoods & Corridors

Dynamic City

Centers

Build Options for:

Rural Areas

Small Cities

Suburbs

Corridors & Close in NeighborhoodsCity Centers

Places

And address other sustainability topics

(i.e. energy efficiency,water conservation …)


Growth is likely to continue: High Quality of Life State Capital Joint Base Lewis-McChord Interstate 5-Corridor Regional Medical and Shopping Hub Relatively Affordable Historic high growth rates

People are willing to drive long distances

to live here

Population and Employment ModelTrends


Demographics Population Aged 65 plus

Percent of population aged 65+ will increase We’ve already seen increased demand for

senior housing


Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future

CHOICES

Our population demographics are changing

The community needs places that work for an aging population

Driving less saves money, and using less gas reduces the amount of energy we consume



HOUSEHOLD FINANCES

Saving on transportation costs is important for people on limited household budgets



TRAVEL AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS

Budgets are getting tighter

How we travel to jobs affects our household budget

The closer we live to work – the more we save on transportation costs



COST OF SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Compact communities need fewer miles of infrastructure – such as roads and water lines – than communities that are spread out

Compact communities are more efficiently served by services such as fire, medic, police and transit



ACTIVE PLACES - SMALL BUSINESSES

Housing in centers provides more customers for businesses

Vital urban places and activities attract “innovators” who start businesses



WALKABILITY

Improve walkability in neighborhoods

Locate housing in areas with access to goods and services

susta inable thurstonSteps Towards a More Sustainable Future

HEALTH

Obesity is on the rise.

We need communities that are walkable.

Walkable Communities enhance health

5% increase in neighborhood walkability linked to 32% increase in minutes of walking or biking (Seattle Study).

susta inable thurstonLivability Principles

• Provide more transportation choices• Promote equitable, affordable housing• Enhance economic competitiveness• Support existing communities• Coordinate policies and leverage investment• Value communities and neighborhoods

susta inable thurstonVision

Distinct, Livable Communities

…all supported by the right mix of transportation facilities and services.

Pastoral Rural areas

Resilient Small Cities

Healthy Suburbs

Vibrant Urban

n’hoods & Corridors

Dynamic City

Centers


A lack of efficient alternatives to automobile travel disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as the poor, the elderly, people who have disabilities and children by limiting access to jobs, health care, social interaction, and healthy foods.

- United We Ride


What did we learn from the ADA?

Communities that work for people with special needs work better for everyone!


Improving the Built Environment -

Strategies Use Universal Design Accommodate changing needs as we age Require Complete Streets Fix broken/missing sidewalks Improve intersection markings Increase Xing times Focus on people!


Focus on People – Cultural Competency Not just about language/translation Programs relevant/appropriate & effective

no matter the audience What are the needs of

various communities? Work directly with people!


Sustainable, Equitable Transit-Oriented Development

Revamp coordinated long range planning processes

Use Livability Principles to develop new $$ priorities

Implement Housing + Transportation Affordability Index

Enhance Comprehensive Technical Assistance Programs


CONTACT:

www.sustainablethurston.org

Karen ParkhurstThurston Regional Planning [email protected]

http://www.sustainablethurston.org/

mailto:[email protected]

Sustainable Communities Project. Sustainable Communities Federal Agencies Shaun Donovan US Housing &...

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