Building Healthy Communities · Community Plan Updates • As they are updated, individual community plans will link these policies with focus on the built environment and benefits

Building Healthy Communities

Heal-SLO Summit 2012

Chuck Stevenson, AICP

Division Manager, Long Range Planning

San Luis Obispo County Planning

and Building Department

What’s being done to promote

healthy communities locally?

Health in County Policies - Milestones

• It Takes Our Region conference: 2003

• Smart Growth Principles approved: 2005

• Strategic (Smart) Growth Policies adopted into the County General Plan: 2007

• Obesity Prevention Task Force: 2007

• Sidewalk improvements in San Miguel, Cambria, Nipomo, and Oceano: on-going since 2000

• Heal-SLO (working group) comments on land development projects and policy documents: 2012

• General Plan Elements and Community Plan updates include policies for healthy communities

Health Related Topics in San Luis

Obispo County General Plan

• Framework for Planning (Land Use Element)

• Conservation and Open Space Elements

• Energy Wise Plan

• Community Plans

County General Plan Promotes Health

• Land Use Element Promotes

– Development that supports healthy and efficient forms of transportation

– Development that is closer to jobs and public facilities

– The idea of ‘complete communities’

• Parks, natural areas, recreation facilities to enhance

quality of life and improve public health

• Public transit, bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, multi-use trails and other amenities to improve

livabilityof towns

Community Plan Updates

• As they are updated, individual community

plans will link these policies with focus on the

built environment and benefits on public

health and wellbeing

– Shandon

– San Miguel

Ways the County General Plan

Promotes Healthy Communities

Access to recreation and open space

By promoting physical activity and contact with

natural areas through multi-use trails, bike

paths and pedestrian improvements



Access to healthy foods

By promoting access to healthy food options,

including fresh produce stores and farmers

markets through the design of the built

environment



Access to public transit and safe active

transportation

By promoting walking, biking and public transit

through the design of the built environment.



Access to quality affordable housing

By promoting housing choices that are

affordable to a wide range of incomes through

the design of the built environment



Access to economic opportunity

By promoting sufficient areas for job growth

that pay living wages and opportunities for

building equity through the design of the built

environment



Completeness of neighborhoods

By promoting neighborhoods with daily goods

and services within walking distance through

the design of the built environment



Safe neighborhoods and public spaces

By promoting safety, public gathering places,

and sense of place through the design of the

built environment



Environmental quality

By promoting environmental protection and

conservation through the design of the built

environment



Safe, long term energy and resource

development practices

By promoting sustainable environmental

stewardship through the design of the built

environment

Health Impacts of Climate Change

• Climate change affects the fundamental

requirements for health – clean air, safe

drinking water, sufficient food and secure

shelter

Health Impacts of Climate Change

• Increased Number of Extreme heat days

• Increased occurrences of natural disasters

• Variable rainfall patterns

• Increased patterns of infection

Health and Climate Change Adaptation

• Things the County is doing to adapt to climate

change:

– Strategic Growth Policies and strategies

– Integrated Water Management Plans

– Water Conservation programs

– Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy

Development

– Habitat Management

– Stormwater management emphasizing green

infrastructure

Thank You

More Information at:

www.sloplanning.org

Kathleen Karle, MEd, MCHESDivision Manager, Health Promotion

Healthy Communities Workgroup

� Review new discretionary land development proposals and policy documents (Community General Plans) from the health perspective

� Planning Department � Healthy Communities � Planning Commission +Health Commission

� Learning Process!

Health Indicators

� Access to amenities such as grocery, shopping, restaurants, banks, schools and parks/open spaces using non-vehicular transportation (NVT)

� Landmarks and point destinations (ex. parks, playgrounds, basketball courts and hiking trails) are fully accessible by NVT

� Infrastructure enhancement of NVT (bike racks, pedestrian access to street level, complete streets and sidewalks, benches, and proper lighting)

Health Indicators

� Stairs use promoted where elevators/ escalators exist

� Businesses do not interfere with quality of life, safety, noise, smell and air quality

� Minimal artificial A/C, energy use and GHG emissions

� All areas promote a tobacco free environment

Fiscalini Ranch Master Plan

� Ample opportunities for walking, hiking and other forms of exercise which are key to a healthy community

� Recent Harvard study found walking at a moderate pace for up to 3 hours per week can cut the rate of heart disease by 40%

� Multi-use sports fields and ample opportunities for recreation for all ages when families exercise together it encourages children to continue the habit as adults

Fiscalini Ranch Master Plan

� Emphasis on preserving sensitive habitat and installing native landscaping

� Plan designed around environmentally sound vegetation management principles

� According to Dr. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association, “climate change is one of the most serious health threats facing our nation”

Cave’s Landing

� Construct bike/pedestrian trail, improve parking lot, construct restroom and other facilities including picnic tables, benches and interpretative signs

� Improvements to trails will decrease the likelihood of falls

� According to CDC, unintentional falls are one of the top 10 leading causes of injury deaths in all persons over the age of 25

Cave’s Landing

� Improved trails will also create a more likely destination for someone enjoy the beauty of the coastline

� Strong body of psychological research confirms hypothesis that contact with nature leads to increased mental health

� Howard Frumkin and Richard Louv, (Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder) conclude “land conservation can now be viewed as a public health strategy”

Infill Standards Background Report

� Strategic approach to infill will decrease dependence on motor vehicles, which in turn may reduce motor and pedestrian injuries and deaths

� Increased car and truck traffic pollute the atmosphere with ground-level ozone and particulate matter, contributing to health problems such as lung disease and asthma (Frumkin, Urban Sprawl and Public Health)

Infill Standards Background Report

� Studies sited in both Pediatrics and the American Journal of Public Health have demonstrated that the physical and social construct of the urban environment promotes isolation

� Isolation may result in a lack of social networks and diminished social capital, which can contribute to obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, and increased rates of mortality

Next steps?

� Not all plans reviewed need comment

� Continue to refine our process and procedures to provide thoughtful, relevant information to people making planning decisions

� Offer our services to city planning bodies as well (be careful what you ask for)

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES:

2012 HEAL-SLO SUMMIT

Ronald L. De CarliRonald L. De CarliSLOCOG Executive DirectorSLOCOG Executive Director

October 19, 2012October 19, 2012

San Luis Obispo Council of GovernmentsSan Luis Obispo Council of Governments

San Luis Obispo Council of GovernmentsSLOCOG

Regional Transportation Planning AgencyMetropolitan Planning Organization

Service Authority for Freeways and ExpresswaysCensus Data Affiliate

District 5District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4

Paso

Robles

Arroyo

Grande

Atascadero

Grover

BeachPismo

Beach

Morro

Bay

San Luis

Obispo

Caltrans (Ex Officio)San Luis Obispo Council of Governments

San Luis Obispo Council of Governments

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Overview

� Regional Transportation Planning

� Project Programming

� Challenges

� What can you Do?



Regional Transportation Plan

� 25 year Vision

� Vision: Intermodal Transportation System

� Establishes Funding Priorities

� 1992 Programming State and Federal Funding

� 2005 Adopted Smart Growth Principles to create more walkable, vibrant communities.

� 2010 Policies Reinforced by State Mandates to Reduce trips

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGY WORK EFFORTS

Rideshare Program

�Advocating for Alternative Transportation:

�Public Transit

�Ridesharing, vanpools

�Walking

�Safe Routes to School

�Free Transit for Youth during Summer


Map Source:

Caltrans Division of Rail

Map Source:

Caltrans Division of Rail



Transit - Funding and Operations

�Expanded transit services, frequency

�Improved transit centers and stops

�Improving access to the transit

�Free Summer Transit for Youth



Project ProgrammingD

e Anza N

ational H

istoric T

rail

�Downtown Street Enhancements :

• Arroyo Grande Village

• Atascadero El Camino Real

• W. Grand Avenue-Grover Beach

• E. Grand Avenue - Arroyo Grande

• Cambria Village

• Nipomo

• San Miguel

• San Luis Obispo




Project Programming


�Corridor Mobility Assessments on 101 corridor

� Los Osos Valley Rd

� Brisco Rd and Grand Ave Interchanges.

� Complete Streets :

� Bikelanes:

• Grand Avenue in Arroyo and Grover

• El Camino Real (Atasc)

• Vine Street (Paso)

• Santa Rosa, Broad St, Foothill, Johnson (SLO)

• Shell Beach Rd, Highway 1 (Pismo) San Luis Obispo Council of Governments



e Anza N

ational H

istoric T

rail


�Trails :• City-to-the-Sea, Bob Jones Trail • North Coast Trail • De Anza Salinas River Trail • Morro Bay Cayucos Connector • Templeton – Atascadero Connector

�Boardwalks :

• Atascadero Lake pathway• Pismo – Promenade 4 phases complete• Pismo - Grover Boardwalk complete• Moonstone Beach Boardwalk complete • Morro Bay Harborwalk, 1 phase complete• Arroyo Grande Creekwalk , 2 phases complete


BOARDWALKS

Morro Bay Harbor Walk

Moonstone Beach Trail Elfin Forrest: Los Osos

Pismo Promenade


RESULTS

• 28 miles of Class I multiuse paths

• 135 miles of Class II bike lanes

• 280 miles of Class III Bike lanes

• Boardwalks & Urban Trails:

• All 7 cities and 2 communities.

• $400 M in requests for 185 bike & pedestrian projects

• Downtown Enhancements in most communities.



Major Corridor Planning

Salinas R

iver Segm

entP

ismo

-SL

O S

egm

entD

e Anza N

ational H

istoric T

rail

�SLOCOG’s current trail efforts involve .

• North Coast Trail;

• Morro Bay – Cayucos Connector;

• San Luis Obispo to Cuesta College

• City to the Sea Trail (Bob Jones) and Rail Road Safety Trail ( SLO City)

• North County Salinas River Trail

• Emerging: SLO City to Pismo Beach via Edna Valley and Price Canyon




e Anza N

ational H

istoric T

rail


�Open Space Acquisitions (participation)

• Wild Cherry Canyon (Connecting Avila to Montana de Oro State Park)

• Pismo Marsh Overlook

• Elfin Forest, Los Osos

• Stadium Park Atascadero

• Estero Bluffs (n/o Cayucos)

• Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

• Black Lake Canyon, Nipomo



Challenges

�Funding Limitations and Reductions!

�Pushback from some Public and Stakeholders: “Back t o the Basics”: Road and Highway Focused.

�Change is Difficult



What Can You Do?

�Testify, participate, and advocate!!!!

�Upcoming City Climate Action Plans

�Upcoming SLO City and SLO County Land use and Circ ulation Elements

�Upcoming SLOCOG Regional Transportation Plan

�Advocate at Council meetings for “Complete Streets” , Safe Routes to School”, and request bikeways, sidewalks and trail s be funded and included in all upcoming plans, development proposa ls, new streets and roads and into road widening's and resurfacing proj ects.


BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES:

2012 HEAL-SLO SUMMIT

Ronald L. De CarliRonald L. De CarliSLOCOG Executive DirectorSLOCOG Executive Director

www.slocog.org rideshare.org www.slocog.org rideshare.org

October 19, 2012October 19, 2012

San Luis Obispo Council of GovernmentsSan Luis Obispo Council of Governments

Documents

Building Healthy Communities · Community Plan Updates • As they are updated, individual community plans will link these policies with focus on the built environment and benefits