Community Health and Food Access

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Community Health and Food Access Prince George’s County, Maryland

Prince George’s County Planning Board Briefing November 15, 2012 Item # 3D

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Planning Board Briefing Schedule May •Demographic/Employment Profile and Growth Projections

•Public Facilities Needs Assessment

June (No Planning Board Briefings) •No Planning Board Briefings

July •2002 General Plan SWOT Analysis

September (No Planning Board Briefings) •No Planning Board Briefings

October •Scenario Planning

•Natural Resources

November •Healthy Communities and Food Access

•Housing

•Plan Initiation

December •Urban Design


Problem Statement Summary

• Obesity and related chronic diseases are prevalent in Prince George’s County.

• Some factors contributing to these health disparities include:

– Built Environment

– Personal Behavior

– Access to Healthy Food

– Physical Inactivity


Community Health and Food Access Policy Paper will:

• Discuss obesity and related chronic diseases and how land use decisions can support better health outcomes.

• Inform the community and stakeholders of critical health issues associated with the built environment.

• Examine factors that impact community health.

• Propose policies and strategies to consider for inclusion in the updated General Plan.


The General Plan Update provides an opportunity to:

• Include a new community health element.

• Improve community health through land use policies.

• Increase collaboration among county and state agencies, community groups and non-profit organizations in the area of community health planning.


Community Health Statistics


Overweight and Obesity Percentages

Sources: Prince George’s County Health Improvement Plan 2011 to 2014: Blueprint For A Healthier County and State Health Improvement Process (SHIP), Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ship.

http://www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ship


Death Rates from Heart Disease

Sources: Prince George’s County Health Improvement Plan 2011 to 2014: Blueprint For A Healthier County and State Health Improvement Process (SHIP), Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ship.

http://www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ship

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission 9

Food Access


Food Swamps • Areas with concentrations of fast food restaurants • Predominantly lower income neighborhoods

Food Deserts • Areas with limited access to affordable and fresh healthy food • Predominantly lower income neighborhoods


71% of all food establishments in Prince George’s County are fast food restaurants.


Built Environment


Environments Unsupportive of Healthy &

Active Lifestyles

Lack of Safety

Lack of Pedestrian, Bicyclist and

Motorist Safety

Awareness

Inadequate Sidewalks,

Crosswalks, and

Lighting

Fear of Crime


Improving the Built Environment To Support Community Health

A video message from Dr. Richard Jackson, Professor and Chair of Environmental Health Sciences at University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health and host of the PBS series Designing Healthy Communities.

http://designinghealthycommunities.org/dr-richard-jackson-built-environment/

http://designinghealthycommunities.org/dr-richard-jackson-built-environment/


Current Initiatives Supportive of Community Health


Prince George’s County Planning Department Initiatives

• Countywide Master Plan of Transportation

• Urban Agriculture Study

• Food Systems Study (FY 2013)

• Priority Preservation Area Master Plan— Agricultural Preservation

• Port Towns Sector Plan

• Preliminary Greenbelt Metro Area Sector Plan

• Envision Prince George’s


Department of Parks & Recreation Initiatives

• Community & Recreation Centers, programs and classes

• Regional and local parks and trails

• Athletic fields, playgrounds and swimming pools

• Community garden plots

• Formula 2040 Functional Master Plan for Parks, Recreation and Open Space


Prince George’s County & Community Initiatives

• Prince George’s County Health Improvement Plan, 2011-2014

• Health Department’s Review of Health Impact Assessments

• Safe Routes to School Program

• Healthy Schools Program

• Community Gardens, School Gardens and Farmers Markets

• Wellness Councils and Health Action Coalitions


Best Practices

19


Philadelphia 2035 (Health Impact Assessment)

Updating Zoning Ordinance in conjunction with the updated comprehensive Philadelphia 2035 plan. • Streamlining regulatory processes.

• Improving economic development programs to encourage the establishment of new supermarkets and other healthy food outlets in underserved communities.

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http://phila2035.org/


Los Angeles (Incentive Package and Moratorium)

• In 2007, 45 percent of the 900 restaurants were fast food restaurants.

• In 2008, the Los Angeles City Council passed a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new fast food restaurants.

• Incentive package program was established to attract new healthy food retailers. – Expedited development review process; – Planning and technical assistance, financing assistance and energy

discounts; – Site identification and assembly assistance; and – Predevelopment loans for site acquisition or preparation work; low-

interest capital loans; various tax credits; gap financing; and discounts on electricity the first year in operation.

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Fresh food and community health awareness and education campaign • Educates residents about the importance of fresh food to

family health.

• Provides information about local fresh food sources that are accessible to neighborhoods

• Makes available resources for cooking fresh health food.

22

Get Fresh Baltimore (Healthy Eating Zone)


Port Towns Youth Council Community (Public Education)

End Time Harvest Ministries’ Wellness Ambassadors Leadership Summer Camp Program • Assets Mapping Initiative

• Conducted an audit of a .7 mile area along MD 450

• Evaluated the walkability and bike-ability of the area.

• Identified grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and beverage stores.

• Articulated findings in a report to the Town of Bladensburg.


Proposed Element and Policies For Planning Board Consideration


Proposed Policy 1

A community health element that incorporates access to healthy food and active living environments will be incorporated in all future master plans.

Proposed Strategy Use regulatory tools such as the county’s zoning ordinance to:

• Minimize food deserts and food swamps. • Increase access to healthy food outlets, urban farms and

gardens.


Proposed Policy 2 Incorporate Complete Streets principles into community design in order to prioritize interconnectivity between residential areas, transit hubs, and neighborhood destinations; and to maximize safety, walkability, and opportunities for recreational exercise.

Proposed Strategies • Align CIP, MPOT, and Complete Streets improvements

• Incorporate appropriate pedestrian-oriented and transit oriented development (TOD) features in all new development within designated centers.


Proposed Policy 3

Promote sources of fresh foods countywide through the food system continuum and improve access to them.

Proposed Strategies • Evaluate zoning tools to reduce food deserts and food

swamps.

• Develop incentive programs to attract grocery stores and restaurants that provide fresh and healthy food options.

• Establish a food policy council


Proposed Policy 4 Increase public education efforts to promote health and wellness initiatives that prevent and control chronic disease, while improving food consumption behaviors and fitness levels.

Proposed Strategies • Create public outreach tools to link food deserts and food swamps to

healthy and fresh food programs, such as farmers markets, community gardens and local farms.

• Promote a wellness ethic for the community as a whole by integrating fitness, health and wellness into public facilities, programs and events.


Questions? For more information contact:

Prince George’s County Planning Department General Plan Update Team

Phone: 301-952-3065 Web: http://www.pgplanning.org/

Follow us on Twitter @PlanPGC2035 – for daily, up to the minute updates and live tweets of ongoing activities.

“Like”us and tell us what you think about key issues and priorities in the county on Facebook at www.facebook.com/planpgc2035.

http://www.pgplanning.org/

http://www.facebook.com/planpgc2035

Documents

Community Health and Food Access