Sustainable Land Use Putting Sustainability Into Practice
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Neil Weinstein, P.E., ASLA, AICP, MASCE, ENV SP The Low Impact
Development Center, Inc. [email protected] Emily
Clifton, AICP [email protected]
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Learning Outcomes Apply Regulatory and Professional Frameworks
for Sustainability Employ Tools/Drivers for Implementation
Understand current and emerging planning and zoning tools, and the
engineers role within this framework Understand the importance of
model building codes, and how scorecards and rating systems can
ensure that a solid foundation has been laid for more sustainable
communities 4.3
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Module Four Outline 4.4 1. Common Planning and Implementation
Tools 2. Using State-of-the-Art Zoning, Planning, and Building
Codes and Ordinances
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E.S. Is This a Sustainable City? 4.5
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If it is, then what do we do with this? PopulationPopulation
Economic Development Natural Resources Cultural Resources Community
Facilities Housing Land Use Transportation Priority Investment
4.6
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Three Common Land Use Planning Tools Typically Help Shape
Communities: Community Planning Helps set community goals,
development patterns Zoning Impacts location, size, configuration,
density of development Building Codes Provide minimum standards for
public health, safety, and welfare Common Planning Tools 4.7
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Long-term Planning Documents such as General Plans, Master
Plans, and Neighborhood Plans Community Planning 4.8 Sets forth a
communitys overarching goals, policies and strategies for future
growth Core to the concept is comprehensiveness
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Coordinates infrastructure systems (roads, water, wastewater,
etc.) with land use to maximize combined benefits Often reviewed
and updated on 10+ year cycles Process of incorporating new
concepts can be slow Community Planning (cont.) 4.9
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Population Economic Development Natural Resources Cultural
Resources Community Facilities Housing Land Use Transportation
Priority Investment 4.10 Comprehensive Plan Elements
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Every state has zoning enabling legislation for municipalities,
and many for counties Specifies the laws used to implement land use
types recommended in community planning documents In practice, are
often updated without updates to community plans Zoning Ordinances
4.11
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Defines the density, available building area, landscaping
requirements, impervious cover limits, parking requirements, etc.
for different zoning categories Provides guidelines for the
physical configurationand the permitted uses Zoning Ordinances
(cont.) 4.12
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Zoning Ordinances (cont.) New approaches to zoning Often
prescriptive, but increased focus on flexibility Greater emphasis
on regulating the form and scale of buildings and their placement
along and within public spaces, such as with form-based codes Can
offer reward (e.g., increased density) for doing something "extra"
that is in the community's interest via incentive zoning In the
case of performance zoning, may allow developers to build almost
any building that meets the performance standards for that district
(e.g., standards concerning traffic flow, density, noise and access
to light and air) 4.13
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Form-Based Zoning Example: Simsbury, CT Small, older community
in Connecticut (34.5 mi 2 ) Entire town area drains to east through
a large wetland system Problems with isolated open spaces,
disjointed development built for cars (not people) Wanted to create
a vibrant town center where people can live, work, and socialize,
but old zoning requirements too restrictive 4.14
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An illustrative master plan was prepared to identify the form,
scale, and placement of buildings. This was then used as the basis
of low impact development stormwater strategies for the town center
Focus on blending green infrastructure into the proposed
development, so that it becomes part of the development For
engineers, the need is to not only make LID systems that function
well, but to select and design controls that fit within the overall
plan framework Form-Based Zoning Example: Simsbury, CT (cont.) Code
Studio of Austin TX 4.15
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Building Codes, Construction Codes, Plumbing Codes, Specialty
Codes Provide additional specifications for the construction of
infrastructure, plumbing and drainage, fire and safety, and other
features to ensure minimum levels of safety Can be very complex
Building Codes 4.16
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Prescriptive versus performance-based codes Building codes are
often a combination of the two. Historically they have spelled out
exactly how something is done (prescriptive). Today, growing
emphasis on outlining a required level of performance that must be
met, and leaving it to the designer to determine how its achieved
(performance). When performance-based, there are fewer complex
rules to follow, but when applying for permits, it must be
demonstrated how each objective or performance measure will be met
Building Codes (cont.) 4.17
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How might zoning and building codes have a substantial direct
and indirect impact on sustainability (air and water quality,
natural resource protection, etc.)? Study Question 4.18 See:
References #2, 3, 4, and 6 (end slides)
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Module Four Outline 1. Common Planning and Implementation Tools
2. Using State-of-the-Art Zoning, Planning, and Building Codes and
Ordinances 4.19
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Using Planning and Implementation Tools to Define a Framework
4.20
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Functional Plans Transportation Network 4.21
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Targeted Issues: Transportation/Sustainability Bus Stop Install
narrow LID strips w/ bus landing zones Plant hardy trees, under
-story shrub Florida Ave Entrance Bioretention areas Runoff intake
area Cross section of Florida Ave Source: DC Office of Planning
4.22
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Sustainability Metrics Source: DC Office of Planning 4.23 New
York Ave Selection Criteria: Project parameters (boundary,
ownership) Social benefits (connectivity, conformance) Human health
(air quality, heat stress) Environmental function (suitability,
volume reductions) Economic function (avoided costs, property
value)
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Small Area Plans 4.24
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Development Models Transect Design 4.25
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Smart Growth Guidelines 4.26
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Smart Growth Principles Provide a variety of transportation
options Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost
effective Engage community and stakeholders in development
decisions Strengthen and direct development toward existing
communities Mix land uses Take advantage of compact design Create a
range of housing opportunities and choices Create walkable
communities Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a
strong sense of place Preserve open space, farmland, natural
beauty, and critical environmental areas 4.27
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Guidelines and Objectives 4.28
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Carbon, Water, Nitrogen Scale of Impact (e.g., national,
regional, local) Influence of Decisions (Institutional, site
specific) Impacts and Footprints 4.29
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Allows a community to look at the local and regional impacts of
decisions Allows for long-term considerations of supply and demand
Helps develop policies for regulatory compliance and for resources
and resiliency Planning With Cycles 4.30
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Carbon, Water, Nitrogen, and other critical resources Local to
Global Scales Direct and Indirect Use and Impacts Resource and
Financial Considerations Footprints and Impacts 4.31
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Nitrogen Cycle 4.32
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Water Bootprint 4.33
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Sustainable Metrics in Action Blue Footprint TM in Milwaukee,
WI Utilized Veolia Waters Water Impact Index to evaluate the
economic and environmental impact of water and wastewater services
in Milwaukee, from both a carbon and water perspective Utilized a
volume-based water measurement tool that incorporates multiple
factors such as volume, resource stress and water quality Source:
Veolia Water 4.34 Assigned a value to water based on quality,
quantity & resource stress Intended to serve as a protocol for
cities/ businesses to adopt best practices
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ASHRAE 189 International Green Code Form Based Codes Green Area
Ratio 4.35 Zoning and Building Codes
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ASHRAE 189.1: The Green Standard Provides minimum design
requirements for green buildings through the general goals of
reduced energy consumption, site sustainability, water efficiency,
occupant comfort, environmental impact, materials, and resources.
Prescriptive Option: Based on meeting impervious cover percentages
for the site. Performance Option: Based on managing rainfall
events. Includes guidance standards for greenfield, greyfield, and
brownfield sites. Greenfield sites have less than 20 percent
existing impervious surfaces. Greyfield sites have existing
impervious surfaces of over 20 percent. Brownfields are designated
as contaminated sites. Buildings must manage 20 to 50 percent of
rainfall through infiltration, reuse, or evapotranspiration
(differs for renovation, green, or brownfield site). 40 percent of
the site shall be planted or use pervious pavers, unless 50 percent
of the annual rainfall for the development footprint is used for
building or site use. 4.36
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Green Area Ratio 4.37
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Urban heat island Energy Safety 4.38 Materials Code
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Score cards Rating Systems Assessment worksheets Useful Tools
4.39
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Green Building Toolkit Assessment Sheet USEPA, 2010 4.40
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EPA Water Quality Scorecard 4.41
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Potential Rating Systems 4.42 Sample Rating Systems Sustainable
Buildings and Sites Rating SystemsDevelopment Basis BREEAM
(Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment
Method)Original BREEAM Green LeafBREEAM, Green Leaf TM Calabassas
LEEDLEED CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Building
Environmental Efficiency)Original CEPAS (Comprehensive
Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme)LEED , BREEAM, HK-BEAM,
IBI ENVISION TM for Sustainable InfrastructureOriginal
ESCALEUndisclosed GBToolOriginal GEM (Global Environmental Method)
for Existing Buildings (Green Globes) - UKGreen Globes Canada
BREEAM Green Leaf Green Globes TM USGreen Globes Canada Green Leaf
Eco-Rating ProgramOriginal Green Star AustraliaBREEAM, LEED LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)LEED LEED CanadaLEED
LEED MexicoLEED MSBG (The State of Minnesota Sustainable Building
Guidelines)LEED , Green Building Challenge 98, BREEAM SBAT
(Sustainable Building Assessment Tool)Original SITES (Sustainable
Sites Initiative)Original TQ Building Assessment System (Total
Quality Building Assessment System)Original
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LEED for Neighborhood Development 4.43
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SITES Rating System 4.44
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SITES Rating System (cont.) 4.45
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SITES Rating System (cont.) 4.46
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Sustainable Sites Initiative 4.47
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Observations on Rating Systems Market Driven and Evolving
Quantitative and/or Qualitative Level of assessment and
qualifications Can be code based Level of Metrics (is 49.9% really
50%) Scale and gaps Technically and technology constrained
Adaptable to and recognizing local conditions? A rising tide lifts
all boats, to some extent What is the cumulative benefit? Place for
innovation? 4.48
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Strategies for Integration Identify regulatory/ code/ rating
LCD Identify accounting/assessment procedures Investment in process
or outcomes Promote best metrics to client (additional performance
and savings) Predict local economic and environmental performance
4.49
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Challenges for Green Approaches Performance based Localized and
customized Flexibility Decision process rather than decision
checklist (MEP, EIAS 438) Technology driven (does system allow for
innovation) Recognition or credit 4.50
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Discussion Award Winning Town of Edmonston Green Street 4.51
What if the community where you are working does not have or use
most of these implementation requirements and assessment
tools?
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Federal permits: EPA, Interior, Energy, NOAA, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission State Permits:
EPA, Public Service Commissions County Extension Agents and
Conservation Districts Small Business Administration financial
assistance U.S. Forest Service and counterpart state agencies
Federal transportation grants for ITS HUD/EPA/DOT Partnership
Resources and Programs 4.52
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Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable
Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (January 2006) Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (July 2005), Public Law 109-58 Office of Mgmt. and
Budget Circular No. A-11, Sec. 55, Energy and Transportation
Efficiency Management (2002) Executive Order 13123, Greening the
Government through Efficient Energy Management (June 1999)
Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government through Waste
Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition (September 1998)
EISA 438 Federal Building Guidance 4.53
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Financing/Partnerships/Funding From Federal Resources for
Sustainable Rural Communities Funding and resources to achieve
these goals from HUD, DOT, EPA, USDA with case studies and
references to develop programs. 4.54
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A vision with short and long term must be developed A plan, or
series of plans, that address regional and local issues must be
produced Codes, regulations, and ordinances are implementation
tools Capital improvement projects, incentives, and flexibility can
create the framework and jump start the implementation Scorecards
and rating systems can provide incentives Review 4.55
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Recommended Resources 4.56 1. ASHRAE 189.1, Standard for the
design of high performance green buildings.
www.ashrae.org/resources--publications/bookstore/standard-189-1
www.ashrae.org/resources--publications/bookstore/standard-189-1 2.
ASCE, 2009, Building a Sustainable Future; Proceedings of the 2009
Construction Research Congress. Samuel T. Ariaratnam and Eddy
Rojas, eds. 3. ASCE Committee on Sustainability, 2004. Sustainable
Engineering Practice: An Introduction. 4. US EPA, 2012, Essential
Smart Growth Fixes for Rural Planning, Zoning, and Development
Codes.
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/rural_essential_fixes_508_030612.pdfwww.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/rural_essential_fixes_508_030612.pdf
5. US EPA, 2010, Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit.
www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf
www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf 6. US EPA,
2009, Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning
Codes. www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/2009_essential_fixes.pdf
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/2009_essential_fixes.pdf 7. Policy
Link, Equitable Development Toolkit.
www.policylink.org/site/c.lkIXLbMNJrE/b.5136575/k.39A1/Equitable_Development_Toolkit.htm
www.policylink.org/site/c.lkIXLbMNJrE/b.5136575/k.39A1/Equitable_Development_Toolkit.htm
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Multiple choice Covers material from each module Tests
understanding of key concepts Application of principles Examination
4.57