Sustainable Land Use Putting Sustainability Into Practice

Neil Weinstein, P.E., ASLA, AICP, MASCE, ENV SP The Low Impact Development Center, Inc. [email protected] Emily Clifton, AICP [email protected]

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

Module Four Outline 4.4 1. Common Planning and Implementation Tools 2. Using State-of-the-Art Zoning, Planning, and Building Codes and Ordinances

E.S. Is This a Sustainable City? 4.5

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

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

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

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

Population Economic Development Natural Resources Cultural Resources Community Facilities Housing Land Use Transportation Priority Investment 4.10 Comprehensive Plan Elements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Module Four Outline 1. Common Planning and Implementation Tools 2. Using State-of-the-Art Zoning, Planning, and Building Codes and Ordinances 4.19

Using Planning and Implementation Tools to Define a Framework 4.20

Functional Plans Transportation Network 4.21

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

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)

Small Area Plans 4.24

Development Models Transect Design 4.25

Smart Growth Guidelines 4.26

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

Guidelines and Objectives 4.28

Carbon, Water, Nitrogen Scale of Impact (e.g., national, regional, local) Influence of Decisions (Institutional, site specific) Impacts and Footprints 4.29

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

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

Nitrogen Cycle 4.32

Water Bootprint 4.33

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

ASHRAE 189 International Green Code Form Based Codes Green Area Ratio 4.35 Zoning and Building Codes

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

Green Area Ratio 4.37

Urban heat island Energy Safety 4.38 Materials Code

Score cards Rating Systems Assessment worksheets Useful Tools 4.39

Green Building Toolkit Assessment Sheet USEPA, 2010 4.40

EPA Water Quality Scorecard 4.41

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

LEED for Neighborhood Development 4.43

SITES Rating System 4.44

SITES Rating System (cont.) 4.45

SITES Rating System (cont.) 4.46

Sustainable Sites Initiative 4.47

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

Multiple choice Covers material from each module Tests understanding of key concepts Application of principles Examination 4.57