The Congress for the New Urbanism has proposed changes to the International Fire Code to give local fire officials greater flexibility in street design.
The September 2009 issue of the New Urban News reports the proposed changes have been developed jointly by new urbanists and fire marshals. They'll be debated at the International Code Council's Annual Conference & Code Development Hearings in Baltimore, MD on October 24 to 26th. To find out more about the event and the suggested code.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Smart growth & local elections
"Smart growth is just a euphemism for controlled, centralized planning by the apparatchiks of the Democratic Party and the permanent government. It's an elitist, centralized planning model that decides who gets to build.'' Chris Keating quoted Republican Party Chair Chris Healy on smart growth in his blog.
Smart Growth means putting the right development in the right places. It's good development, plain and simple, circumspect and outcomes-oriented. It seeks to benefit our economy, our environment and our society.
Members of your town committees will be out in force the next few weeks looking for your vote for the Board of Selectmen, Town Council, Mayor, Zoning Board, etc. Take time to educate them on the theory and practice of smart growth.
Ask for their commitment to, if elected, adopt plans, implement policies and prioritize investments to support smart, sustainable development in our towns & regions.
You got to hand it to Healy, his rhetoric is plenty entertaining. But what we need, given the challenges we face, is sensible, sober, smart growth.
Smart Growth means putting the right development in the right places. It's good development, plain and simple, circumspect and outcomes-oriented. It seeks to benefit our economy, our environment and our society.
Members of your town committees will be out in force the next few weeks looking for your vote for the Board of Selectmen, Town Council, Mayor, Zoning Board, etc. Take time to educate them on the theory and practice of smart growth.
Ask for their commitment to, if elected, adopt plans, implement policies and prioritize investments to support smart, sustainable development in our towns & regions.
You got to hand it to Healy, his rhetoric is plenty entertaining. But what we need, given the challenges we face, is sensible, sober, smart growth.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
1000 Friends Requests Copy of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
September 16th DECD has posted the plan.
Govenor Rell's press release announcing the plan.
___________________________________________
September 4, 2009
Honorable M. Jodi Rell, Governor
Connecticut Office of the Governor
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Dear Governor Rell:
I am writing to request a copy, under the Freedom of Information Act, of the approximately 600-page document sent by the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Office of the Governor to meet the July 1, 2009 deadline for submission of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy referenced in Public Act 07-239 page 13 (11)(d). I also request copies of any communication between the Governor’s Office and the Department of Economic and Community Development pertaining to and subsequent to the Department’s submission.
Please send copies to me electronically at hegreen at 1000friends-ct dot org. Alternatively, I am happy to retrieve them from your staff. Please feel free to contact me on my cell phone at 203/715-3185. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Heidi Green, President
1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut
____________________________________________________________________________________
September 4, 2009
Ms. Joan McDonald, Commissioner
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Dear Commissioner McDonald:
I am writing to request a copy, under the Freedom of Information Act, of the approximately 600-page document sent by the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Office of the Governor to meet the July 1, 2009 deadline for submission of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy referenced in Public Act 07-239 page 13 (11)(d). I also request copies of any communication between the Governor’s Office and the Department of Economic and Community Development pertaining to and subsequent to the Department’s submission.
Please send copies to me electronically at hegreen@1000friends-ct.org. Alternatively, I am happy to retrieve them from your staff. Please feel free to contact me on my cell phone at 203/715-3185. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Heidi Green, President
1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut
CT's missing economic development strategic plan
CTNews Junkie article on the plan.
Commerce Committee Co-chair, Senator Gary LeBeau comments on the status of the
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Mayor Dan Malloy comments on the status of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
DECD General Counsel sent an email response to 1000 Friends' request saying, "DECD has not yet submitted anything, and therefore does not have a document responsive to your request. Simply put, we are late." The email was sent September 11th at 2:26 PM.
Govenor Rell's press release announcing the plan.
___________________________________________
September 4, 2009
Honorable M. Jodi Rell, Governor
Connecticut Office of the Governor
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Dear Governor Rell:
I am writing to request a copy, under the Freedom of Information Act, of the approximately 600-page document sent by the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Office of the Governor to meet the July 1, 2009 deadline for submission of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy referenced in Public Act 07-239 page 13 (11)(d). I also request copies of any communication between the Governor’s Office and the Department of Economic and Community Development pertaining to and subsequent to the Department’s submission.
Please send copies to me electronically at hegreen at 1000friends-ct dot org. Alternatively, I am happy to retrieve them from your staff. Please feel free to contact me on my cell phone at 203/715-3185. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Heidi Green, President
1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut
____________________________________________________________________________________
September 4, 2009
Ms. Joan McDonald, Commissioner
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Dear Commissioner McDonald:
I am writing to request a copy, under the Freedom of Information Act, of the approximately 600-page document sent by the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Office of the Governor to meet the July 1, 2009 deadline for submission of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy referenced in Public Act 07-239 page 13 (11)(d). I also request copies of any communication between the Governor’s Office and the Department of Economic and Community Development pertaining to and subsequent to the Department’s submission.
Please send copies to me electronically at hegreen@1000friends-ct.org. Alternatively, I am happy to retrieve them from your staff. Please feel free to contact me on my cell phone at 203/715-3185. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Heidi Green, President
1000 FRIENDS of Connecticut
CT's missing economic development strategic plan
CTNews Junkie article on the plan.
Commerce Committee Co-chair, Senator Gary LeBeau comments on the status of the
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Mayor Dan Malloy comments on the status of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
DECD General Counsel sent an email response to 1000 Friends' request saying, "DECD has not yet submitted anything, and therefore does not have a document responsive to your request. Simply put, we are late." The email was sent September 11th at 2:26 PM.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wining Suburban Redesigns
Reburbia announces the winners of its competition to redesign the suburbs!
The competition called for design solutions that would address the problems that plague present-day suburbia by envisioning different scenarios for the future. Proposals tackled McMansions, big box stores, strip malls, parking lots and more with design fixes ranging from community agriculture and algae-based biofuels to transplanted tract developments and zeppelin-based transit.
The competition drew 400 entries from more than a dozen countries, and while it was quite a challenge to narrow them down to twenty finalists, culling that list into just 4 winning entries proved almost impossible. In the end, there could only be one grand prize winner – read on to see the triumphant design!
The competition called for design solutions that would address the problems that plague present-day suburbia by envisioning different scenarios for the future. Proposals tackled McMansions, big box stores, strip malls, parking lots and more with design fixes ranging from community agriculture and algae-based biofuels to transplanted tract developments and zeppelin-based transit.
The competition drew 400 entries from more than a dozen countries, and while it was quite a challenge to narrow them down to twenty finalists, culling that list into just 4 winning entries proved almost impossible. In the end, there could only be one grand prize winner – read on to see the triumphant design!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Budget Follow Up
Governor Rell announced the end of the biennial budget battle. In an end-of-day press conference, she said she wouldn't sign the budget but she won't kill it either. In five days, it goes into effect. But, first, she nickeled and dimed a bit, using her line item veto to cut $8 Million of the $37 Billion in programs and services that managed to escape the chain saw of those seeking to clear-cut state government.
Until the budget implementer is approved, we won't know the full extent of the cuts to smart growth programs. We do know transit funding, regional planning organizations, housing programs, and Main Street programs all are impacted. We also know the Departments of Environmental Protection, Economic and Community Development and Transportation experienced significant losses of staff who chose to take early retirement.
The budget that passed will not propel the state forward through the economic downturn. It remains to be seen just how much sand the cuts and the debt it contains will throw into the gears of our recovery.
For today, please take time to thank the members of the House and Senate who voted for the budget. They protected us from deeper cuts. And they had the courage to infuse a little bit of much-needed progressivity into our state tax system.
If your Senator or Representative voted against the budget, please share your disappointment with them. The vote tally is here.
Until the budget implementer is approved, we won't know the full extent of the cuts to smart growth programs. We do know transit funding, regional planning organizations, housing programs, and Main Street programs all are impacted. We also know the Departments of Environmental Protection, Economic and Community Development and Transportation experienced significant losses of staff who chose to take early retirement.
The budget that passed will not propel the state forward through the economic downturn. It remains to be seen just how much sand the cuts and the debt it contains will throw into the gears of our recovery.
For today, please take time to thank the members of the House and Senate who voted for the budget. They protected us from deeper cuts. And they had the courage to infuse a little bit of much-needed progressivity into our state tax system.
If your Senator or Representative voted against the budget, please share your disappointment with them. The vote tally is here.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Driving and the Built Environment
The long awaited TRB report "Driving and the Built Environment: The Effects of Compact Development on Motorized Travel, Energy Use, and CO2 Emissions" was released today.
About the TRB Report
We’re excited that TRB took on the important work of examining the contribution that development patterns play in climate change and our energy usage, concluding that ‘policies that support more compact, mixed-use development and reinforce its ability to reduce VMT, energy use, and CO2 emissions should be encouraged.’ Since nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions and 70 percent of our oil use are from the transportation sector, we’re not going to be able to reach our climate and energy goals without reductions in vehicle miles traveled.
The report confirms what the dozens of studies before it showed, as well: that making our communities more walkable, connected, and with better transportation choices can make a significant dent in greenhouse gas emissions, oil usage, and vehicle miles traveled. And the report finds, as real world communities have, that the other benefits of moving to more smart growth-oriented development are significant: ‘More compact, mixed-use development should reduce some infrastructure costs, increase the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of public transit, and expand housing choices where compact developments are undersupplied. Other benefits include less conversion of agricultural and other environmentally fragile areas and greater opportunities for physical activity by facilitating the use of nonmotorized modes of travel, such as walking and bicycling.’
The report rightly concludes that increasing density levels in our communities isn’t the only answer, but that to best reduce vehicle miles traveled rates, we need a comprehensive solution. Research by University of Utah professor Reid Ewing, who reviewed more than 50 vehicle miles traveled studies for his book Growing Cooler made the same conclusion: residential and employment densities were actually less important as a determinant of VMT levels than other factors such as accessibility to jobs and other destinations. Additionally, having a mix of uses in communities (like housing near shops, etc.) and a well-designed street network with sidewalks are just as important as density levels to VMT reduction.
The important number in the report is the estimate that coupling more compact development with better street connectivity, public transportation improvements, and other complementary measures, would result in a 25 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled. That type of reduction would have a comparable level of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per increment of new development.
The Center for Clean Air Policy has done research showing that even with the progress we’ve made on fuel efficiency standards and low carbon fuels, a major factor driving the increasing levels of GHG emissions from the transportation sector are the inefficient, sprawling development patterns of many American communities. For example, the number of miles Americans drive has grown three times faster than the U.S. population since 1980. CCAP estimates that even with the higher fuel efficiency standards passed by Congress last year and a low carbon fuel standard implemented nationwide, projected vehicle miles traveled increases would still leave us far above our climate targets for the transportation sector by 2030.
The TRB report makes a conservative projection about the impact that development patterns can make on vehicle miles traveled and climate change emissions, but underestimates the popularity and potential of strategies to help people drive less, while accomplishing more in their daily lives. The average American spends 100 hours in their car every year just commuting to work alone, and spends nearly 20 percent of their household budget on transportation costs. Fifty percent of Americans lack access to regular, quality public transportation.
The report is right that change is never easy, but Americans are clamoring for more convenient, walkable neighborhoods that offer the opportunity to spend less time in their cars. A 2004 Survey by Smart Growth America and the National Association of Realtors showed that 6 in 10 prospective homebuyers chose walkable neighborhoods with less time spent driving. Transit ridership reached its highest level last year since the 1950’s. And with an aging population and more households without children, these trends towards living in places closer to downtowns and near public transportation, are only projected to increase in the future.
Finally, the report underestimates the data and real-world examples showing clearly that significant reductions in vehicle miles traveled result from better designed, more walkable communities with real transportation choices. More than 200 studies have been conducted in recent years on the connection between development patterns and vehicle miles traveled, and there are examples around the country of communities that have seen reductions in VMT, greenhouse gas emissions, and oil usage due to better community design. Here’s just a sampling:
· Portland has a 20 percent lower vehicle miles traveled per capita, due to its investment in walkable, compact neighborhoods and public transportation choices. At the same time, the city saves thee equivalent of $2.6 billion annually in gasoline and time because of these measures, according to a CEOs for Cities report.
· In Georgia, the Atlantic Station redevelopment project in Atlanta has 30 percent lower driving rates compared to surrounding developments.
· A Seattle study found that households located in the most interconnected areas of the city generated less than half the VMT of households located in the least-connected areas of the region, holding true after adjusting for household size, income, and vehicle ownership.
· A study in the Bay Area of California by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission found that for people who both live and work within a half-mile of a rail or ferry stop, 42 percent commute by transit. For those who neither work nor live near these transit stations, only 4 percent commute by transit.
· The Center for Neighborhood Technology has an analysis of the CO2 levels per acre and household for 55 regions. Looking at the CO2 per household figures for each of the regions clearly shows the dramatic difference between center cities and out-lying suburbs, due to increasing amounts of auto travel: http://htaindex.cnt.org
Additional critiques of the study
The study’s more ‘moderate’ scenarios, which estimate reductions of only 5-12 percent less driving in more compact development, are out of touch with the reality of how much less people drive in areas that are smart growth oriented, versus business as usual development. The study itself estimates that the average reductions that are possible through smart growth development is a reduction of 25 percent, and Growing Cooler (based on a meta-analysis of dozens of VMT studies) found an average of 20-40 percent VMT reductions in smart growth versus typical sprawl developments.
**********************************
Kate Rube
Policy Director
About the TRB Report
We’re excited that TRB took on the important work of examining the contribution that development patterns play in climate change and our energy usage, concluding that ‘policies that support more compact, mixed-use development and reinforce its ability to reduce VMT, energy use, and CO2 emissions should be encouraged.’ Since nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions and 70 percent of our oil use are from the transportation sector, we’re not going to be able to reach our climate and energy goals without reductions in vehicle miles traveled.
The report confirms what the dozens of studies before it showed, as well: that making our communities more walkable, connected, and with better transportation choices can make a significant dent in greenhouse gas emissions, oil usage, and vehicle miles traveled. And the report finds, as real world communities have, that the other benefits of moving to more smart growth-oriented development are significant: ‘More compact, mixed-use development should reduce some infrastructure costs, increase the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of public transit, and expand housing choices where compact developments are undersupplied. Other benefits include less conversion of agricultural and other environmentally fragile areas and greater opportunities for physical activity by facilitating the use of nonmotorized modes of travel, such as walking and bicycling.’
The report rightly concludes that increasing density levels in our communities isn’t the only answer, but that to best reduce vehicle miles traveled rates, we need a comprehensive solution. Research by University of Utah professor Reid Ewing, who reviewed more than 50 vehicle miles traveled studies for his book Growing Cooler made the same conclusion: residential and employment densities were actually less important as a determinant of VMT levels than other factors such as accessibility to jobs and other destinations. Additionally, having a mix of uses in communities (like housing near shops, etc.) and a well-designed street network with sidewalks are just as important as density levels to VMT reduction.
The important number in the report is the estimate that coupling more compact development with better street connectivity, public transportation improvements, and other complementary measures, would result in a 25 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled. That type of reduction would have a comparable level of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per increment of new development.
The Center for Clean Air Policy has done research showing that even with the progress we’ve made on fuel efficiency standards and low carbon fuels, a major factor driving the increasing levels of GHG emissions from the transportation sector are the inefficient, sprawling development patterns of many American communities. For example, the number of miles Americans drive has grown three times faster than the U.S. population since 1980. CCAP estimates that even with the higher fuel efficiency standards passed by Congress last year and a low carbon fuel standard implemented nationwide, projected vehicle miles traveled increases would still leave us far above our climate targets for the transportation sector by 2030.
The TRB report makes a conservative projection about the impact that development patterns can make on vehicle miles traveled and climate change emissions, but underestimates the popularity and potential of strategies to help people drive less, while accomplishing more in their daily lives. The average American spends 100 hours in their car every year just commuting to work alone, and spends nearly 20 percent of their household budget on transportation costs. Fifty percent of Americans lack access to regular, quality public transportation.
The report is right that change is never easy, but Americans are clamoring for more convenient, walkable neighborhoods that offer the opportunity to spend less time in their cars. A 2004 Survey by Smart Growth America and the National Association of Realtors showed that 6 in 10 prospective homebuyers chose walkable neighborhoods with less time spent driving. Transit ridership reached its highest level last year since the 1950’s. And with an aging population and more households without children, these trends towards living in places closer to downtowns and near public transportation, are only projected to increase in the future.
Finally, the report underestimates the data and real-world examples showing clearly that significant reductions in vehicle miles traveled result from better designed, more walkable communities with real transportation choices. More than 200 studies have been conducted in recent years on the connection between development patterns and vehicle miles traveled, and there are examples around the country of communities that have seen reductions in VMT, greenhouse gas emissions, and oil usage due to better community design. Here’s just a sampling:
· Portland has a 20 percent lower vehicle miles traveled per capita, due to its investment in walkable, compact neighborhoods and public transportation choices. At the same time, the city saves thee equivalent of $2.6 billion annually in gasoline and time because of these measures, according to a CEOs for Cities report.
· In Georgia, the Atlantic Station redevelopment project in Atlanta has 30 percent lower driving rates compared to surrounding developments.
· A Seattle study found that households located in the most interconnected areas of the city generated less than half the VMT of households located in the least-connected areas of the region, holding true after adjusting for household size, income, and vehicle ownership.
· A study in the Bay Area of California by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission found that for people who both live and work within a half-mile of a rail or ferry stop, 42 percent commute by transit. For those who neither work nor live near these transit stations, only 4 percent commute by transit.
· The Center for Neighborhood Technology has an analysis of the CO2 levels per acre and household for 55 regions. Looking at the CO2 per household figures for each of the regions clearly shows the dramatic difference between center cities and out-lying suburbs, due to increasing amounts of auto travel: http://htaindex.cnt.org
Additional critiques of the study
The study’s more ‘moderate’ scenarios, which estimate reductions of only 5-12 percent less driving in more compact development, are out of touch with the reality of how much less people drive in areas that are smart growth oriented, versus business as usual development. The study itself estimates that the average reductions that are possible through smart growth development is a reduction of 25 percent, and Growing Cooler (based on a meta-analysis of dozens of VMT studies) found an average of 20-40 percent VMT reductions in smart growth versus typical sprawl developments.
**********************************
Kate Rube
Policy Director
Budget Passes
The House and Senate passed the biennial budget last night. A quick review offers some, though little comfort. Municipalities fared generally better than had been expected, so the property tax impact will be smaller than we'd feared. Still the budget does little to address the structural deficit so we can look forward to an even more difficult budgeting process in 2012.
The budget bill and the vote tally for both the House and Senate are online.
An analysis of the bill is also available.
The budget bill and the vote tally for both the House and Senate are online.
An analysis of the bill is also available.
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