Changing Environments to promote better Public Health February 8, 2007 Robert S. Ogilvie PhD...

Changing Environments to promote better Public Health

February 8, 2007

Robert S. Ogilvie PhD

Oakland, CA 11/22/08

What can you do make your community healthier?

Local Government Powers that influence the Built Environment

Local Land Use Plans (general or comprehensive plans)

Implementing Local Land Use Plans

Zoning

Conditional Use

Specific Plans

Development Review

Economic Development and Redevelopment

Local Land Use Plans

General or comprehensive plans

A “blueprint” to guide local land use decisions

Covers a 20-30 year time period

SHOULD INCLUDE health supporting goals and policies

Zoning

Zoning ordinances commonly include designations for:

• Public

• Open Space

• Agricultural

• Residential

• Commercial

• Industrial

• Mixed Use

Zoning and Public Health

Zoning is the most fundamental regulatory tool cities and counties use to shape land use and the built environment. As such, it is a key strategy for enhancing community health and livability.

Zoning ordinances can:

• Help ensure residences are within walking distance from destinations such as parks, transit stops, schools, and grocery stores

• Influence where farmers’ markets, community gardens, and grocery stores are located

• Restrict locations of fast-food and other unhealthy businesses

• Protect communities from pollution and other health hazards

Fast Food Availability and MarketingZoning Ordinances can:

Limiting the number or concentration of “formula” restaurants

Ban or limit drive-through food outlets throughout jurisdiction, or within certain geographic areas (e.g., around schools)

Identify fast-food restaurants, liquor, and convenience stores as “conditional uses” only; instate conditional use review upon lease renewal or at point of business sale

FOR LEASE

Fast Food Availability and Marketing

Zoning ordinances:

Can take time to have an affect on the neighborhood environment if existing businesses are “grandfathered”

Example: Fast food moratorium in South Los Angeles

One way to affect existing businesses:

A “deemed approved” ordinance: local government can revoke the business licenses if the business is not operating in a way that upholds community health, safety, and welfare

Design GuidelinesDesign guidelines for specific zones Design guidelines for specific sites

Access to and Availability of Healthy Foods

Identify grocery store development as a priority in Redevelopment Plans

Help with location and expansion, and streamlining fees and permitting processes for urban food retail

Utilizing redevelopment, development agreements, and other mechanisms to create economic development opportunities for food retail development

Utilize available incentives and economic development assistance, such as assistance with site location and other expenses (signage, facades, refrigeration, etc)

Source: http://flickr.com/photos/pushshove/11696665/

Other Sources of Healthy Food : Working with small stores and “corner stores”

Advocate for local resources and assistance for small stores to be sources of healthy food

www.healthycornerstores.org – New Resource!!

Voluntary Policies - Work with stores to: Reduce amount of unhealthy advertising & POP

Clear checkout lanes of candy, gum, and other unhealthy foods

Place high-sugar breakfast cereal on shelves above children's eye level

Use colorful displays of fruits and vegetables

Participate in programs such as '5-a-Day' or 'Champions for Change'

Offer recipes for quick and healthy meals

Offer samples of fruits and vegetables

Visibly post price information*

* Covered by consumer protection laws

Family-friendly/healthy store policies

What do Redevelopment Agencies do?

1. Tax increment financing*

2. Land assembly (eminent domain)

3. Improve blighted conditions

4. Master planning authority

5. Mobilize other public funds to incentivize neighborhood revitalization

*Note: the budget of the Redevelopment Agency is separate from the city/county budget

Fighting Blight through Redevelopment

There are two types of blight according to California redevelopment law:

1.physical blight

2.economic blight

Physical blight defined

Buildings that are unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work.

Economic blight defined

Serious residential overcrowding ... An excess of bars, liquor stores, or adult-oriented businesses that has resulted in significant public health, safety, or welfare problems.

A high crime rate that constitutes a serious threat to the public safety and welfare.

creating political momentum for change

Consider potential motivators: Tax revenue Job creation Quality of life Business development Blight removal

Participate in public engagement processes

Pulling the “Built Environment Policy Levers”

There are many opportunities for public comment

Teach what you’ve learned here today – there is a connection between land use and economic development decisions and healthy communities

Help your clients and patients think about their communities differently

You don’t need to become a planner to have input in the process

Personal stories are very powerful – help your clients and patients tell theirs

Contact us:

Planning for Healthy Places

Public Health Law & Policy

(510) 302-3308

info@healthyplanning.org

www.healthyplanning.org