Geog 350 Natural Resource Management Tool Presentation:Geog 350 Natural Resource Management Tool Presentation:

Smart GrowthSmart GrowthIn an Environmental ContextIn an Environmental Context

By Peter DaleBy Peter DaleGeog. 350Geog. 350

Don AlexanderDon Alexander

BackgroundBackground

Smart Growth developed as a response to the Smart Growth developed as a response to the noticeable negative effects of the Modernist noticeable negative effects of the Modernist planning movement of the early to mid 20planning movement of the early to mid 20thth century. century.

The major effects of Modernism were:The major effects of Modernism were:

- Discontinuity of social communitiesDiscontinuity of social communities

- Spending money wastefully on Spending money wastefully on unnecessary infrastructure and unnecessary infrastructure and developmentdevelopment

- - AND -AND -

Background Cont’d.Background Cont’d.

SPRAWLSPRAWL

Los Angeles, California. Source: www.photodiary.orgLos Angeles, California. Source: www.photodiary.org

PurposePurpose

Smart Growth aims to accomplish 3 things:Smart Growth aims to accomplish 3 things:

- Enhance people’s lives- Enhance people’s lives

- Spend development money wisely- Spend development money wisely

- Preserve and protect the - Preserve and protect the natural environmentnatural environment

PrinciplesPrinciples

Smart Growth consists of 10 principles which are usually Smart Growth consists of 10 principles which are usually worded slightly differently by separate advocates, but worded slightly differently by separate advocates, but hold the same meaning. They are:hold the same meaning. They are:

1. Mix land uses.1. Mix land uses.2. Well-designed compact neighbourhoods.2. Well-designed compact neighbourhoods.3. Variety of transportation options.3. Variety of transportation options.4. Diverse housing opportunities.4. Diverse housing opportunities.5. Encourage growth in existing communities.5. Encourage growth in existing communities.6. Preserve open spaces, natural beauty, and 6. Preserve open spaces, natural beauty, and environmentally sensitive areas.environmentally sensitive areas.7. Protect and enhance agricultural areas.7. Protect and enhance agricultural areas.8. Use smarter, cheaper infrastructure and green buildings.8. Use smarter, cheaper infrastructure and green buildings.9. Foster a unique neighbourhood identity.9. Foster a unique neighbourhood identity.10. Nurture engaged citizens.10. Nurture engaged citizens.

Environmental ContextEnvironmental Context

Smart Growth places much emphasis on environmental Smart Growth places much emphasis on environmental issues. Many concepts have been developed to combatissues. Many concepts have been developed to combatenvironmental damage, each supplying their own benefits. environmental damage, each supplying their own benefits. They include:They include:

Compact CommunitiesCompact Communities

-Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lessening Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lessening the necessity to travel by automobile the necessity to travel by automobile

-Reduces encroachment on agricultural land andReduces encroachment on agricultural land andother sensitive areas and ecosystemsother sensitive areas and ecosystems

Environmental Cont’d.Environmental Cont’d.

Preserving Agricultural LandsPreserving Agricultural Lands

-Agricultural Land Reserve – established in Agricultural Land Reserve – established in the earlythe early1970s, designating certain areas as prime 1970s, designating certain areas as prime areasareasfor agricultural production, restricting for agricultural production, restricting developmentdevelopment

-Farm Practices Protection Act – Farmers Farm Practices Protection Act – Farmers have a have a ‘‘right to farm’ under normal farm practices, right to farm’ under normal farm practices, leavingleavingthem immune to lawsuits from encroaching them immune to lawsuits from encroaching urbanitesurbanites

Source: www.smartgrowth.bc.caSource: www.smartgrowth.bc.ca

Environment Cont’d.Environment Cont’d.

TransportationTransportation

-Municipal and Regional level transportation plans Municipal and Regional level transportation plans that include:that include:

- transit priority on roads, through bus lanes, - transit priority on roads, through bus lanes, bus shelters, etc.bus shelters, etc.

- cycling/pedestrian friendly infrastructure- cycling/pedestrian friendly infrastructure

- better parking management acting as - better parking management acting as deterrents to driving, like pay parking or privatedeterrents to driving, like pay parking or privateparkingparking

Translink Bus. Translink Bus. Source: www.richmond.caSource: www.richmond.ca

Environment Cont’d.Environment Cont’d.

Planning TechniquesPlanning Techniques

-OCPs, Regional Plans, zoningOCPs, Regional Plans, zoning

-Guidelines in these plans likeGuidelines in these plans likesetbacks, covenants, and minimumsetbacks, covenants, and minimumlot sizelot size

-Financial incentives to developersFinancial incentives to developersto incorporate environmentally to incorporate environmentally friendly featuresfriendly features

Alternative Development StandardsAlternative Development Standards

-A better focus on peoples’ daily needs A better focus on peoples’ daily needs without the heavy impact on the without the heavy impact on the environment (better designed community)environment (better designed community)

Source: www.cvrd.bc.caSource: www.cvrd.bc.ca

Environment Cont’d.Environment Cont’d.

Construction/Engineering TechniquesConstruction/Engineering Techniques

-Permeable surface instead of hardtopPermeable surface instead of hardtop

- Better handling of stormwater; use of rainwater- Better handling of stormwater; use of rainwateras a resourceas a resource

-Better building site standards, situating away fromBetter building site standards, situating away fromsensitive areas and unstable terrainsensitive areas and unstable terrain

Environment Cont’d.Environment Cont’d.

- Waste control methods that - Waste control methods that reduce risk of contaminationreduce risk of contaminationto drinking water supply to drinking water supply (groundwater and surface (groundwater and surface water)water)

- More greenspace, parks, - More greenspace, parks, and conservation areas to and conservation areas to protectprotectecosystems and speciesecosystems and species

This 15-unit per acre development plan emphasizes environmental considerations by This 15-unit per acre development plan emphasizes environmental considerations by creating numerous walkways, much greenspace, and rain gardens which absorb as much creating numerous walkways, much greenspace, and rain gardens which absorb as much rain water as possiblerain water as possible. Source: Kollin, C. (2005). Building Greener, Building Smarter. . Source: Kollin, C. (2005). Building Greener, Building Smarter. American Forests,American Forests, 111(1), 7-10. 111(1), 7-10.

ApplicationsApplications

- Maryland - 1997 adoption of Smart Growth - Maryland - 1997 adoption of Smart Growth principles including establishing a Priority Funding principles including establishing a Priority Funding Areas (similar to urban containment boundaries)Areas (similar to urban containment boundaries)

- Smart Growth BC – non-profit organization formed - Smart Growth BC – non-profit organization formed in 1999 that works with many groups to provide resources in 1999 that works with many groups to provide resources and promote Smart Growth Initiativesand promote Smart Growth Initiatives

- The Smart Growth Network (U.S.) – 35 coalitions- The Smart Growth Network (U.S.) – 35 coalitionsand government agencies that promote Smart Growthand government agencies that promote Smart Growththroughout the U.S.throughout the U.S.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

What are the most pressing issues in Nanaimo right now What are the most pressing issues in Nanaimo right now that Smart Growth could help solve and how?that Smart Growth could help solve and how?

ReferencesReferences Smart Growth BC. (n.d.) Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://smartgrowth.bc.ca/Smart Growth BC. (n.d.) Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://smartgrowth.bc.ca/

Smart Growth Network. (2004). Smart Growth Online. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from Smart Growth Network. (2004). Smart Growth Online. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from http://www.smartgrowth.org/default.asphttp://www.smartgrowth.org/default.asp

Tregoning, H., Agyeman, J., & Shenot, C. (2002). Sprawl, Smart Growth and Sustainability. Local Environment, Tregoning, H., Agyeman, J., & Shenot, C. (2002). Sprawl, Smart Growth and Sustainability. Local Environment, 7(4), p. 341-3477(4), p. 341-347

Salkin, P. E. (2007). Squaring the Circle on Sprawl: What More Can We Do? Progress Toward Sustainable Land Salkin, P. E. (2007). Squaring the Circle on Sprawl: What More Can We Do? Progress Toward Sustainable Land Use in The States. Widener Law Journal, 16(3), p. 787-837Use in The States. Widener Law Journal, 16(3), p. 787-837

Kollin, C. (2005). Building Greener, Building Smarter. Kollin, C. (2005). Building Greener, Building Smarter. American Forests,American Forests, 111(1), 7-10. 111(1), 7-10.

Ontario Smart Growth Network (2006)Ontario Smart Growth Network (2006)http://www.smartgrowth.on.ca/http://www.smartgrowth.on.ca/

Maryland Department of Planning (n.d.)Maryland Department of Planning (n.d.)http://www.mdp.state.md.us/smartintro.htmhttp://www.mdp.state.md.us/smartintro.htm

Smart Canada Network (2007)Smart Canada Network (2007)http://www.smartgrowth.ca/http://www.smartgrowth.ca/

American Planning Association (2006)American Planning Association (2006)http://www.planning.orghttp://www.planning.org