Sustainable Code: Climate Change

Transcription

1 Sustainable Code: Climate Change

2 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION Climate Change And Greenhouse Gases Zoning Codes And Control Of Greenhouse Gases Reduce VMT/Encourage alternative modes Promote Alternative Energy And Energy Conservation Protect Trees

3 CLIMATE CHANGE: BACKGROUND Greenhouse gases and global warming What is a greenhouse gas? Mounting evidence of climate change --9 warmest years in century in last 14 --Loss of artic sea ice --Melting of glaciers

4 CLIMATE CHANGE: Pennsylvania and New Jersey 4 degree increase by 2100 Major increase in rain (esp. fall) and potential flooding More hot summer days Retreat of northern forest species (birch/maple) Drier summers = fewer forests and more savannah Two-Mile Run wetlands, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Pine Barrens threatened

5 CLIMATE CHANGE: Greenhouse Gas Facts U.S. has 4% of world population and 25% of greenhouse gas emissions CO2 has increased by 20% since 1990; % increase projected by Burning fossil fuels = 80% of CO2 emissions. 48% VMT increase projected by 2030 Residents of compact regions = 25% less driving than sprawl regions. 70 trees offset CO2 emissions from 1 car Trees sequester 15% of CO2 emissions in U.S.

6 CLIMATE CHANGE THE ZONING CONNECTION Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled Mixed-Use Zone Districts Parking Controls Pedestrian Connectivity

7 CLIMATE CHANGE THE ZONING CONNECTION Promote Alternative Energy --Solar --Wind --Hydro

8 CLIMATE CHANGE THE ZONING CONNECTION PROTECT/PLANT TREES --Specimen trees --Tree canopy retention --Reforestation

9 CLIMATE CHANGE: Remove Barriers Bronze (Good) Silver (Better) Gold (Best) References/Commentary Code Examples/Citations Remove Obstacles Allow mixed-use development by right in selected zone districts Permit solar and small wind turbines by right in selected zone districts (See Renewable Energy Section (solar access and wind power) of Model Code for citations.) Allow accessory units and live/work units by right in residential zone districts Allow live-work units in commercial and mixeduse districts to reduce VMT Permit small-scale recycling facilities in residential zone districts Allow larger recycling facilities in appropriate industrial and commercial zone districts Reduce parking requirements for mixeduse developments/in mixed-use districts Tailor development standards (e.g., landscaping, open space, parking) to encourage infill and mixed-use development fencing) Reduce overly restrict height/setback requirements for smallscale wind turbines Require all singlefamily developments to include minimum % of accessory units Prohibit single-use developments/buildi ngs in commercial zone districts (e.g., downtown) Prohibit urban level development (e.g., more than 1 unit/acre) outside defined urban service areas See itreetools.org for tools for protecting trees and urban forests. T. Litman, Parking Management Best Practices, American Planning Assn See Smart Code mixeduse (transect) districts at al.org/ US Department of Energy methodology for calculating carbon sequestration by trees: ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oia f/1605/cdrom/pdf/sequester.pdf Colorado Springs Mixed-Use Development Manual, ing/currentproj/compplan/mixedused ev/i.pdf Santa Cruz, CA accessory dwelling unit program See Housing Affordability Section of Model Code for additional citations regarding accessory dwelling units. State of Oregon urban growth boundary regulations. html

10 REDUCE VMT: REMOVE BARRIERS By-right mixed-use zone districts (Smart Code; Colorado Springs, CO) Tailor infill standards (parking, landscaping, open space) (Franklin, TN)

11 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: REMOVE BARRIERS By-right solar panels/arrays (Garfield County, CO) Allow small-scale wind --Duluth, MN (by-right/sup) --Anchorage, AK (setbacks, noise, etc.)

12 CLIMATE CHANGE: CREATE INCENTIVES Create Incentives Offer density/height bonuses for green roofs Give bonus points for green/cool roofs in commercial design standard point systems Allow and encourage shared parking arrangements Give priority parking for vans, hybrid vehicles in parking standards Give increased landscaping credit for preserving existing trees Reduce transportation impact fees for mixed-use and infill projects to reflect lower traffic generation Create density bonus and expedited processing incentives for infill and mixed-use developments Allow green roofs to qualify for open space credits Offer height increases, density bonuses, and flexibility regarding non-conforming use regulations for projects that remove impermeable surfaces from existing developments or reduce during redevelopment or use permeable pavement Encourage low-energy maintenance landscaping by giving additional landscaping credit. Chesapeake Bay Program urban tree canopy program d.us/forests/programs/ urban/urbantreecanopy goals.asp For general information on permeable pavement, see ow/nps/pavements.pdf and a.org/wiki/permeable_p aving Portland, OR, FAR bonuses for ecoroofs (City zoning code : ri/resources/pdf/ecor oofsandgreencitystr ategies.pdf Landscaping credit for preserving existing trees: com/files/ch.%2004 %20Landscaping%2 0and%20Buffering.p df; Austin, Texas, Development Code: Subchapter E: Design Standards and Mixed-Use, available online at x.us/development/do wnloads/final.pdf

13 VMT: Create Incentives Reduce parking requirements for mixed-use developments (Colorado Springs, CO; Orange County, FL) Priority parking for vans, alternative fuel vehicles (Santa Monica, CA)

14 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: CREATE INCENTIVES Green Roof FAR Bonus (Portland, OR) or Credit Towards Meeting Commercial Design Standards (Austin, TX, cool roofs) Green Roof counts toward open space (Orange County, FL; Abu Dhabi)

15 TREE PROTECTION: CREATE INCENTIVES Preserved trees = extra landscaping/buffering credit (Colleyville, TX)

16 CLIMATE CHANGE: ENACT STANDARDS Enact Standards Require sidewalks in all developments and connections with adjacent sites Adopt historic preservation standards to protect existing structures (and energy they represent) Limit trees on southern sides of buildings in northern climates to preserve solar access Adopt regulations to protect larger trees Require provision of bicycle racks in all multifamily and commercial developments Require replacement of all trees removed during development on an inch/inch diameter basis or contribution to offsite tree fund Enact minimum density/intensity standards to encourage compact development Adopt pedestrian connectivity standards to reduce vehicle use Enact solar access ordinance (See Renewable Energy/solar access section.) Require bicycle fleets for all hotels, resorts Limit number of garages allowed on each residential lot (1-2 vs. 3-4) Limit impermeable surface areas and require use of permeable pavement in appropriate areas Require green roofs on all commercial and multifamily developments. Enact limitations on house size Adopt minimum reforestation requirements for sites without vegetation. Establish mandatory carbon budgets/limits for new developments and offsets/impact fees Require minimum % of homes in subdivisions to be oriented for passive solar access (on an east/west axis) (See Renewable Energy/solar access section.) Require outdoor signage to be turned off when business is closed Require new developments to be carbon neutral American Planning Assn. PAS Report 446, Tree Conservation Ordinances. Carbon offset measurement methodology, see Forest Guardians Carbon Offfset Program Description: org/support_docs/doc ument_carboncalculationmethodology_2-07.pdf U.S. Green Building Council, LEED for Neighborhood Rating System (See Green Construction and Technology chapter.), available online at DisplayPage.aspx?C MSPageID=222 Boulder, Colorado, Solar Access Regulations, o.gov/files/pds/code s/solrshad.pdf. Maryland Forest Conservation Act/Regulations: md.us/forests/progra mapps/newfca.asp Franklin, TN, connectivity ) and tree protection regulations (5.3): Bicycle Level of Service Standards: Florida DOT: Fort Collins, CO, minimum density requirements in medium-density mixed-use zone district:

17 VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED: ENACT STANDARDS Minimum density (Fort Collins, CO) Parking maximums (Redmond, WA; Helena, MT (Connectivity requirements (Franklin, TN; FL DOT Polygon approach) Reference: Growing Cooler: Urban Development and Climate Change (ULI/Smart Growth America)

18 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: ENACT STANDARDS Require % of lots to be solar oriented (Multnomah County, OR) Require % of homes to have wind/solar or be solar ready (LEED- ND)

19 TREE PROTECTION: ENACT STANDARDS Protect specimen trees/replace (Washington, D.C.; Clayton, MO) Preserve minimum % of canopy (Fairfax County, VA; Franklin, TN) Reforestation requirements (MD Conservation Act) References: --APA Tree Conservation Ordinance PAS Report #446; --Municipal Tree Commission Guide, PA Forestry Assn.

20 QUESTIONS