Post on 16-Oct-2021
Choosing Our Community’s Future
Choosing Our Choosing Our
Community’s FutureCommunity’s Future
A Citizen’s Guide to Getting the A Citizen’s Guide to Getting the
Most out of DevelopmentMost out of Development
Rail-Volution Tool Box SessionSept. 9, 2005Presented by:David Goldberg, Communications DirectorSmart Growth America
Lisa Nisenson, YIMBYU.S. Neighborhood Protection Agency
Why this guidebook?Why this guidebook?Why this guidebook?
Communities can be Communities can be
shaped by choice, or shaped by choice, or
they can be shaped by they can be shaped by
chance. We can keep on chance. We can keep on
accepting the kind of accepting the kind of
communities we get, or communities we get, or
we can start creating the we can start creating the
kind of communities we kind of communities we
want. want. —— Richard Moe, Richard Moe,
National Trust for National Trust for
Historic PreservationHistoric Preservation
Why this guidebook?Why this guidebook?Why this guidebook?
The surest way to create The surest way to create
neighborhoods, towns and metro neighborhoods, towns and metro
areas worthy of passing on to our areas worthy of passing on to our
children is to engage the full, children is to engage the full,
informed participation of the people informed participation of the people
who live in them.who live in them.
It is our hope that, by leveling the playing It is our hope that, by leveling the playing
field for citizens even a little bit, we can field for citizens even a little bit, we can
help make planning and development help make planning and development
more collaborative and less adversarial.more collaborative and less adversarial.
Why this guidebook?Why this guidebook?
Help for citizens on:Help for citizens on:Help for citizens on:
•• BigBig--box developmentsbox developments
•• InfillInfill
•• Mixed useMixed use
•• Mixed housing typesMixed housing types
•• RedevelopmentRedevelopment
•• Greenfield developmentGreenfield development
•• Community planningCommunity planning
What citizens say they wantWhat citizens say they wantWhat citizens say they want
•• A seat at the table for everyone with A seat at the table for everyone with
a stake in the community.a stake in the community.
•• Plentiful choices among safe, Plentiful choices among safe,
convenient and attractive convenient and attractive
neighborhoods.neighborhoods.
•• Ready access to jobs, daily Ready access to jobs, daily
necessities and fun, with less time in necessities and fun, with less time in
traffic.traffic.
What citizens say they wantWhat citizens say they wantWhat citizens say they want
•• Thriving cities, suburbs and towns. Thriving cities, suburbs and towns.
(Fix it first, invest where we live.)(Fix it first, invest where we live.)
•• Preserving what’s best about the Preserving what’s best about the
places we live.places we live.
•• Lower personal costs and efficient Lower personal costs and efficient
use of tax money.use of tax money.
•• A shot at the America dream of A shot at the America dream of
opportunity for all.opportunity for all.
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Make development Make development decisions decisions predictable, fair predictable, fair and cost effective.and cost effective.
Fair to:Fair to:
CitizensCitizens
DevelopersDevelopers
Public officialsPublic officials
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Create a range of housing opportunities and Create a range of housing opportunities and
choiceschoices
The Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Provide a variety of Provide a variety of
transportation transportation
options.options.
Light rail in Denver
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Strengthen existing communities and steer Strengthen existing communities and steer
development toward them.development toward them.
Riverfront redevelopment in Providence, RI
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Preserve natural Preserve natural
beauty, parks, beauty, parks,
farmland and farmland and
environmentally environmentally
critical areas.critical areas.
Barton Springs, Austin, TX
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Create complete Create complete
neighborhoods neighborhoods
where daily need where daily need
are close at are close at
hand.hand.
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Create a safe, Create a safe,
inviting inviting
environment environment
for walking.for walking.
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Foster distinctive Foster distinctive
communities communities
with a strong with a strong
sense of place.sense of place.
New town centerSmyrna, GA
Key Principles for Managing Change
Key Principles Key Principles
for Managing Changefor Managing Change
Make efficient use Make efficient use
of public of public
investments in investments in
infrastructure, infrastructure,
schools and schools and
services.services.
Chapter 2. A citizen’s intro to planning
Chapter 2. A citizen’s Chapter 2. A citizen’s
intro to planningintro to planning
•• Steps in the P&Z processSteps in the P&Z process
•• Zoning and development Zoning and development regsregs
•• Key players and their rolesKey players and their roles
•• Understanding developersUnderstanding developers
•• Key questions to get answeredKey questions to get answered
•• What to say in your 2 minutesWhat to say in your 2 minutes
Chapter 3. Evaluating potential impacts of development
Chapter 3. Evaluating Chapter 3. Evaluating potential potential
impacts of developmentimpacts of development
•• Evaluating density Evaluating density
(gross, net, FAR, (gross, net, FAR,
benefits of, key ?s)benefits of, key ?s)
•• Assessing traffic impacts Assessing traffic impacts
(real (real vsvs. feared, . feared,
mitigating, parking and)mitigating, parking and)
•• Impacts of big box Impacts of big box
centerscenters
“Given the poor
planning
associated with
much recent
development,
many people
have a rational
suspicion of new
projects.”
Chapter 3. Evaluating potential impacts of development
Chapter 3. Evaluating potential Chapter 3. Evaluating potential
impacts of developmentimpacts of development
•• Rental and affordable housingRental and affordable housing
(design solutions, economic and (design solutions, economic and
traffic considerations)traffic considerations)
•• Security and safety (eyes on the Security and safety (eyes on the
street, calm streets, etc.)street, calm streets, etc.)
•• Property values and market Property values and market
demanddemand
Chapter 4. Gauging the enviro impact of development
Chapter 4. Gauging the Chapter 4. Gauging the enviro enviro
impact of developmentimpact of development
•• Using, not abusing, Using, not abusing, enviro enviro lawslaws
•• Growth and air quality (air facts, Growth and air quality (air facts,
checking impacts of development)checking impacts of development)
•• Water quality, Water quality, stormwaterstormwater mgmt.mgmt.
•• Natural areas and endangered species Natural areas and endangered species
(pertinent (pertinent regsregs, strategic conservation, , strategic conservation,
techniques)techniques)
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• Case studies in which readers can Case studies in which readers can
see themselves and their own see themselves and their own
situationssituations
•• Lessons on constructive Lessons on constructive
engagement that brings benefit to engagement that brings benefit to
the communitythe community
•• CharettesCharettes, how they work, and an , how they work, and an
example of success example of success
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
Atlantic Station,Atlantic Station,
Atlanta, GAAtlanta, GA
•• BrownfieldBrownfield
•• Adjacent to Adjacent to
singlesingle--family family
neighborhoodneighborhood
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
Atlantic Station,Atlantic Station,
Atlanta, GAAtlanta, GA
•• BrownfieldBrownfield
•• Adjacent to Adjacent to singlesingle--family family neighborhoodneighborhood
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• The The I’On I’On
storystory
Making it legal to Making it legal to
build build
Charleston in Charleston in
metro metro
CharlestonCharleston
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• The The I’On I’On
storystory
Making it legal to Making it legal to
build build
Charleston in Charleston in
metro metro
CharlestonCharleston
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• Pleasant Hill BART TOD planPleasant Hill BART TOD plan
How airing concerns in a How airing concerns in a charette charette
created a better plancreated a better plan
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• Envision UtahEnvision Utah
When the metro region is your When the metro region is your
neighborhoodneighborhood
Chapter 5. True stories from the development front
Chapter 5. True stories from Chapter 5. True stories from
the development frontthe development front
•• Envision UtahEnvision Utah
When the metro region is your When the metro region is your
neighborhoodneighborhood
Chapater 6. Lessons from local heroes
Chapater Chapater 6. Lessons from 6. Lessons from
local heroeslocal heroes
•• ProfilesProfiles of of
citizens who citizens who
engaged engaged
“In my opinion everybody
is a NIMBY. None of us
likes change. The solution
is master planning as a
community. Predictability
greatly reduces fear and
opposition.”
Kay Beynart
If being called NIMBYdrives you BANANAs, just say …
Might
Accept
You if
Bargained
Effectively
M A Y B E !
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