Sustainable Code: Climate Change

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Sustainable Code:

Climate Change

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OVERVIEW OF

PRESENTATION

• Climate Change And

Greenhouse Gases

• Zoning Codes And Control Of

Greenhouse Gases

• Reduce VMT/Encourage

alternative modes

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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

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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)

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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; 30-150%

increase projected by 2100.

• 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.

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CLIMATE CHANGE—THE ZONING

CONNECTION

Reduce Vehicle Miles

Traveled

–

Mixed-Use Zone Districts

–

Parking Controls

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CLIMATE CHANGE—THE ZONING

CONNECTION

Promote Alternative

Energy

--Solar

--Wind

--Hydro

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PROTECT/PLANT TREES

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Specimen trees

----

Tree canopy retention

----

Reforestation

CLIMATE CHANGE—THE ZONING

CONNECTION

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CLIMATE CHANGE:

Remove Barriers

Colorado Springs Mixed-Use Development Manual,

http://www.springsgov.com/units/plann ing/Currentproj/CompPlan/MixedUseD ev/I.pdf

Santa Cruz, CA – accessory dwelling unit program http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pl/hcd/ADU/adu.html. See Housing Affordability Section of Model Code for additional citations regarding accessory dwelling units.

State of Oregon urban growth boundary regulations.

http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/ruraldev.s html

See itreetools.org for tools for protecting trees and urban forests.

T. Litman, Parking Management Best Practices, American Planning Assn. 2006.

See Smart Code mixed-use (transect) districts at http://www.smartcodecentr 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

Require all single-family

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

Allow larger recycling facilities in appropriate industrial and commercial zone districts

Reduce parking requirements for mixed-use 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 small-scale wind turbines

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 mixed-use districts to reduce VMT

Permit small-scale recycling facilities in residential zone districts

Remove Obstacles Code Examples/Citations References/Commentary Gold (Best) Silver (Better) Bronze (Good)

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REDUCE VMT: REMOVE BARRIERS

• By-right mixed-use zone districts

(Smart Code; Colorado Springs,

CO)

• Tailor infill standards (parking,

landscaping, open space) (Franklin,

TN)

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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.)

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CLIMATE CHANGE:

CREATE INCENTIVES

Portland, OR, FAR bonuses for ecoroofs (City zoning code 33.510:

http://www.epa.gov/hi ri/resources/pdf/Ecor oofsandGreenCityStr ategies.pdf

Landscaping credit for preserving existing trees: http://www.colleyville. com/files/Ch.%2004 %20Landscaping%2 0and%20Buffering.p

Chesapeake Bay Program urban tree canopy program http://www.dnr.state.m d.us/forests/programs/ urban/urbantreecanopy goals.asp

For general information on permeable pavement, see http://www.epa.gov/ow ow/nps/pavements.pdf and http://www.en.wikipedi

Encourage low-energy maintenance landscaping by giving additional landscaping credit.

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

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

Create Incentives

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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)

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: CREATE

INCENTIVES

• Green Roof FAR Bonus (Portland,

OR) or Credit Towards Meeting

Commercial Design Standards

(Austin, TX, cool roofs)

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TREE PROTECTION: CREATE

INCENTIVES

Sustainable Plans and Development Codes

SUSTAINABLE CODE

• Preserved trees = extra

landscaping/buffering

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CLIMATE CHANGE:

ENACT STANDARDS

Boulder, Colorado, Solar Access Regulations, http:/ www.bouldercolorad o.gov/files/PDS/code s/solrshad.pdf.

Maryland Forest Conservation Act/Regulations: http://www.dnr.state. md.us/forests/progra mapps/newFCA.asp

Franklin, TN, connectivity 5.10.4) and tree protection

American Planning Assn. PAS Report 446, Tree Conservation Ordinances. Carbon offset measurement methodology, see Forest Guardians Carbon Offfset Program Description: http://www.fguardians. org/support_docs/doc ument_carbon- calculation-methodology_2-07.pdf

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

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

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