Planning the Evolution of Our Suburbs

1. M Urban Design Planning the Evolution of Our Suburbs Tuesdays at APA Chicago Mahender Vasandani President March 16, 2010

2. M Urban Design • What I Will Talk About: • Where Are We Today in Terms of Regional Growth? • The Implications of the “Big Challenges” for the Suburbs • Why the Suburbs May Need to Evolve? • Any Preferred Growth Options? • What Can We Learn from the Cities? • New Urbanism Offers Some Key Answers • Specific NU Examples Suitable For Suburbs • Overview of Form-Based Codes • Can the Suburbs Stop Resisting Change? • Q & A 2

3. M Urban Design Chicago’s Outlying Suburbs 3

4. M Urban Design Where Are We Today? • Acknowledgement: Ours Is A Suburban Nation • From 1950 to 2000: 90% of metropolitan growth in the Suburbs • By 2000: • 60% of metro jobs in the Suburbs • Suburb-to-Suburb job commutes 2X Suburb-City commutes • From 1970 to 2000: • Total Housing Units Increased 9% • Suburban Housing Units Increased Almost 100% • Question: • Is This All Good or All Bad? Is this growth pattern sustainable? 4

5. vs. The “Leinbergers” The “Kotkins” M Urban Design Implications for the Future Response Depends on One’s Perspective on the Age-Old Debate: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-kotkin6-2008jul06,0,1038461.story 5

6. M Urban Design For Their Survival, Suburbs Will Need to Evolve • Economic Challenges: • Housing Over-Supply • Commercial Oversupply • Implications: Limited/Slow Short-term Growth Potential; Extended Growth Time-lines • 2. Energy Security/Climate-Change Challenges: • Over-dependence on high-carbon fossil fuels/GHG Emissions • Over-dependence on cars as sole form of mobility • Implications/Policy Questions: ”Re-Order” Growth Patterns? Reduce Total Car Travel? New Mobility Technologies? • 3. Urban FormChallenges: • Sprawling growth patterns energy-intensive • Community character issues Implications: Better Urban From and Character Necessary 6

7. Chicago Metro: Over 100 Years of Growth 2020 2030 2040 2010 Source: M Urban Design “Re-Order” Regional Growth Patterns (Climate and Urban Form Challenges) • Past growth => Slow Future Evolution • Past Recommendations: • Create Growth Boundaries/ • Stop Suburbanization • Limit Infrastructure Spending • No real BOLD planning considerations (notwithstanding the legacy) • “Re-ordering” Virtually Impossible for Historical / Political Reasons • New Regional Policies Necessary • Most New Strategies Possible at Local Level – If Suburbs Take the Challenge 7 Benefits Time-Scale

8. M Urban Design Reduce Total Vehicle Miles Traveled (Climate and Urban Form Challenges) • Regional Policies • Reduce Total Miles of Travel • Trip-length shortening not as beneficial as cutting down on number of trips • - Joe Cortright, Impresa Consulting for “CEOs for Cities” • California SB 375 Example (did not include VMT reduction as a goal) • Extend Transit Service to Outlying Suburban Communities • Local Strategies • Encourage Higher Density Living • Encourage Live-Work Units • Encourage People to Live Close to Work • Build TODs • Avoid Car Trips 8 2020 2030 2040 2010 Benefits Time-Scale

9. M Urban Design New Mobility Technology Considerations New Alternative Fuels; Zero-Emission Vehicle Technologies My Crystal Ball ?! ”Since VMT are not projected to decrease significantly in the near or long-term in the Chicago region, CMAP’s strategies to promote alternative fuels are important to help save energy and mitigate GHG and other pollutants” – Volpe Center, U.S. DOT -- October 2008 Action Strategy Paper on Climate Change and Energy • In Another Generation: • NMT use wide-spread • Less serious concern with GHG • emissions/pollution?? • 3. Little change in locational decisions • More cars on limited capacity roads • More Traffic Congestion • More Need For Walkable Mixed-use • Communities With Transit Options: • WHY Local Strategies Will Matter NMT Evolution (in recent times)! Toyota FCHV in 2015 “Shockingly Low Price” -Toyota Motors www.autobloggreen.com July 20, 2009 article Honda FCX Clarity: 2009 9 2020 2030 2040 2010 Benefits Time-Scale

10. M Urban Design Local Strategies: Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism • New Urbanism: A 20+ year old Planning and Urban Design Discipline • NU learns from the virtues of existing and past cities. • NU helps create: • Compact, Connected, Walkable, Diverse Neighborhoods with Mixed-Uses • Quality Public Realm and High Quality of Life • Distinct Transportation Solutions • New Codes and Tools for Implementation Examples from City of Chicago: Neighborhoods and Boulevards 10

11. M Urban Design NU Principles for Suburban Neighborhoods (Local Strategies) • Create Inter-connected Street Networks Between Neighborhoods • Create Neighborhoods with Mixed-Uses Centers within Walking Distance of Most Residents • Locate Neighborhood Centers with Exposure and Access to Major Arterials • Allow A Variety of Residential Types • Allow Moderately High Densities • Focus on Urban Design along with Land-use, Transportation, Finances and Services • Create Hierarchy of Streets/Reflected in Urban From • Create Quality Places • Evolve as a Suburban Community…Become More Urban – “New Urban” 11

12. M Urban Design NU Principles for Roadway and Context Design (Local Strategies) Adopt not just a tax-revenue-based land-use and transportation policy… But an “Urban Design Policy” to allow roadway hierarchy (Boulevards for example) with multiple transportation choices (GREEN TRAMWAYS!), mixed-uses and multiple residential types 12

13. M Urban Design NU Design Principles (Local Strategies) For better traffic circulation and less traffic congestion, avoid/minimize cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets as they promote greater car dependence Instead, allow well-connected network of streets that may or may not be rectilinear 13

14. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Suburban Mixed-Use Community Harbor Town, Memphis, TN: Variety of Residential Types Mixed-Uses; Walkable and Connected Neighborhoods; Boulevard System; Strong Sense of Place 14

15. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Suburban Community + Town Center New Town at St. Charles, MO: Innovative Variety of Residential Types; Mixed-Use Center/Civic Center; Integrated/Creative Stormwater System; High-quality Public Realm/Sense of Place 15

16. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: New Suburban Downtown Legacy Center, Plano, Texas Town Center on street grid; Commercial, Office, Hotel, Restaurants Townhomes, Condominiums/Apartments; Central Civic Space Sense of Place 16

17. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Residential +Mixed-Use TOD Addison Circle, Addison, Texas: Close to suburban train station Primarily Residential with Townhomes and Apartments; Major Open Space Central to Plan Moderately High Density; High Quality of Space/Strong Sense of Place 17

18. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism:Community Shopping + City Hall Southlake Center, Southlake, Texas: Central Civic Space: Foreground to Village Hall Surrounded by Mixed-Use Shopping + Offices, Entertainment, Restaurants and Townhomes Major Innovation from Single-Use Shopping Center (as initially proposed) Highly Successful Community Destination/Community Pride 18

19. M Urban Design Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Residential+ Mixed-UseTOD Plano TOD, Texas: New downtown/TOD at a DART station Moderately dense Neighborhoods with Mixed-Use Shopping Economic Development/Transit Ridership Increase/Sustainable Model 19

20. M Urban Design Incidentally, Public Demand for Transit * Build Walkable Communities: 25% 1 2 Improve Transit: 31% Maintain/ Repair Existing Roads, Highways, Bridges: 50% Improve Public Transportation: 47% Not Sure: 8% Expand/ Improve Roads: 16% Build New Roads: 20% Not Sure: 3% Not Sure: 5% 3 • Survey Questions*: • Transportation Priorities of Federal Government • Best Long-Term Solutions to Reduce Congestion • Transportation Approach to Accommodate Growth • *January 2009 Growth and Transportation Survey by Hart Assoc. • As reported in “Common Ground” Summer 2009, Published by • National Association of Realtors Build highways and freeways: 20% Build commuter rail, light rail and subways: 75% 20

21. M Urban Design Also…Federal Livable Communities Act (Local Strategies Support) August 6, 2009: Senator Christopher Dodd introduced a new Livable Communities Act that should help communities: > Mitigate traffic congestion > Reduce greenhouse gas emissions > Cut down on fuel consumption > Protect open space > Build affordable housing > Revitalize existing main streets and urban centers • The new Livable Communities Act Provisions: • Create competitive planning GRANTS to establish long-term plans • Create challenge GRANTS to implement the long-term plans • Establish a Federal Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at the HUD • Establish a Federal Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities to coordinate federal sustainable development policies and programs 21

22. M Urban Design New Urbanism Implementation Tools: Form-Based Codes • Relatively New Regulation Tool in Illinois • Based on A Community Vision • Focus: Public Realm (Form and Quality of the Built Environment) • Place-specific to Retain/Create Character • Several Urban Standards • Graphic/More Comprehensible • Predictable Urban Form and Character • Different from Conventional Zoning Regulations • FBCs more concerned with Urban Form, Less with Use • FBCs facilitate mixing of uses • Not concerned with F.A.R.s, Densities and Lot Coverages • Allow administrative approval of projects 22

23. M Urban Design Form-Based Codes/Regulations Focus on the Quality of Public Realm Public Realm: Influenced by buildings architecture; the proportions of the size of public space to building height, and the amenities and materials in the public space Project Credit: Dover Kohl & Partners 23

24. M Urban Design Form-Based Codes/Regulations Predictable Placement and Bulk of Buildings • Predictable massing • and bulk of future projects • Benefits: • Less public concern about • bulk and other impacts • Streamlined project review • process • Good for developers too Project Credit: Dover Kohl & Partners 24

25. An Integrated Code with Standards for: Thoroughfares, Frontages, Building Types, Public Spaces, Landscaping – All Linked to a Regulating Plan • Typically Easier to Comprehend and Administer M Urban Design Form-Based Codes/Regulations 25

26. M Urban Design Form-Based Codes/Regulations 26

27. M Urban Design Local Strategies for Suburban Communities (Summary) • Allow mixing of uses • Allow diversity of housing options/housing types • Allow moderately higher densities • Allow street connectivity • Allow multi-functional streets/boulevards • Create compact and walkable neighborhoods • Create great places • Altogether…Become More Urban: “New Urban” 27

28. M Urban Design Can the Suburbs Stop Resisting Change? • Stop Regarding Density as an Issue > • Allow Creative Density for Making Better Communities • Stop Isolating Land Uses in Single Pods > • Allow Creative Mix of Land Uses • Stop Treating Roadways as Only Transportation Routes > • Allow Hierarchy of Roadways to Create Places • Stop Maximizing Revenues by Maximizing Commercial Uses > • Allow Residential or Mixed-Uses Along Arterials • Stop Resisting Change > • Become More Urban 28

29. M Urban Design Closing Remarks • Future of Suburbs • Must Evolve Given Economic, Energy and Climate Challenges • Evolution Will be Essential for Survival/Revival • New Urbanism Offers Key Answers for Suburban Evolution • NU Principles Should be Part of Local Strategies and Policies • Quality Places and Quality of Life Will Make Better Communities • NU Provides Effective Tools for Implementation and Evolution 29

30. M Urban Design Thank You! Mahender Vasandani President M Square | Urban Design 0N262 Armstrong Geneva, Illinois 60134 T: 630.845.1202 F: 630.444.1852 C: 630.853.0733 mgv@msqre.com www.msqre.com 30