Sustainable Communities Project

1. Sustainable Communities Project

2. Sustainable Communities Federal Agencies Ray LaHood US Dept. of Trans. Shaun Donovan US Housing & Urban Dev. Lisa Jackson US Envir. Protection Agency

3. Livability Principles • Provide more transportation choices • Promote equitable, affordable housing • Enhance economic competitiveness • Support existing communities • Coordinate policies and leverage investment • Value communities and neighborhoods

4. Deputy HUD Secretary - Ron Sims said, “Regions that embrace sustainable communities will have a built-in competitive edge in attracting jobs and private investment. Planning our communities smarter means parents will spend less time driving and more time with their children. More families will live in safe, stable communities near good schools and jobs. And more businesses will have access to the capital and talent they need to grow and prosper.”

5. ENVIRONMENT Sustainable economic development Sustainable natural & built environment SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY ECONOMY Equitable social environment

6. Sustainable Thurston

7. Executive Director Lon D. Wyrick stated: • “We believe TRPC was successful because of the remarkable regional partnerships and vision of our members. Our policy makers have long recognized that transportation, land use, and economic development are inseparable and must be integrated in the planning process.”

8. A community-wide conversation GOAL: To develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future as well as the actions and responsibilities to achieve it. • We’re not starting from scratch Did you know…. 40% of our built environment available in 2040 will be built between now and then?

9. Sustainable Thurston Timeline Phase 1 Phase 3 Phase 2 Develop a Preferred Scenario & RegionalPlans Initial Visioning & Stakeholder Engagement Develop Scenarios 2011 Spring 2012 2012 2013 Establish Vision & Goals to Achieve Vision Develop Preferred Scenario & Regional Plans with Performance Measures Public Outreach Phase 1 Panel, Market Studies & Survey Work Scenario Planning (through models) & Strategies to Achieve Goals Public Outreach Phase 2 Public Outreach Phase 3

10. Products • Regional Plan for Sustainable Development • Regional Housing Plan • Sustainable Economic Strategy • County-wide Planning Policies • Addition of sustainability policy

11. Identify what SUSTAINABILITY means in our community

12. Figure out What it Takes to Get There

13. What we learned: Confidence in Participation • 59% of participants believe that their actions and participation as individuals can affect the planning process and future of the region • 83.5% think that working together as a region to plan for the future will lead to improved quality of life

14. What we learned • Collaboration and Cooperation is Essential • Resources are Getting More Limited, Leverage Resources, Make Every Dollar Count • Protect What Matters • Understanding Choice Matters to Build Community & Neighborhood Resilience • Everything is Related

15. General Values • Quality of Life • Health and Well Being • Clean Air • Clean Water

16. Values that are more Specific to Thurston Region • Place • Choice • Local Decisions – Cross Jurisdictional Collaboration • Natural Environment • Opportunity • Participation

17. Emerging Issue Areas • Preservation of Rural Lands and Agriculture / Preservation of Property Rights • Individual Rights / Community Rights • Freedom / Regulation • More Services / Fewer Taxes • More Transportation Choices / Resistance to Growth and/or Density • More Jobs / Less People • More Local Walkable Neighborhood Businesses / Resistance to Neighborhood Density

18. Vision Distinct, Livable Communities Vibrant Urban n’hoods & Corridors Dynamic City Centers Pastoral Rural areas Resilient Small Cities HealthySuburbs …all supported by the right mix of transportation facilities and services.

19. Build Options for: Places Corridors & Close in Neighborhoods City Centers And address other sustainability topics (i.e. energy efficiency, water conservation …) Suburbs Rural Areas Small Cities

20. Population and Employment ModelTrends People are willing to drive long distances to live here • Growth is likely to continue: • High Quality of Life • State Capital • Joint Base Lewis-McChord • Interstate 5-Corridor • Regional Medical and Shopping Hub • Relatively Affordable • Historic high growth rates

21. DemographicsPopulation Aged 65 plus • Percent of population aged 65+ will increase • We’ve already seen increased demand for senior housing

22. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureCHOICES • Our population demographics are changing • The community needs places that work for an aging population • Driving less saves money, and using less gas reduces the amount of energy we consume

23. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureHOUSEHOLD FINANCES • Saving on transportation costs is important for people on limited household budgets

24. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureTRAVEL AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS • Budgets are getting tighter • How we travel to jobs affects our household budget • The closer we live to work – the more we save on transportation costs

25. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureCOST OF SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE • Compact communities need fewer miles of infrastructure – such as roads and water lines – than communities that are spread out • Compact communities are more efficiently served by services such as fire, medic, police and transit

26. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureACTIVE PLACES - SMALL BUSINESSES • Housing in centers provides more customers for businesses • Vital urban places and activities attract “innovators” who start businesses

27. Steps Towards a More Sustainable FutureWALKABILITY • Improve walkability in neighborhoods • Locate housing in areas with access to goods and services

28. Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future HEALTH • Obesity is on the rise. • We need communities that are walkable. • Walkable Communities enhance health • 5% increase in neighborhood walkability linked to 32% increase in minutes of walking or biking (Seattle Study).

29. Livability Principles • Provide more transportation choices • Promote equitable, affordable housing • Enhance economic competitiveness • Support existing communities • Coordinate policies and leverage investment • Value communities and neighborhoods

30. Vision Distinct, Livable Communities Vibrant Urban n’hoods & Corridors Dynamic City Centers Pastoral Rural areas Resilient Small Cities HealthySuburbs …all supported by the right mix of transportation facilities and services.

31. A lack of efficient alternatives to automobile travel disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as the poor, the elderly, people who have disabilities and children by limiting access to jobs, health care, social interaction, and healthy foods. - United We Ride

32. What did we learn from the ADA? Communities that work for people with special needs work better for everyone!

33. Improving the Built Environment - Strategies • Use Universal Design • Accommodate changing needs as we age • Require Complete Streets • Fix broken/missing sidewalks • Improve intersection markings • Increase Xing times • Focus on people!

34. Focus on People – Cultural Competency • Not just about language/translation • Programs relevant/appropriate & effective no matter the audience • What are the needs of various communities? • Work directly with people!

35. Sustainable, Equitable Transit-Oriented Development • Revamp coordinated long range planning processes • Use Livability Principles to develop new $$ priorities • Implement Housing + Transportation Affordability Index • Enhance Comprehensive Technical Assistance Programs

36. CONTACT: www.sustainablethurston.org Karen Parkhurst Thurston Regional Planning Council parkhuk@trpc.org 360.956.7575