The Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit Smart Growth Leadership Institute | Benjamin de la Peña | Associate Director for Implementation

The Smart Growth Toolkit About the Project “Making Smart Growth Work: Streamlining Development and Regulatory Reform” EPA-Funded Project 4 years to develop tools via Technical Assistance to communities Partnered with USC, Bill Fulton, Susan Weaver, Will Fleissig, UC

The Smart Growth Toolkit About the Communities 18 Communities that vary in Geography: –Alaska to Florida, California to Pennsylvania Size: –Orange County, FL M pop –Nashville-Davidson Metro 610K pop –Mount Joy Borough, PA - 6.7K pop –Camden County, NC -5K pop Maturity –Rancho Cordova, CA - newly incorporated –Traverse City, MI - smart growth awardee

The Smart Growth Toolkit About the Tools Regulatory framework evaluation tools: –Policy Audit –Code and Zoning Audit –Audit Summary Project evaluation tools: –Project Scorecard Resource Mobilization: –Incentives Matrix Meta-Tool –Strategy Builder

The Smart Growth Toolkit Quick Diagnostic a simple flowchart to choose the tools to use Communities consider smart growth because they are facing: –land use related issues –rapid growth with adverse effects –major development or redevelopment project –considering incentives for strategic projects –working on a new vision –revising its plans, policies or codes

The Smart Growth Toolkit Quick Diagnostic Tools to use will depend on level of support –Smart growth is written into policies and codes –Smart growth enjoys popular support –Smart growth is known, but support is unknown –Smart growth is a new idea

The Smart Growth Toolkit Quick Diagnostic example

The Smart Growth Toolkit Policy Audit Use to review the land use and development policies in your community Find where community's intentions are at odds with the policy statements Check if regulations agree with policy statements

The Smart Growth Toolkit Policy Audit Evaluate policy instruments such as: –The Comprehensive Plan –Vision Statements –General policy statements in Codes, Zoning, Subdivision Regulations –Transportation policies, street standards, design guidelines, parks and open space plans Lists 67 policy areas related to the 10 principles

The Smart Growth Toolkit Policy Audit example

The Smart Growth Toolkit Code and Zoning Audit review the land use (zoning) codes and regulations in your community identify the rules and regulations in your community that support or block smart growth show the gaps in the regulations where a lack of standards may be hindering smart growth

The Smart Growth Toolkit Code & Zoning Audit Used to evaluate –Land Use codes –Zoning Regulations –Subdivision Regulations –Overlay District Regulations –Special Use District Regulations 200+ specific issues where regulations encourage smart growth –Ex: “Are bicycle lanes required?” Or “Are lot minimums established?”

The Smart Growth Toolkit Code and Zoning Audit example

The Smart Growth Toolkit Audit Summary Summarize the findings from the Policy Audit and the Code and Zoning Audit list the changes needed in policies and the changes needed in regulations –Identify the documents (including sections); –Identify the agency responsible –Identify the decision-making body Organizes findings around 10 principles of smart growth

The Smart Growth Toolkit Audit Summary example

The Smart Growth Toolkit Project Scorecard Measure the smart growth qualities of proposed development projects Evaluate any proposed project using very specific standards Identify the good qualities of the project as well as the qualities that could be improved

The Smart Growth Toolkit Project Scorecard Organized into 8 dimensions Location and Service Provision Density and Compactness Diversity of Use Diversity of Housing Accessibility, Mobility and Connectivity Pedestrian Safety, Streetscapes and Parking Environmental Protection Community Needs and Local Development Rates qualities (poor, good, very good, excellent)

The Smart Growth Toolkit Project Scorecard example

The Smart Growth Toolkit Incentives Matrix Not an evaluative tool, but a resource compilation tool For specific sites identified for development or redevelopment Helps the community line up incentives to get the developer to build smart growth projects

The Smart Growth Toolkit Incentives Matrix Catalog and mobilize available incentives at the federal, state and local level to smart growth projects A quick way to survey and summarize the various incentive programs Assist developers interested in smart growth by centralizing all information about programs

The Smart Growth Toolkit Strategy Builder Create a strategy for building support and momentum for smart growth Think strategically about smart growth implementation Map and understand the issues that either support or hinder smart growth Identify the opportunities and challenges in your community

The Smart Growth Toolkit Strategy Builder Asks the leaders to look at: –Urgency of Issues –Strength of Leadership –Level of Commitment from Local Government –Support and Participation of Developers –Support and Participation of Community Groups –General Perception and Community Assets –Market Conditions and Demand for Smart Growth –Fiscal Considerations and Constraints –Catalytic Projects

The Smart Growth Toolkit Strategic Assessment example

Tools are available for download Open source Coming soon: case studies Coming soon: upload your version

The Smart Growth Toolkit Thank You x 26