Sustainable Urbanism/ Sustainable Communities A Special Presentation to Village of Plainfield Mahender Vasandani President, M Square | Urban Design June 22, 2009 M

Sustainable Urbanism/ Sustainable Communities What’s New: The Challenges Heighten the Urgency Economic Challenges Climate Change Challenges M

3 Sustainable Urbanism/Sustainable Communities M  What Is Sustainable Urbanism?  Obama Administration: Sustainable Communities  Challenges for Communities  Creation of Compact, Connected Neighborhoods  Key: Accepting DENSITIES  Recommendations for Actions

4 Sustainable Urbanism/Sustainable Communities M Sustainable Urbanism  Predominantly Neighborhood Living  Mixed-Uses and Life-cycle Living Choices  Variety of Housing and Transportation Choices  Compact, Connected and Complete Neighborhoods  Energy Efficient Buildings and Infrastructure Obama Administration: Sustainable Communities  Joint HUD/DOT/EPA Sustainable Communities Initiative  Integrate Housing and Transportation Planning  Local Government Grants*  Community Development Initiatives  Land-use and Zoning Updates  Facilitate Mixed-Use Developments, Building Rehab  Better Link Built Environment to Existing Infrastructure

5 Mission of 2002 Plainfield Plan: “The Village of Plainfield promotes a friendly, safe and diverse community; offering a variety of cultural opportunities and a high quality of living. Plainfield will maintain its commitment to strengthening community spirit and embrace its historic character while improving transportation options, increasing access to services, and enhancing open space.” M

Plainfield Plan for 2020: The Village of Plainfield promotes a friendly, safe and diverse community; offering a variety of cultural opportunities and a high quality of living. Plainfield will maintain its commitment to strengthening community spirit and embrace its historic character while improving transportation options, increasing access to services, and enhancing open space.  Current Inc. Area: ~ 14,000 Acres  Build-out Plan: ~ 41,000 Acres  Almost 2/3 More To Build Q. Do We Continue to Plan and Build the Way We Have in the Past? OR… M

7 M Our Planning Legacy…We Are Still Doing It! Single-Site, Single-Use, Low-Density Focus

8 M Low-Density vs. High-Density Along Major Arterials An Unfair Comparison, But…Urban Design Considerations…

9 M The Dreaded D - Word  Almost Automatic Rejection of High-Density  Need to Distinguish Between Two-types of Densities : The Bad Density and The Good Density  The Good Density is Healthy for a Community

10 M “Good” High Density: Example 1 High Quality of Life and Sense of Place: Because of Good Urban Design and Good Architecture; Highly Desirable in the Marketplace Grosvenor Square, London

11 M “Good” High Density: Example 2 High Quality of Life and Sense of Place Because of Good Urban Design and Good Architecture; Highly Desirable in the Marketplace Essex Square, London

12 M “Good” High Density Can Not Exist in Isolation Needs to Be Within Self-Contained Neighborhoods: Compact (Walkable), Connected and Complete With Mixed-Uses, Third Places and Local Work Legacy Center, TX

13 M “Good” High Density As Part of TODs High Density Near Stations: A Plus for Providing People with Transportation Options, Reducing Car Dependence and Improving Air Quality Plano, TX

14 M “Good” High Density: Great for Placemaking Addison Circle, TX Good Urban Form: Urban Areas with Distinct Personality and Sense of Place

15 M “Good” High Density:  Highly Desirable in the Market Place  Compact, Connected and Complete Neighborhoods  Housing Choices (Lifecycle)  Transportation Choices  Conserve Energy  Reduce Carbon Emissions  Great Places

16 M Challenges  Do We Continue Previous Developments Patterns?  Or, Do We Allow New Development Patterns?  Should We “Re-Think,” “Re-Tool” and “Re-Set” Now? Recommendations for Actions  Review Land Use Plan for SUSTAINABILITY  As needed, Update Land Use Plan  As needed, Update Zoning Ordinance  As needed, Adopt New Regulations such as Form-Based Codes To Allow:  Creation of High-Density Neighborhoods with Mixed-Uses  More Transportation Choices  More Housing Choices

17 M Thank You! Mahender Vasandani President M Square | Urban Design T: C: E;