Urban Development Areas (UDA) & Virginia’s UDA Planning Assistance Grant Program Paul Grasewicz, AICP Transportation & Mobility Planning Division Virginia Department of Transportation

Housing Policy Group Recommendation Address Linkage of Housing, Employment, and Transportation.Address Linkage of Housing, Employment, and Transportation. VDOT Actions:VDOT Actions:  Assist localities to plan Urban Development Areas for compact, mixed use development.  Promote benefits of traditional neighborhood mixed use development design.

Urban Development Areas Legislation The Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation that requires certain localities to adopt Urban Development Areas (UDA) into their Comprehensive Plans. Virginia Code as amended April 2010

What is an Urban Development Area? Town planning pre-WW2 Suburban planning post-WW2 Compact Mixed Use Design The UDA is a geographical area designated in a locality’s Comprehensive Plan appropriate for higher density, mixed use development.

Transportation Benefits from Designating UDAs Focusing growth in UDAs & a compact, mixed use TND design - Generates significantly less vehicular trips - Produces fewer miles of new subdivision streets for state maintenance - Reduces the need for d improvements to to suburban highways - Offers opportunities for public transportation

Suburban vs. Traditional Neighborhood Design

Housing Market Benefits  Providing a variety of housing types & costs to expand choice  Apartments, condos & town homes makes entry into the market easier  Living in a walkable /bikeable community can lower transportation costs  A greater share of household income can go to rent and mortgage payments  Can accommodate people with special needs and of all ages  Civic area, parks, stores, walking and bicycling are attractive to home buyers

Fiscal Benefits for Localities Shorter travel distances for school buses, trash collection, emergency response, and other public servicesShorter travel distances for school buses, trash collection, emergency response, and other public services Compact infill projects maximize existing infrastructureCompact infill projects maximize existing infrastructure Higher market value of TND real estate means increased property tax revenueHigher market value of TND real estate means increased property tax revenue Reduced maintenance costs for compact streets and shorter utility networksReduced maintenance costs for compact streets and shorter utility networks

Phasing in Urban Areas

Secretary of Transportation Office fundingSecretary of Transportation Office funding VDOT administrationVDOT administration Four planning consultants selected via procurement rulesFour planning consultants selected via procurement rules To help localities designate UDAs and comply with state lawTo help localities designate UDAs and comply with state law Two tiers/types of grants of planning assistanceTwo tiers/types of grants of planning assistance Secretary of Transportation Office fundingSecretary of Transportation Office funding VDOT administrationVDOT administration Four planning consultants selected via procurement rulesFour planning consultants selected via procurement rules To help localities designate UDAs and comply with state lawTo help localities designate UDAs and comply with state law Two tiers/types of grants of planning assistanceTwo tiers/types of grants of planning assistance Establishing the Grant Program 10

Grant Program Tier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistance Designate at least one UDA in their comprehensive planDesignate at least one UDA in their comprehensive plan Create a zoning district classification for TND designCreate a zoning district classification for TND design Revise subdivision regulations to accommodate designRevise subdivision regulations to accommodate design Analyze and demonstrate the transportation benefitsAnalyze and demonstrate the transportation benefits Involve the publicInvolve the public Tier 1 Grants – $50,000 in consultant assistance Designate at least one UDA in their comprehensive planDesignate at least one UDA in their comprehensive plan Create a zoning district classification for TND designCreate a zoning district classification for TND design Revise subdivision regulations to accommodate designRevise subdivision regulations to accommodate design Analyze and demonstrate the transportation benefitsAnalyze and demonstrate the transportation benefits Involve the publicInvolve the public 11

26 Grant Recipients Tier 1 Caroline City of Harrisonburg BedfordAmherstAlbemarleGoochland Town of Woodstock AmeliaCumberlandGloucester Isle of Wight City of Martinsville Washington City of Virginia Beach DinwiddiePage City of Winchester Tier 1 Caroline City of Harrisonburg BedfordAmherstAlbemarleGoochland Town of Woodstock AmeliaCumberlandGloucester Isle of Wight City of Martinsville Washington City of Virginia Beach DinwiddiePage City of Winchester Rockingham Town of Broadway Town of Blacksburg Town of Orange Fluvanna King William Halifax Town of South Boston Mecklenburg 12

Grant Program Grant Program Tier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant help Meet Tier 1 requirementsMeet Tier 1 requirements Create small area plans within UDAsCreate small area plans within UDAs Analyze transportation impacts of the planAnalyze transportation impacts of the plan Consider accommodation of transit oriented developmentsConsider accommodation of transit oriented developments Tier 2 Grants: $100,000 to $225,000 in consultant help Meet Tier 1 requirementsMeet Tier 1 requirements Create small area plans within UDAsCreate small area plans within UDAs Analyze transportation impacts of the planAnalyze transportation impacts of the plan Consider accommodation of transit oriented developmentsConsider accommodation of transit oriented developments 13

Six Grant Recipients Tier 2 FauquierMontgomery New Kent StaffordSpotsylvania Town of Herndon Prince William Tier 2 FauquierMontgomery New Kent StaffordSpotsylvania Town of Herndon Prince William 15

Results of State UDA Grant Program 32 localities provided planning consultant assistance to comply with the UDA state law 45% of the UDA counties 45% of the UDA counties 42% of the UDA cities 42% of the UDA cities 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population 32 localities provided planning consultant assistance to comply with the UDA state law 45% of the UDA counties 45% of the UDA counties 42% of the UDA cities 42% of the UDA cities 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population 33% of the UDA towns over 8,000 population

Urban Development Areas Legislation The 2012 Virginia General Assembly amended the statute so locality designation of Urban Development Areas (UDA) in their Comprehensive Plans becomes optional.

Offers information on principles and design best practices, the benefits of such design, planning for transportation efficient growth, methods for engaging the public in the planning process, and implementation strategies Offers information on principles and design best practices, the benefits of such design, planning for transportation efficient growth, methods for engaging the public in the planning process, and implementation strategies. Prepared a publication to promote the benefits of compact mixed use development:

The results …. for residential

The results …. for mixed-use

The Guide and Appendices are available on the VDOT Web Site