1. Sustainability, Utah, and Agenda 21 Wilf Sommerkorn Ted Knowlton Utah APA Conference 4 October 2013

2. Sustainability is an ancient concept “My family came to America for a better life for their children and their children’s children.” The Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated. “The earth belongs to each generation during its course, fully and in its own right, but no generation can contract debts greater than can be paid during the course of its own existence.” ~Thomas Jefferson

3. AGENDA 21

10. Planning that develops public ownership of your plan (especially if there are Agenda 21 concerns (and similar) Process Communications

11. If Agenda 21 concerns are substantial in your community Listen to, don’t discount concerns Include these participants in every portion of the process – As long as they are willing to let others participate

12. When anyone comes to your public meeting intent on shutting it down! First listen If a group tries to obstruct the meeting: Stand up for everyone else’s right to be heard Divide the meeting (if necessary) – “who would like the meeting to continue?” – “who would like to talk about these concerns”

13. Traditional Planning Approach D ecide – through analysis and research E ducate – the public about the solution A nnounce – the plan D efend – the plan and yourself

14. Process tips for developing broad grassroots support Strive for broad participation that represents your community Be an “Honest Broker” of choices and consequences Trust the public Be transparent

15. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Formed in 1997 to evaluate growth issues Envision Utah

16. Not philosophizing, but exploring the future Problem solving workshops

18. Regional Choices and Outcomes Our Region’s Future TransportationLand Use Job Creation Air Quality Land Consump- tion Traffic Water Use Miles of Driving Open Space Housing Opportunities

19. Total Emissions Tons Per Day

20. Total Infrastructure Costs

21. Scenario Comparisons and Survey

22. PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS Television, Radio and Newspaper

23. Choosing a Scenario (Weighted vs. Unweighted Results) Unweighted results (as represented by the black dashed line) are nearly identical to weighted results

24. West Valley Downtown Plan, 2002 A CD B

25. Preferred Scenario

26. The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns want to force us to do….”

27. Communication 101 The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns ………………………..….” 1.Explore local sustainability issues 2.Relay impacts of potential decisions on the family, neighborhood, city, metro area 3.Emphasize that solutions will be defined locally, through a public process

28. Benefits to your family Public Transportation: – Bypass congestion to enjoy more time at home Outdoors to enjoy together

29. Housing wants and needs change over people’s lives

30. Understand cost of living as affected by housing, transportation, and energy expenses

31. Communication 202 The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns want to force us to do….” 1.Relate sustainable development to market desires 2.Relate sustainable development to the taxpayer (fiscal impacts) 3.Explore how “choices” are broadened

32. 1. Sustainability and the free market What are the housing and area characteristics that will attract buyers over many decades? Today’s preferences? Demographic shifts?

33. Desired Neighborhood Attributes - NAR 2011 Source: National Association of Realtors, American Preference Survey 2011.

34. Gen Y and Baby Boomers are the largest generations Of those that move, 7 out of 8 downsize 77% of Gen Y plans to live in an urban setting

36. The Market for Transportation-Land Use Integration: Do Developers Want Smarter Growth than Regulations Allow? Jonathan Levine, 2004 N=656 Is there adequate supply of alternative development…? Not enough: 67% Developers perception of the “single most important obstacle” to alternative development? “local regulation”

37. Regulation almost always sets a ceiling on intensity Eg: – Minimum single family lot size – Maximum density – Maximum FAR – Parking requirements – Land use restrictions Efforts to allow more variety in scale, use, parking, better allow market demand to be expressed

38. 2. Sustainability and the taxpayer?

39. 1 1.251.5 22.5 4 5 6 3 43,600 S.F. 34,800 S.F. 29,000 S.F. 21,800 S.F. 17,400 S.F. 14,400 S.F. 10,900 S.F. 8,700 S.F. 7,200 S.F. Street Frontage Relative to Lot Size 150’130’ 110’100’90’ 83’75’ 65’ Units Per Ac Typical Lot Frontage Larger lots = More street frontage per residence Smaller lots = Less street frontage per residence

40. 1 1.251.52 2.54 5 6 3 43,600 S.F. 34,800 S.F. 29,000 S.F. 21,800 S.F. 17,400 S.F. 14,400 S.F. 10,900 S.F. 8,700 S.F. 7,200 S.F. Water Use Relative to Lot Size (Source: USU Extension) Units Per Ac

41. “The Growth Ponzi Scheme” Chuck Marohn, Thoughts on Building Strong Towns

43. 2. Choices Housing

44. 2. Choices Getting around

45. The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns want to force us to do….”

46. If Agenda 21 concerns are substantial in your community Listen to, don’t discount concerns Include these participants in every portion of the process – As long as they are willing to let others participate

47. Process tips for developing broad grassroots support Strive for broad participation that represents your community Be an “Honest Broker” of choices and consequences Trust the public Be transparent

48. Communication 101 The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns ………………………..….” 1.Explore local sustainability issues 2.Relay impacts of potential decisions on the family, neighborhood, city, metro area 3.Emphasize that solutions will be defined locally, through a public process

49. Communication 202 The heart of Agenda 21 concerns: “people who don’t know our issues and concerns want to force us to do….” 1.Relate sustainable development to market desires 2.Relate sustainable development to the taxpayer (fiscal impacts) 3.Explore how “choices” are broadened

50. “The earth belongs to each generation during its course, fully and in its own right, but no generation can contract debts greater than can be paid during the course of its own existence.” ~Thomas Jefferson

51. Sustainability, Utah, and Agenda 21 Wilf Sommerkorn Ted Knowlton Utah APA Conference 4 October 2013