Public & Private Partnership

Planning for sustainability means promoting responsible new development. Forward-thinking towns use a more democratic process of planning so everyone benefits. Equal involvement from community members and city government can be a lot of fun, and gives everyone ownership.

Community-Driven Development

Finding like-minded community members is a great way to make a difference. Grassroots groups with a strong vision and gain public consensus, assist local government in decision-making process and connect developers and investors with sustainable thought leaders.

Community-driven sustainable development works because those involved are invested and have something to gain.

Ecological Planning

Lasting communities always give the natural world precedent when decisions may affect the character of the land. The land is a singular attribute that has been there since the beginning. A strong sense of place and access to natural resources are often why settlers chose to build your town.

Community Profit

Community Profit means putting people over profit in the sustainable development equation. Communities may think they are being productive by landing big “deals” with box-boxes, boastful developers and industrial park queens, but they should listen to common sense.

Before a community expands its infrastructure for new jobs or increased tax base, they should analyze the expected life-cycle of the opportunity. They should also make sure it meets the goals of protecting natural resources, and aligns with community sustainable planning goals.

Community profit is like Monopoly money. Transactions occur each time planning and development practices affect the lives of townspeople. The community gains when sustainable planning and green development goals are attained.

Livabilty & Walkablilty

Livability and Walkability are not new concepts. By design, early town development included both, naturally. It was the way of life then, and places were built around human needs.

The sad truth is that in the past half-century we have lost this way of life, and allowed our reliance on the automobile to shape our neighborhoods. Most modern residential neighborhoods were not designed to facilitate walking (or biking) to nearby destinations. To boot, there may not be anything other than other homes “nearby”.

The suburbs are not the only place with problems. As practitioners of sustainable planning and green development, we need to look at opportunities for redevelopment in-town, too. Many in-town places have underutilized spaces and vacant buildings crying for redevelopment.

As a place to begin understanding livability and walkability, use the AARP Livability Index to learn more about your community's quality of life.

Then, visit walkscore.com and enter your address into the search.

These two resources are excellent ways to get a feeling for places you live, or are considering living.

Neighborhood Placemaking

According to the Project for Public Spaces - the pioneers of this approach - Placemaking is “the art and science of developing public spaces that attract people, build community by bringing people together, and create local identity.”

Neighborhood placemaking focuses on building better relationships with others living nearby. Traditionally, next door neighbors have a high chance of becoming close friends. They watch over your home from the security of their own.

Comprehensive Planning

A comprehensive plan records decisions on land-use planning, transportation, downtown/urban design, natural resources, and infrastructure. It sets the stage for sustainable planning and green development, if these ideals are embodied in the spirit of the plan.

Environmental Characteristics Zoning

Every place has a unique landscape and natural resources. Everything was in balance before settlement. Environmental characteristics zoning approaches proposed development as something to be integrated sensitively into the natural landscape.

Natural Habitat Protection

Every natural habitat deserves to be treated with care. Human development should tread lightly, and selectively. Preservation of green open space, green belt areas, prime farm land, clean water, and dark night skies are but a few details that future planning should address.

Smart Growth

Smart Growth is essentially economically efficient community development. Some of the principle include preserving open space, limiting outward expansion, promoting infill construction, and, redesigning neighborhoods with New Urbanism ideals.

New Urbanism

The principles of New Urbanism align closely to development before the prevalence of the automobile. Streets become places again for people, and walks to community buildings and shopping is integrated. Less width is given for each car, and sidewalks, trees, and front porch charm create engaging places for neighborhood relationships to grow.

Traditional Neighborhood Redevelopment

Most established neighborhoods have potential for redevelopment. Neighborhood revitalization, infill development, mixed-uses, and concepts of placemaking can give them new life and add new value.

Urban Amenities

Density, diversity, mixed modes of transportation, and mixed-use development have all been the standard of sustainable development for centuries. Today we can do it better than ever.

Our cities have changed, as many people “commuted” to suburban areas. The void that has been left, created opportunities near the heart of town. Now, young and old alike are finding new ways to enjoy nearby amenities and live simply again.

Suburban Retro-fit & Repair

A lot of cool things are beginning to happen out in suburban neighborhoods too. Innovative planning and placemaking is at work in many “heartless” places, giving them safe, walkable (and bikeable) destinations.

Facilitating more active and engaging lifestyles will get people off the couch and outdoors together. The “nothing to do” blues is a fun problem to defeat. Working with others in your neighborhood, along with City official, and planning consultants is a good approach to retrofitting and repairing suburban areas.

Down-scale / Mixed Use Development

Scaling down homogenized, suburban-style development is a key change that American planners need to advocate. There are some great things happening, and historic precedent to compare them to for further wisdom.

Conservation Sub-division

Conservation sub-divisions are greener alternatives than typical suburban development. They should be considered when the land has been undeveloped, and the developer is seeking to maximize infrastructure efficiency. Wildlife and the natural ecosystem cries in delight when their lives are not disrupted for someones large patch of graded lawn.