Land-Use Planning

(and its Relationship to Public Health)

Land-Use Planning

(and its Relationship to Public Health)

Marya Morris, AICP

American Planning Association

NACCHO Environmental Health

Advisory Committee

Albuquerque, October 22, 2003

Elements of a Comprehensive PlanElements of a Comprehensive Plan

• Goals & objectives • Land use • Community facilities• Transportation• Housing• Parks and recreation• Historic preservation

•Urban design

•Economic development

•Environment

•Natural hazards

•Implementation

• Health ???

Land-Use Element Land-Use Element

• Purposes– Provide pattern for the location and characteristics of future development

– Principal plan element upon which others are based

• Supporting Analyses– Inventories, trend analysis, environmental scan, infrastructure capacity,

population and economic projections

• Contents– Existing land use map– Statement of goals and policies– Future land use map– Narrative that explains how the future land-use pattern relates to the

goals, policies, and guidelines

Steps in Land-Use Element (Plan) PreparationSteps in Land-Use Element (Plan) Preparation

1. Complete land use survey and other supporting analysis

2. Establish proposed locational goals, policies, and guidelines

3. Account for state and federal land use goals, policies, and guidelines

4. Establish guideline densities and intensities

5. Project land uses by category

6. Identify on a map factors influencing or limiting developability

7. Develop alternatives; allocate future land uses on map; account for constraints

8. Evaluate alternatives

9. Select optimal alternative

The Zoning OrdinanceThe Zoning Ordinance

Lists Land-Use Districts Contains Development

Regulations for Each District Yards Height Bulk or Floor Area Ratio Maximum lot coverage Maximum impervious

surface ratio

Other Zoning RegulationsOther Zoning Regulations

Conditional uses Accessory structures and

uses Landscaping Off-street parking and

loading Home occupations Signs

Subdivision RegulationSubdivision Regulation

Purposes Legal authority Contents

• Submission requirements• Standards for:

• Streets• Sidewalks• Stormwater• Open space• Lot sizes• Erosion• Utilities

Subdivision Review ProcedureSubdivision Review Procedure

Pre-application conference Preliminary plat review Final plat review Public improvement guarantees Time limits Exactions & fees in lieu

Parks & school sites Storm drainage

Other Terms and TechniquesOther Terms and Techniques

Adequate public facility ordinances

Impact fees Exclusive farmland districts Traditional neighborhood

development zones Overlay districts Transfer of development

rights Planned unit development Density bonuses and

incentives Urban growth boundaries

“The built environment in post-industrial culture represents a

tremendous unexamined resource for improving human and

environmental health.”

Laura E. Jackson National Health and

Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (2002)

“The built environment in post-industrial culture represents a

tremendous unexamined resource for improving human and

environmental health.”

Laura E. Jackson National Health and

Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (2002)

Public HealthPublic Health Community Planningand Design

Community Planningand Design

Physically Active Communities

Physically Active Communities

A Convergence of Priorities A Convergence of Priorities

Planning/Public Health Chronology(from a planner’s perspective)

Planning/Public Health Chronology(from a planner’s perspective)

1850 - 1920s: The public health roots of planning

1920 – 1930s: Zoning and subdivision regulations emerge to deal with nuisance issues, property values, quality of life

1945 – present: Urban decentralization, vast changes in jobs/housing proximity, consumer preferences, wealth; (now) conventional development patterns become norm

1970 – 1985: Environmental movement; State growth management movement

1990 – present: Major change in Federal transportation priorities ISTEA (1990); TEA-21 (1997); TEA 3 (2003 reauthorization)

1990 – present: Smart growth movement

1997 – present: Public health and planning renew their marriage vows

What is Urban Sprawl?What is Urban Sprawl?

Sprawl is a fiscally and environmentally unsustainable development pattern that consumes farmland and open

space and can have numerous negative effects on quality of life in a community.

Ten Principles of Smart GrowthTen Principles of Smart Growth

1. Mix land uses

2. Take advantage of compact building design

3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices

4. Create walkable neighborhoods

5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place

6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas

7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities

8. Provide a variety of transportation choices

9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective

10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions

Health implications of sprawl, part IHealth implications of sprawl, part I

air pollution

greenhouse gas emissions

heat island effect

physical activityphysical activity

vehicle crashes

Social capital

Source: Richard Jackson, Howard Frumkin PowerPoint presentation, October 4, 2001.Source: Richard Jackson, Howard Frumkin PowerPoint presentation, October 4, 2001.

Health implications of sprawl, part IIHealth implications of sprawl, part II

Pedestrian death and injury

Water quantity and quality

? Mental health consequences

Social equity

Source: Richard Jackson, Howard Frumkin PowerPoint presentation, October 4, 2001.Source: Richard Jackson, Howard Frumkin PowerPoint presentation, October 4, 2001.

The barriers we’ve built to physical activity: Planning as part of the problem

The barriers we’ve built to physical activity: Planning as part of the problem

• Separated land uses

• Auto-dominated community design

• Large lots

• Ignoring human scale

• Prohibited connections between origins and destinations

Physical Activity and SprawlPhysical Activity and Sprawl

SprawlSprawl

▲ trip distances

▲ vehicle trips

▼ walking

▼ physical activity

▲ trip distances

▲ vehicle trips

▼ walking

▼ physical activity

overweight obesity

overweight obesity

Availability and Access

Support for bicycling and walking

Support for incidental outdoor activity

Incentives for physical activity

Safety

Emerging Policy and Implementation Framework

City planners, parks officials

Public health officials

Building code officials

Transportation and transit

Education

Park districts, school districts,Law enforcement

NGOs, private sector, community

groups, media

Agents of Change Menu of Policies Desired Outcomes

• Conducive environments for

routine activity

• Increased physical activity

APA Survey of Planners on the Physical Activity Issue

APA Survey of Planners on the Physical Activity Issue

Purpose: Explore the extent to which planners are addressing the physical activity issue

10,000 planners emailed the survey in March 2003

1,000 responses tallied Respondents represent wide range of

jurisdiction size and type

For your jurisdiction’s elected and appointed officials, the physical activity of residents is . . .

For your jurisdiction’s elected and appointed officials, the physical activity of residents is . . .

5

33

36

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Unsure

Not underdiscussion

An emergingissue

An importantissue

% of Respondents (N = 1,000)

5

33

36

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Unsure

Not underdiscussion

An emergingissue

An importantissue

% of Respondents (N = 1,000)

For your jurisdiction’s elected and appointed officials, the relationship between community planning and design and the ability of residents to be physically

active is . . .

For your jurisdiction’s elected and appointed officials, the relationship between community planning and design and the ability of residents to be physically

active is . . .

5

33

39

25

0 10 20 30 40 50

Unsure

Not underdiscussion

An emerging issue

An importantissue

% of Respondents (N = 1,000)

5

33

39

25

0 10 20 30 40 50

Unsure

Not underdiscussion

An emerging issue

An importantissue

% of Respondents (N = 1,000)

Barriers to incorporating physical activity goals and objectives into plans, projects, and regulations

Barriers to incorporating physical activity goals and objectives into plans, projects, and regulations

13

13

26

28

40

0 10 20 30 40 50

Other

Would detract from other priorities

Lacks political support

It is an assumed, not stated goal

Not regarded as a planning issue

% of Respondents (N = 1,000)

Planning and Designing the Physically Active Community

APA Project Overview

• Literature Review (available now)• Web resources (available now)• National survey of planners (available now)• Planning Advisory Service Report (in

progress, forthcoming 2004)• Case Studies (2004)• Community Institutes (2003-04)

Five Strategic Points of InterventionFive Strategic Points of Intervention

1. Visioning and goal setting

2. Rethinking planning in all contexts

3. Local implementation tools

4. Site Design and Development

5. Siting Public Facilities and Capital Spending

1. Visioning and Goal Setting 1. Visioning and Goal Setting

• Begins with a discussion of shared values

• Results in a shared image of a community imagines most desired future

• Provides a broad context within which goals are set and plans are developed

• Majority of planning efforts now launched with a visioning exercise (reflective of more citizen participation)

2. Rethinking State and Local Planning

2. Rethinking State and Local Planning

• Comprehensive plans

• Neighborhood plans• Redevelopment

plans

…2. Functional Plans…2. Functional Plans

• Functional Plans– Health services– Bicycle and pedestrian– Transit– Streets and circulation– Trails– Parks– Housing– Economic development– Schools and campuses

Cambridge, MassachusettsPedestrian Plan (2000)

Cambridge, MassachusettsPedestrian Plan (2000)

• Why Cambridge, Mass. promotes walking– Fed, state, local rules

– Local growth policy

– Health(!)

• Vertical & horizontal policy integration

• Attention to the public realm• Technical specifications• Pedestrian advisory

committee

…3. More Implementation Tools…3. More Implementation Tools

• Capital improvement programs

• Streetscape improvements• Traffic calming in

neighborhoods• Transportation

enhancements• Financial set asides for

parks and trails

4. Site Design and Development4. Site Design and Development

• Improve the pedestrian environment

• Security, lighting, visibility• Protection from traffic• Adequate accommodation• Building orientation, setback

requirements• Public art• Architecture and appearance• Street trees, landscaping,

open spaces• Well connected routes

…4. Site Design and Development…4. Site Design and Development

• Bicycle facilities

• Sidewalk requirements

• Parking lot layout and design

• Amenities/conveniences for active people

• Encouraging signage

• Usable parks, open space

• Accessible stairways

5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities and Capital Spending

5. Siting and Use of Public Facilities and Capital Spending

Public Spaces Schools Post offices Libraries Museums Parks City Hall Campuses Community Centers

Thank You!

Marya Morris, AICPAmerican Planning Association

Mmorris@planning.org