Planning the Evolution of Our Suburbs

Tuesdays at APA Chicago

Mahender VasandaniPresident

March 16, 2010

M UrbanDesign

What I Will Talk About:

Where Are We Today in Terms of Regional Growth?

The Implications of the “Big Challenges” for the Suburbs

Why the Suburbs May Need to Evolve?

Any Preferred Growth Options?

What Can We Learn from the Cities?

New Urbanism Offers Some Key Answers• Specific NU Examples Suitable For Suburbs • Overview of Form-Based Codes

Can the Suburbs Stop Resisting Change?

Q & A

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Chicago’s Outlying Suburbs

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Acknowledgement: Ours Is A Suburban Nation

From 1950 to 2000: 90% of metropolitan growth in the Suburbs

By 2000: 60% of metro jobs in the Suburbs Suburb-to-Suburb job commutes 2X Suburb-City commutes

From 1970 to 2000: Total Housing Units Increased 9% Suburban Housing Units Increased Almost 100%

Question: Is This All Good or All Bad? Is this growth pattern sustainable?

Where Are We Today?

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Implications for the Future

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-kotkin6-2008jul06,0,1038461.story

Response Depends on One’s Perspective on the Age-Old Debate:

City living is good/better Suburban living is good/better

Living + working in City is the only way forward; More sustainable

Living closer to suburban jobs keeps travel miles low

Multiple transportation modes and route options

Car-dependent travel; limited route options

A mix of uses within walking distance

Single, isolated uses force car travel for all needs

Less car use = Less pollution More car use = More pollution; More congestion

Many suburbs will not survive

Suburban demand will remain strong

The “Leinbergers” The “Kotkins” vs.

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For Their Survival, Suburbs Will Need to Evolve

1. Economic Challenges: Housing Over-Supply Commercial Oversupply

Implications: Limited/Slow Short-term Growth Potential; Extended Growth Time-lines

2. Energy Security/Climate-Change Challenges: Over-dependence on high-carbon fossil fuels/GHG Emissions Over-dependence on cars as sole form of mobility

Implications/Policy Questions: ”Re-Order” Growth Patterns? Reduce Total Car Travel? New Mobility Technologies?

3. Urban Form Challenges: Sprawling growth patterns energy-intensive Community character issues

Implications: Better Urban From and Character Necessary

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“Re-Order” Regional Growth Patterns (Climate and Urban Form Challenges)

Past growth => Slow Future Evolution

Past Recommendations:

• Create Growth Boundaries/ Stop Suburbanization

• Limit Infrastructure Spending

No real BOLD planning considerations (notwithstanding the legacy)

• “Re-ordering” Virtually Impossible for Historical / Political Reasons

New Regional Policies Necessary

Most New Strategies Possible at Local Level – If Suburbs Take the Challenge

2010 2020 20402030

Chicago Metro: Over 100 Years of Growth

Source:

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Benefits Time-Scale

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Reduce Total Vehicle Miles Traveled (Climate and Urban Form Challenges)

2010 2020 20402030

Regional Policies

1. Reduce Total Miles of Travel

• Trip-length shortening not as beneficial as cutting down on number of trips- Joe Cortright, Impresa Consulting for “CEOs for Cities”

• California SB 375 Example (did not include VMT reduction as a goal)

2. Extend Transit Service to Outlying Suburban Communities

Local Strategies

1. Encourage Higher Density Living2. Encourage Live-Work Units3. Encourage People to Live Close to Work4. Build TODs5. Avoid Car Trips

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Benefits Time-Scale

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New Mobility Technology Considerations

2010 2020 20402030

Toyota FCHV in 2015“Shockingly Low Price”

Honda FCXClarity: 2009

New Alternative Fuels; Zero-Emission Vehicle Technologies

My Crystal Ball ?!

In Another Generation:1. NMT use wide-spread2. Less serious concern with GHG emissions/pollution??3. Little change in locational decisions4. More cars on limited capacity roads5. More Traffic Congestion 6. More Need For Walkable Mixed-use 7. Communities With Transit Options:

WHY Local Strategies Will Matter

-Toyota Motorswww.autobloggreen.com July 20, 2009 article

NMT Evolution (in recent times)!

”Since VMT are not projected to decreasesignificantly in the near or long-term in the Chicago region, CMAP’s strategies to promotealternative fuels are important to help save energyand mitigate GHG and other pollutants” –Volpe Center, U.S. DOT -- October 2008Action Strategy Paper on Climate Change and Energy

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Benefits Time-Scale

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Local Strategies: Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism

New Urbanism: A 20+ year old Planning and Urban Design DisciplineNU learns from the virtues of existing and past cities.NU helps create: Compact, Connected, Walkable, Diverse Neighborhoods with Mixed-Uses Quality Public Realm and High Quality of Life Distinct Transportation Solutions New Codes and Tools for Implementation

Examples from City of Chicago: Neighborhoods and Boulevards

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NU Principles for Suburban Neighborhoods (Local Strategies)

Create Inter-connected Street Networks Between Neighborhoods Create Neighborhoods with Mixed-Uses Centers within Walking Distance of Most Residents Locate Neighborhood Centers with Exposure and Access to Major Arterials Allow A Variety of Residential Types Allow Moderately High Densities Focus on Urban Design along with Land-use, Transportation, Finances and Services Create Hierarchy of Streets/Reflected in Urban From Create Quality Places Evolve as a Suburban Community…Become More Urban – “New Urban”

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Adopt not just a tax-revenue-based land-use and transportation policy…

NU Principles for Roadway and Context Design (Local Strategies)

But an “Urban Design Policy” to allow roadway hierarchy (Boulevards for example) with multiple transportation choices (GREEN TRAMWAYS!), mixed-uses and multiple residential types M Urban

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NU Design Principles (Local Strategies)

For better traffic circulation and less traffic congestion, avoid/minimize cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets as they promote greater cardependence

Instead, allow well-connected network of streets that may or may not be rectilinear

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Suburban Mixed-Use Community

Harbor Town, Memphis, TN:Variety of Residential TypesMixed-Uses; Walkable andConnected Neighborhoods;Boulevard System;Strong Sense of Place

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Suburban Community + Town Center

New Town at St. Charles, MO:Innovative Variety of Residential Types; Mixed-Use Center/Civic Center; Integrated/Creative Stormwater System; High-quality Public Realm/Sense of Place

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Legacy Center, Plano, TexasTown Center on street grid; Commercial, Office, Hotel, RestaurantsTownhomes, Condominiums/Apartments; Central Civic SpaceSense of Place

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: New Suburban Downtown

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Addison Circle, Addison, Texas:Close to suburban train stationPrimarily Residential with Townhomes and Apartments; Major Open Space Central to PlanModerately High Density; High Quality of Space/Strong Sense of Place

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Residential + Mixed-Use TOD

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Southlake Center, Southlake, Texas:Central Civic Space: Foreground to Village HallSurrounded by Mixed-Use Shopping + Offices, Entertainment, Restaurants and TownhomesMajor Innovation from Single-Use Shopping Center (as initially proposed)Highly Successful Community Destination/Community Pride

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Community Shopping + City Hall

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Plano TOD, Texas: New downtown/TOD at a DART stationModerately dense Neighborhoods with Mixed-Use ShoppingEconomic Development/Transit Ridership Increase/Sustainable Model

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Suburban Evolution with New Urbanism: Residential + Mixed-Use TOD

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Incidentally, Public Demand for Transit *

Not Sure: 3%

Maintain/Repair Existing Roads, Highways, Bridges:

50%

Improve Transit:

31%

Expand/ Improve Roads:

16%Build New Roads:

20%

Improve Public Transportation:

47%

Build WalkableCommunities:

25%

Not Sure:

8%

Build commuter rail, light rail and subways:

75%

Build highwaysand freeways:

20%

Not Sure: 5%

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Survey Questions*:1. Transportation Priorities of Federal Government2. Best Long-Term Solutions to Reduce Congestion3. Transportation Approach to Accommodate Growth

*January 2009 Growth and Transportation Survey by Hart Assoc. As reported in “Common Ground” Summer 2009, Published by National Association of Realtors

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Also…Federal Livable Communities Act (Local Strategies Support)

The new Livable Communities Act Provisions: Create competitive planning GRANTS to establish long-term plans Create challenge GRANTS to implement the long-term plans Establish a Federal Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at the HUD Establish a Federal Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities to coordinate federal sustainable development policies and programs

August 6, 2009: Senator Christopher Dodd introduced a new Livable Communities Act that should help communities:

> Mitigate traffic congestion > Reduce greenhouse gas emissions> Cut down on fuel consumption> Protect open space > Build affordable housing> Revitalize existing main streets and urban centers

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New Urbanism Implementation Tools: Form-Based Codes

1. Relatively New Regulation Tool in Illinois

2. Based on A Community Vision

3. Focus: Public Realm (Form and Quality of the Built Environment)

4. Place-specific to Retain/Create Character

5. Several Urban Standards

6. Graphic/More Comprehensible

7. Predictable Urban Form and Character

8. Different from Conventional Zoning Regulations FBCs more concerned with Urban Form, Less with Use FBCs facilitate mixing of uses Not concerned with F.A.R.s, Densities and Lot Coverages Allow administrative approval of projects

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Focus on the Quality of Public Realm

Project Credit: Dover Kohl & Partners

Public Realm:Influenced bybuildings architecture;the proportions of thesize of public spaceto building height, andthe amenities and materials in the public space

Form-Based Codes/Regulations

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Predictable Placement and Bulk of Buildings

• Predictable massing and bulk of future projects

• Benefits: Less public concern about bulk and other impacts Streamlined project review process Good for developers too

Project Credit: Dover Kohl & Partners

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Form-Based Codes/Regulations

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An Integrated Code with Standards for: Thoroughfares, Frontages, Building Types, Public Spaces, Landscaping – All Linked to a Regulating Plan

Typically Easier to Comprehend and Administer

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Form-Based Codes/Regulations

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Conventional/Euclidian FBCs Based on Abstract Land Use and Zoning Categories

Segregated/Isolated Uses

Proscribes (What Is Not Allowed)

Unpredictable Building Bulk/Form (F.A.R.s and Densities by Lot Size)

Unpredictable Character

Rarely Any Sense of Place/Form-less

Based on Adopted Community Vision

Mixed Uses

Prescribe (What Is Desirable)

Predictable Building/Urban Form (Bulk Limits regardless of Lot Size )

Vision of Built Form Predetermined Site Development Capacity Analyses; Retain existing or create new character

Power of Place/Strong Urban Form

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Form-Based Codes/Regulations

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Allow mixing of uses

Allow diversity of housing options/housing types

Allow moderately higher densities

Allow street connectivity

Allow multi-functional streets/boulevards

Create compact and walkable neighborhoods

Create great places

Altogether…Become More Urban: “New Urban”

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Local Strategies for Suburban Communities (Summary)

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Can the Suburbs Stop Resisting Change?

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Stop Regarding Density as an Issue > Allow Creative Density for Making Better Communities

Stop Isolating Land Uses in Single Pods >Allow Creative Mix of Land Uses

Stop Treating Roadways as Only Transportation Routes >Allow Hierarchy of Roadways to Create Places

Stop Maximizing Revenues by Maximizing Commercial Uses >Allow Residential or Mixed-Uses Along Arterials

Stop Resisting Change >Become More Urban

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Closing Remarks

Future of Suburbs• Must Evolve Given Economic, Energy and Climate Challenges• Evolution Will be Essential for Survival/Revival

New Urbanism Offers Key Answers for Suburban Evolution• NU Principles Should be Part of Local Strategies and Policies• Quality Places and Quality of Life Will Make Better Communities• NU Provides Effective Tools for Implementation and Evolution

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Thank You!

Mahender VasandaniPresident

M Square | Urban Design0N262 ArmstrongGeneva, Illinois 60134T: 630.845.1202F: 630.444.1852C: 630.853.0733mgv@msqre.comwww.msqre.com

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