Urban Sprawl and Urban Sprawl and GHG Pollution—SB GHG Pollution—SB

375375NCEL PresentationNCEL Presentation

Kip Lipper-CA SenateKip Lipper-CA SenateSeptember 8, 2008September 8, 2008

Portland, ORPortland, OR

GHG EMISSIONSGHG EMISSIONS

Cars and Light Cars and Light TrucksTrucks

Percent of Total Percent of Total

California GHG California GHG InventoryInventory

24

24.5

25

25.5

26

26.5

27

27.5

28

28.5

1990

2004

Source: CARB GHG Inventory 2007

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent of GHG Growth 1990 - 2004

Cars and light Trucks(50.2%)

Agriculture, Forestryetc (11.6%)

Industrial Processesand Products (23.4%)

Electricity (4.9%)

Net Other (8.9%)

Source: CARB GHG Inventory 2007

THE ROLE OF LAND USE IN MEETING CALIFORNIA’S THE ROLE OF LAND USE IN MEETING CALIFORNIA’S ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS, ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS, Final CEC Staff Final CEC Staff Report, Report, August 2007 CEC-600-2007-008-SF (Page 9)August 2007 CEC-600-2007-008-SF (Page 9)

““Even with ARB’s greenhouse gas regulations and Even with ARB’s greenhouse gas regulations and implementation of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard implementation of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), the increase in GHG emissions from the (LCFS), the increase in GHG emissions from the increased travel will outweigh the policies’ combined increased travel will outweigh the policies’ combined benefits. The state, along with regional planning benefits. The state, along with regional planning organizations and local government, must address organizations and local government, must address Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) growth, and the most Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) growth, and the most effective way to do so is through better land use effective way to do so is through better land use planning and development.”planning and development.”

Unless the growth in VMT is constrained, California will not achieve its AB 32 goals.

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

120%

130%

140%

150%

160%

170%

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

2005

= 1

00%

Vehicle Miles Traveled CO2 Emissions

Fuel: Low Carbon Std Vehicle Stds (AB1493)

1990 Transp CO2 Emissions

Based on CEC, CARB and CALTRANS data

CO2

1990 levels

Growth in VMT will overwhelm savings from LCFS and AB 1493

SB 375SB 375

The goal of SB 375 is to reduce GHG The goal of SB 375 is to reduce GHG emissions from cars and light trucks emissions from cars and light trucks through incentives for better through incentives for better development patterns so people can development patterns so people can choose to drive less.choose to drive less.

How will SB 375 Accomplish How will SB 375 Accomplish Its Goal?Its Goal?

Regional Transportation PlanningRegional Transportation Planning:: Existing law requires regional Existing law requires regional

transportation plans to include a transportation plans to include a development pattern for the region.development pattern for the region.

SB 375 provides that the SB 375 provides that the development pattern should be development pattern should be designed to achieve regional GHG designed to achieve regional GHG reduction targets set by CARB.reduction targets set by CARB.

How does a regional development How does a regional development pattern achieve GHG reductions?pattern achieve GHG reductions?

Greater housing choicesGreater housing choices: housing located : housing located closer to employment and commercial centers.closer to employment and commercial centers.

Greater transportation choicesGreater transportation choices: housing : housing located closer to a variety of transportation located closer to a variety of transportation options.options.

ImpactImpact: Research shows that with these : Research shows that with these policies people will choose to drive 20 – 40% policies people will choose to drive 20 – 40% less, reducing congestion as well as emissions.less, reducing congestion as well as emissions.

SACOGSACOGBase CaseBase Case

Urban Urban Footprint Footprint — 2050— 2050

SACOGSACOGPreferredPreferredScenarioScenario

Urban Urban Footprint Footprint — 2050— 2050

This Urban Footprint

occupies 350 square miles less land and reduces and CO2 by 15%

SB 375 would achieve a better SB 375 would achieve a better development patterns only through development patterns only through

incentives.incentives.

Future transportation funding would Future transportation funding would be directed to projects that be directed to projects that implement the regional implement the regional transportation plan.transportation plan.

New provisions of CEQA would be New provisions of CEQA would be available to local governments with available to local governments with local plans consistent with the local plans consistent with the regional plan.regional plan.

SB 375 will reduce SB 375 will reduce congestion and save congestion and save

transportation money.transportation money. Better development patterns in the Better development patterns in the

Sacramento region achieve Sacramento region achieve congestion relief that would congestion relief that would otherwise cost otherwise cost $16 Billion$16 Billion..

Better development patterns in the Better development patterns in the L.A. Region achieve congestion relief L.A. Region achieve congestion relief that would otherwise cost that would otherwise cost $50 $50 BillionBillion..

Better land use patterns Better land use patterns can have a dramatic effect, can have a dramatic effect,

but they take time.but they take time.

The state is growing at 1.8% per year. We The state is growing at 1.8% per year. We can only affect the location of the new can only affect the location of the new development.development.

In order to meet the AB 32 goal for 2020, In order to meet the AB 32 goal for 2020, we will need several years of better we will need several years of better development patterns.development patterns.

Improved growth can make a difference Improved growth can make a difference over time. 52% of the buildings in 2030 over time. 52% of the buildings in 2030 are yet to be constructed.are yet to be constructed.

SB 375 Does 4 ThingsSB 375 Does 4 Things It adds new state content to the Regional Transportation It adds new state content to the Regional Transportation

Plan – a Sustainable Communities Strategy, thus Plan – a Sustainable Communities Strategy, thus leveraging existing transportation funding incentives to leveraging existing transportation funding incentives to support growth in the good locationssupport growth in the good locations

It adds new CEQA provisions to assist land use decisions It adds new CEQA provisions to assist land use decisions that implement the Sustainable Communities Strategy.that implement the Sustainable Communities Strategy.

It adds new modeling provisions to accurately account for It adds new modeling provisions to accurately account for the transportation impacts of land use decisions.the transportation impacts of land use decisions.

It adds a new provision for determining the regional need It adds a new provision for determining the regional need for housing so that it will be consistent with the for housing so that it will be consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy.Sustainable Communities Strategy.

Regional Transportation Regional Transportation PlansPlans

Under current law RTPs must have the Under current law RTPs must have the following elements:following elements: A policy elementA policy element An action elementAn action element A financial elementA financial element

SB 375 adds a new element to the SB 375 adds a new element to the RTPsRTPs

- The Sustainable Communities StrategyThe Sustainable Communities Strategy

The Sustainable The Sustainable Communities StrategyCommunities Strategy

Regional GHG TargetsRegional GHG Targets

The Air Resources Board sets Greenhouse Gas The Air Resources Board sets Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Targets for each region.(GHG) Reduction Targets for each region.

The Targets are limited to emissions from the car The Targets are limited to emissions from the car and light truck sector.and light truck sector.

The Targets must take into account other CARB The Targets must take into account other CARB strategies for reducing GHG emissions from this strategies for reducing GHG emissions from this sector.sector.

The Sustainable The Sustainable Communities StrategyCommunities Strategy

ContentsContents:: Identify Areas for Housing and Identify Areas for Housing and

DevelopmentDevelopment Identify a Transportation NetworkIdentify a Transportation Network Identify Significant Resource Areas and Identify Significant Resource Areas and

FarmlandFarmland Set forth a Development Pattern that will Set forth a Development Pattern that will

achieve the GHG Reduction Targets if achieve the GHG Reduction Targets if there is a feasible way to do sothere is a feasible way to do so

Comply with the federal Clean Air act.Comply with the federal Clean Air act.

The Sustainable The Sustainable Communities StrategyCommunities Strategy

If an agency cannot achieve the GHG If an agency cannot achieve the GHG Reduction Targets within the constraints of Reduction Targets within the constraints of realistic funding and realistic land use realistic funding and realistic land use plans, it must prepare a plans, it must prepare a Supplement Supplement showing how the Targets could be achieved.showing how the Targets could be achieved.

The Supplement may identify alternative The Supplement may identify alternative development patterns, increased transit development patterns, increased transit programs or other policies that would programs or other policies that would enable the region to achieve the targets.enable the region to achieve the targets.

The Sustainable The Sustainable Communities StrategyCommunities Strategy

Relationship to Other Planning ActivitiesRelationship to Other Planning Activities

• The subregional planning process in SCAG is protected.

• The strategy must consider spheres of influence.

• The Strategy must be consistent with the state planning priorities.

• The Strategy must be consistent with and cannot conflict with federal RTP requirements.

• The Strategy has no land use regulatory content.

The Sustainable The Sustainable Communities StrategyCommunities Strategy

Grandparented Transportation Grandparented Transportation Projects:Projects:

STIP projects through 2010STIP projects through 2010 Prop 1B projectsProp 1B projects Projects identified in voter approved Projects identified in voter approved

sales tax increases prior to 12/31/2006sales tax increases prior to 12/31/2006

CEQACEQA55 New Provisions New Provisions

1.1. A new exemption for projects that qualify as a A new exemption for projects that qualify as a sustainable communities project.sustainable communities project.

2.2. A sustainable communities environmental A sustainable communities environmental assessment process for projects where the assessment process for projects where the impacts can be fully mitigated.impacts can be fully mitigated.

3.3. A short form EIR process where findings of A short form EIR process where findings of overriding consideration are needed.overriding consideration are needed.

4.4. New provisions to make traffic mitigation a New provisions to make traffic mitigation a policy decision rather than a project by project policy decision rather than a project by project determination.determination.

5.5. Specific authorization to tier at the project level Specific authorization to tier at the project level from the climate impact analysis performed for from the climate impact analysis performed for the sustainable communities strategy.the sustainable communities strategy.

CEQACEQASustainable Communities ProjectsSustainable Communities Projects

CEQA Exemption: These projects must CEQA Exemption: These projects must satisfy satisfy

environmental criteria environmental criteria land use criteria land use criteria one item from a list of optional one item from a list of optional

public benefit criteria.public benefit criteria.

CEQACEQASustainable Communities Sustainable Communities

Environmental AssessmentEnvironmental Assessment

Projects must have at least 10 units to the acre Projects must have at least 10 units to the acre and be at least 75% residential.and be at least 75% residential.

All mitigation measures required by previous All mitigation measures required by previous EIRs or by the local government must be EIRs or by the local government must be included to avoid any significant impact on the included to avoid any significant impact on the environment.environment.

The SCEA must be reviewed and approved at a The SCEA must be reviewed and approved at a public hearing.public hearing.

In a court challenge, the standard of review for In a court challenge, the standard of review for the SCEA is the substantial evidence standard the SCEA is the substantial evidence standard instead of the fair argument standard.instead of the fair argument standard.

CEQACEQAShort Form EIRShort Form EIR

If a project cannot be fully mitigated, If a project cannot be fully mitigated, it may utilize a short form EIR.it may utilize a short form EIR.

It does not need to analyze regional It does not need to analyze regional cumulative or growth inducing cumulative or growth inducing effects.effects.

It does not need to analyze off-site It does not need to analyze off-site alternatives.alternatives.

CEQACEQATraffic MitigationTraffic Mitigation

Local Governments are authorized to elevateLocal Governments are authorized to elevatetraffic mitigation from a project battle to a traffic mitigation from a project battle to a

policypolicyissue. issue. Local governments may adopt policies to Local governments may adopt policies to

mitigate the traffic impacts of projects.mitigate the traffic impacts of projects. Projects must have at least 10 units to the Projects must have at least 10 units to the

acre and be at least 75% residential.acre and be at least 75% residential. Projects that comply with the local policies Projects that comply with the local policies

may not be required to do further traffic may not be required to do further traffic mitigation under CEQA.mitigation under CEQA.

SB 375--ConclusionSB 375--Conclusion

The hard work lies ahead.The hard work lies ahead.