HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02231999 - D3 D.S3
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM: SUPERVISOR DONNA GERBER
Costa
DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 1999 4
County
"DICT; REPORT ON THE TRI-VALLEY BUSINESS COUNCIL AND TRI-VALLEY
REGIONAL VISION PROJECT
SPECIFIC RECI1EST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION($)i SACKGROLIND AND JusTIFIcATION
Recommendation:
ACCEPT REPORT from the Tri-Valley Regional Vision Project.
Background:
In 1995, elected leaders from Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Danville,
San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore produced a Strategic Plan for the
Tri-Valley area. This involved collaboration among cities and two counties
crossing county lines. Emanating out of this collaborative effort was the recent
Tri-Valley Transportation Pee, which the Board of Supervisors adopted in 1998.
Another by-product of the Strategic Plan was the "Tri-Valley Economic Vitality
Project" which was an 8 month collaborative process involving about 100
participants across all sectors in the Tri-Valley , and it resulted in a report in May
1997 entitled, "Coming of Age: Building Economic Community in the Tri-Valley
Region". This pulled information together and began the development of shared
values and goals for the region.
Following the 1997 report listed above, a project was started to begin the
process to establish benchmarks or actions in order to measure progress toward
reaching shared goals. It is called the "Tri-Valley Vision Project', and about 35
key regional stakeholders have been involved during the past year and one-half.
Supervisor Gerber has represented Contra Costa County. (See attachments.)
This report will be augmented with oral presentations by Supervisor Gerber, Tom
O'Malley, and Council Member, Millie Greenberg, and will clarify the status of the
project. In short, the "vision Project" is predicated on the belief that consciously
establishing regional goals (and criteria for measuring them) allows the Tri-Valley
area to prevent external forces from operating without direction thus protecting
the quality of life essential to long term economic vitality. ;
CONTINUED ON ATTACWINT: SIGNAWRE:
RECOMMtNOATION OF COUNTY ADMINtVMTOR RECOMMENDATION Of SOARD COMMrrnt J
APPROVE CTPIER
ACTION Of SL'ARD ON 77 =77 777A"*O' D AS RECOWMENDED ;.
VOTE OF SLf'!'ER MORS
I HIREDY OMIFY THAT TWS It A TRUE
UNANIMOUS("91141 ZxZ2 e— AND CORRECT COO V Of AN ANION TAKEN
AYES: #OSS: AND iEh"WtD ON THE MINUTU OF TM DOM
ASSENT: ASSTAIN: OF SMRYISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTLS720, >`
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLE THE 800;0 OF
PUP£Rvt$oRS AND COUWTY ADMINISTRATOR
i
OF.lb6 l tV/pO t
y
e ess
cif
TRI-VALLEY REGIONAL VISION PROJECT
QJBJE
TIV
To quantify the Tri-Valley Region Vision Statement. Develop a visual outline of the Regional
Vision, establish key quality of life and economic vitality elements critical to achievement of the
vision,and establish goals for each element and benchmarks to measure progress against goals.
PR�'irR.A
• Conduct regional general population surrey to determine public values and desires for future
quality of life and economic vitality.
• Assemble a Vision Team of 30-35 key regional stakeholders to review survey results, further
develop strategy elements,and establish an implementation plan..
• Vision Team develops economic, social,environmental and governmental indicators tied to
the desired outcomes of the vision strategy. Also,develop benchmarks to measure progress
against desired outcome, i.e.:
• fobs/Housing Balance
• Available Affordable Housing
• Local Residents Employed in Tri-Valley
• Ratio Open Space to Developed band
• Planned Agricultural Acreage
• Develop a visual outline of the Regional Vision
• Vision Team presents the vision and benchmarks measurements to political and private
organizations to gain acceptance and commitment. Goal to have each City and County
incorporate vision and benchmarks into their respective General Plans and governing
decisions.
P.O.Box 3258 1 Livermore,CA 94551-3258 A (510)81+5-5927 A FAX(510)463-0192
lAybee PWW1,'
Steve Brooks Tr%Vall C uui*r Fund
Cathlb Brown C p Slays+�O�'I�i�IC
lohn Om DOMOO
DennisBecky City ofPlea Wnt()n
Ibis Eloe Cal State University—Howard
snWEASIOW Clorox Company
M y►Pelt V8116r Csm door!Cir
Joe Gabbat Doct=wtum It
DOOM Graber Contras CLAY Sspeear
Jim Ohialmetti Sigmttutepaw
er Plc
Millie Grecaberg Mayor,Town of Danville
Sett Hassetty Alam &Cauaty Supervisor
OW 110"ott Moor,Chy of DOW
Kris KAM WCOOM Inc.
Steve Kaltbo#y Uthoff VineyardalUm 7 WSW Dist.
e Madden R+o U PropWy Developamat
David hf rtes Jnterast OnW Col
cynd"Pattou Sims ChA
Nobsel Ile" Livermore Valley W-mepowas Ann,
RooR, City of San Ramn
Got*m Rasmussen Fuser
David Rounds cam Gats Nowspap
Bob S" Eoon Doc ap Allam for Business
loan Soppubt The lhdq�
Bob Silva Des+a Group
MiA*810 Silva PVAO a"&Elefto Company
Pete Snyder BART Director
Vta Sood UvarmortVAmsdor Tran Attdwxity
Bet Wartier Mayor,City of Pleasamon
Alice Waterow Stc+slararidge Mal!
Bili Wheder Black Tic TrwWortation,
JbWxs=Clarsrear,csl!',l "v I;!!rats�ars
rim Iful t Regional Vision project chaiarmssn
GibMWWA
Ste"Trmw C'lsata main,'Tzi-Val6y?kuinan C.eruvw4l
Phil Wente Vhion Ccr+s nUttee Chaka"
Q
C
O;T4 o
d
i
4,
LN s
CL
LM
CL IM
o
CL Z
E
i
s
E
,0
■0 0
sr�rr
r�r
0
E
r �1•r .:
}#0
I�i.i
.0
C.
CL
W 0
it
tA �; v
OR
it
t ° 0 c P, i
t} j
it z 7
60
W It
6L u
i Cd 3 0 V
1.14
° v ,�: ` o
TZ
14o so
a t� d5 t ■ _ ■ * w
ca
i
LES
4in
A.,,A
bz o 't
•� as a• � � `� as L`` � �s � � � C�.", .�� � .� 6�
0v y ads to e y `a
tee '
•escd
u o t c
r yU} 441
�i U ` ^`U bf: Ld'' C1+. tt' U 93 £J `�1 °`'x ee`'.. t3 '3 +•+
't 0 10
S ;may ✓. 1 vt �' tJ y ' ` 5
�+ ' +
rt x * rt s
•
1E
1
214
44 �14
Q'e Ir4 i
i U
i
S 1
t
t
bD 33
n ' Cy y
In
y 14) �
01
to
td
oi
��,, •L' oa � .�� �1 � as � '"p°' � ::. � � � � '•�'-, .� ai '�` "�"*� '
t
yl �r4 •�� O�r��a,,,t, .e� � u
iJ 'moi bA `'AOu
n v
yc
o v
t1 bZAS * a * r
o
t
st s
y
" 1A Q
i
a�
0
tz
`a 0 Ao °
+
s w i
'
� , 0 � v P
m
50
�a
40
_
_
+
bZ
t •
't
f'' o
a
:tt bO
;'. OA u
o
i 46
e
i o
:s
o
�� v
tz
r• ° �
its,
to
s
t
wo
t s�
ta
zt
et '
' C4 ( w a r
s ;
r �
;y
1
z
i*Sy
00.
i
� � 4
r�
i C1 ZI
r- lu
o U d o
u 'b 0 '
0 0-
tu to
v° ° f # ro i 'ate u
3 �
i 0 t
• a is
o 044
n b
i prp -ae o
�+ y�t �� � e•,� � Cwt
co .�
VAI i
9
t
i
6.;
bz
cd
i � s
too-
tp
Irl
tri'700
00
i0o UO
1�0 C: 0
0 7 �., t�
' -?01 ,
tp. ►
�t
i
tr.► t�
Soo
"000 0
%too
'Vr/`+ ✓
0 ,� 0
tp
�rs j
too
;t:�- .000! t
`}O
• 0 ►
0) 0It 15 ;
00
0 wr
INA-
��
°> e ,
�t
t
i
Safeguard the rural
qq F ' character of the Sierra
need t&' at1ier f A f Nevada
y r� (may maintaining
yy ny +��+n{yy
KY:.�IX7a'!`�'^^�""2+9%3ti �`• 1\'evada by 22ta�2 ktK#t 21Zt�
with lcxnit uselanning'ln the ` a clear edge between
Sierra to make sure that ra,�iid • town and country.
, �
growth 1066 t destrrry
gutty oflif and Preserve historic
nom ic health tsf the region° x, i assets.
p1 '
,? t% Build to create endur-
-Counties should do more ing value and beauty.
Fr
steer new development into
existing towns instead of Enhance the economic
allowing it to spread all ever ; ',`` vitality of our small
the landscape and des towns through on o-
rural quality of life,,(72%) ing reinvestment in the
*Counties should Be doing X14- downtown core.
more to preserve toric', '
buildings other g lstoric Anticipate and address
the housing needs of
sources.'(6216)
all community resi-
'Counties should put dents.
e,00rt into ensuring new x
construction has in with the .Y: f,w Conserve and show-
historic character and scale of ,>,.r ease each community's
, ' natural assets.
our communities."(6Ci9�)
m ore to rtes should t , oing r Maintain the economic
productivity of our
' , p nentlycerx��
irperz s e�xni iagr#cuttrural: Y _ ; region's agricultural
Lands" t396 lands and forests.
*Counties shoulii take nger Do not place ,people
-I discouragee�Te and.structures in
u.
fOrrt Building homes harm's cvay
they are' vuineraBle to fires,.
floods and other naturcii - r Maintain the health of
iscrsters"(75 ? 4= the natural systems
which support life in
'We need to protect wilddt,fe
habitat and ecosystems tri tho a the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Nevada to maintain the
� . Expand local and
health of our natural environ- regional transportation
meet,forgeople and for
options to reduce
wildITe.'(821.
traffic congestion and
i the intensity of public
Source:Sierra Nvda ; dependence on the
Voter Survey, y automobile.
AHWAHNEE PRINCIPLES
for Resource-Efficient Communities
Reprinted from
Western City Magazine,
September, 1994
'S,
I
1
a
Sana Barbara.American Institute Pedestrian.-oriented street in Sesta Monica.
ofArchiteck,California Council ROMA Design Group
Vk[ODt SAWK
7 SI
y�j
Seaside,Florida.DPZ architects Horton Plaza—Where the mall was sited downtown.City of San Diego
sties everywhere are facing similar problems -- increasing traffic
congestion and worsening air pollution, the continuing lass of open
space,the need for costly Improvements to road and public services,
the inequitable distribution of economic resources, and the lassof a
sense of community. The problems seem overwhelming and we suffer
from their consequences every day. City character is blurred until every
place becomes like every other place, and all adding up to leo place.
Many of our social,economic and envi- everywhere by car—here is no other
ronmental problems can be traced to land option.We must take a car to the store for
use practices adopted since World War H. a gallon of milk,drive the children to little
In the late 1340s we began to adopt a league practice, ever spend part of the
notion that life would be better and we lunch hour driving to a place to eat.And
would all have more freedom kr we planned as roads become increasingly clogged and
and built our communities around the services further from our home,we spend,
automobile.Gradually,rather than increas- our time as anonymous individuals wait
ing our freedom, auto-oriented land use ing for the traffic light to change rattier
planning has reduced our options.Now,it than chatting with friends at the corner
takes much more time than it used to store or playing ball on the lawn with the
carry out our daily activities.We must go neighborhood kids.
U,,A(;UF1 OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
Rather than designing towns so that we developing new notions of land use
can walk to work or to the store,we have planning:Andres Duany and Elizabeth
separated uses into homogeneous, sin- Plater-Zyberk, Stefanos Polyzoides and
gle—use enclaves, spreading out these Elizabeth Moule, Peter Calthorpe,and .,
uses on ever-=increasing acres of land.We Michael Corbett. These innovators
grouped together housing of similar types were asked to come to agreement
for similar income levels. We clustered about what it is that the new planning
retail stores into huge structures called ideas—from neotraditional planning
mails, surrounded by endless acres of to sustainable design—have in com-
parking slots. Businesses imitated the mon and from there, to develop a
mall, creating"business parks", usually set of community principles.They were
without a park in sight, and with people then asked how each community should
working in clusters of similar buildings relate to the region,and to develop a set of
and parking spaces.At the same time, regional principles. Finally, they were
public squares, the corner store, main charged with defining how these ideas
street, and all the places where people might be implemented by cities and coun-
could meet and a sense of community ties.The architects'ideas were drafted by
could happen were replaced by an abyss attorney Steve Weissman into a form which
of asphalt. would be useful to local elected officials
Even people are segregated by age and provide a vision for an alternative to
and income level.And those who cannot urban sprawl.A preamble,topics of spe-
drive or who cannot afford a car face an cii'tc ideas, community principles,
enormous disadvantage. In the words of regional principles and implementation
Pasadena's Mayor Rick Cole,"There's a of the principles was presented in the
loss of place, a loss of Dope, and it's fall of 2991 to about 100 local elected
killing our souls." officials at a conference at the
The effects of single-use, sprawling Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite.There
development patterns are becoming they received both a highly enthusiastic
increasing clear. And, with that has response and their title—the Ahwahnee
evolved a realization that there is a better Principles.
way.Towns of the type built earlier in this
century—those compact,walkable com-
munities where you could walk to the COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES
store and kids could walk to school,where The community principles define a com
there was a variety of housing types from muni y where housing and all the things
apartments over stores to single-family needed to meet the daily needs of resi
units with front porches facing tree-lined, dents are located within walking distance
narrow streets—these towns provided a of one another.They call for returning
life style that now seems to many of us far to historic population densities around
preferable to today's neighborhoods.Thus transit stops to provide the critical
we have seen an increasing interest in a mass of people and activities in these
111 .
number of concepts that would bring us areas needed to make transit eco r :•..` c j
back to a more traditional style of devel- nornically viable.They call for Nous
opment and a style of planning that would ing which provides places to live for
be more in tune with nature including a variety of people within a single
"neotraditional planning" "sustainable neighborhood instead of separat-
development", "transit—oriented design", ing people by income level,age or.family
the"new urbanism",and the concept of situation.
"livable"communities. The Ahwahree Principles state that de-
in 1991,at the instigation of Local Gov- velopment should be compact but with open
ernment Commission, staff-member space provided in the form of squares or l '
Peter Lutz,author of the New Urbanism, parks.Urban designer Michael Freedman
the commission brought together a group describes this as space-making rather j p,
of architects who have been leavers in than space-occupying development.
ti �•
Mather than surrounding buildings in s
Judith Corbett is the Executive Director of the the center of unusable landscaped A
Local Government Commission, a nonproylt, areas(space-occupying development),
nonpartisan membership organization of local Freedman says we should use build-
elected officials committed tofnding local solu- irgs to frame public space (place-
tions to problems of state and national signifi- making design),
cance.Joe Velasquez is a Council Memberfor
the City of Cathedral City. Continued
WEST RN CITY,SEPTEM.T3ER 1994
The Ahwahnee Principles:Toward More Livable Communities,Continued
E
Freedman holds that to pian for more that we can actually see where one com-
livable communities, local government munity ends and another begins.
Growth in Population and officials must understand the human From a transpot-tation standpoint,one
Vehicle Miles Traveled scale--that is, the basic relationship of of the most important principles is that
people to the environment in which they all parts of the community should be con-
live. In neighborhoods, for example,we nected by streets or paths — no more
must recognize the relationship of the dead end cul de sacs, fences, or walls
to house to the front door to the street. In which prevent us from going directly
tax tai doing so,we will create the sorts of places from one point to another. Narrow
140% Mug which bring people together and create a streets,rather than wide streets,are rec-
tYGx • ; vitality, a sense of community. By fram- ommended because they help slow traffic
IN% USA ` ing open space with buildings which open and make it safer for pedestrians and
tst
onto it,we gather more eyes to look upon bicycles.Narrow streets also create more
60% • the area and that creates places that feel attractive, more people-friendly neigh-
4n
more safer.And with that design solution borhoods and shopping districts.
comes more compact development d Finally,the community principles call for
FOA W fop VMT tcf VAT development which has less costly infra- more resource-efficient land use planning
MP.
l ningMP.NO2&d'-sstructure requirements,and development the preservation of the natural terrain,
av mus{`°" which is more walkable and more easily drainage and vegetation;and the use of rat-
served by transit. ural drainage systems and drought tolerant
Further,the principles call for an end to landscaping and recycling.They ask that
the monotony of contiguous, look—alike buildings be oriented (as required by the
building by separating each community California Solar Fights Act of 1978)to tape
with a well defined edge,such as an agri- advantage of the sun for heating and nat-
cultural greenbelt or wildlife corridor, so ural breezes for cooling.
Modal-Split �
(as percentage of total trips)
90%
80 3
70
60%
50%
40% I
3
30
20%
,x
jry(
0%
United States Great Britain Frame West Switzerland Austria Netherlands Sweden
Germany
0 Auto N Walking/Bicycle Public Transit 11 Other
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
REGIONAL PRINCIPLES vided visual models of all planning propos-
The regional principles call for the lard- als."Without involving citizens from every s, '+ p ` ,,:• r.
use planning structure to be integrated sector of the community, including level
wi in a larger network built around t ap opens,the political viability of a new plan
sit rather than Lreeways,with regional insfi may be limited.Citizens must be getting
tutions and services located in the urban what they want and care enough to be
core. A perfect example of this can be vigilant about it so that the plan cannot t
found in the City of San Jose where city be changed by a single property owner`,
planners chose to locate a new sports sta out of self-interest. -u __
diurn in the downtown area,close to sever- But the stability of planning
p g policies
aI rail stops rather than off a freeway.The is not the only advantage of citizen par-
surrounding restaurants and shops are ticipation. Bringing together citizens to
benefiting from the increased number of create a common vision for the community �-
passers-by before and after games. and has more benefits than just the creation of a
freeway travel is less clogged than it other- good plan that will be upheld through time. �� F
wise would have been. The process itself can create a sense of �
The architects noted that regions community and an understanding among ,
should be distinct from one another previously warring factions. ¢
rather than fading into each another as However, it is difficult for citizens to
they largely do today.Each region should visualize what a new planning scheme
x
be surrounded by a wildlife corridor or is going to look like after it is built if _° -
greenbelt and the materials and methods they see only a one-dimensional r ,�
of construction should be specific to the sketch or read about the plan in a six-
region.
ixregion.Santa Barbara and Santa Fe come inch thick planning document. A ..'} .,.
forward as two excellent examples of number of techniques have been { j r ' ' '
communities which have followed thesedeveloped to address this problem. `
principles and which have realized there The visual preference survey, �Pr
are economic as well as aesthetic advan- where participants are provided an now? ? #
tages of doing so. Both of these cities opportunity to express their likes and dis- i
have implemented strict design guide- likes through judging slides,allows citizens a
lines for their downtowns which preserve to literally see concrete examples of their
the historical architectural styles of their options.Another useful technique is com-
regions. Because these cities have puter simulation where the visual results
retained a very special and distinct sense of a physical plan can be created on the
of place,they have become highly popu- computer.Another method involves tak
lar both as places to live and as tourist ing participants on a walk through their
destinations. own town to determine which portions
of the community look good and funs-
IMPLEMENTATION PRINCIPLES tion well and which do not.
The implementation strategy advanced
by the planners is fairly straightforward IMPLEMENTING THE -
and simple.First,the general plan should A H WA H N E E PRINCIPLES
be updated to incorporate the Ahwahnee Thie concepts embodied in the
Principles. Next, local governments Ahwahnee Principles are being imple-
should take charge of the planning merited by cities and counties throughout
process rather than simply continuing to the nation,with most of the activity occur-
react to piecemeal proposals, ring on the east and west coasts. In
Prior to any development, a specific Pasadena,the participation of 3,000 res
plan or a precise plan should be prepared idents from all sectors of the communi
based on the planning principles. With ty resulted in a general plan with a quid-
the adoption of specific plans,complying ing principle which states,"Pasadena
projects can then proceed with minimal will be a city where people can cir-
delay.The developer will know exactly culate without cars."The pian lays
what the community wants.There should out where growth should occur-
be no more costly, time-consuming, primarily along light rail stations
guessing games. and in neighborhood commercial
Finally,the architects out forth the most areas within walking distance of
critical principle of ail: "Plans should be
develcped through an open process and
participants in the process should be pro-
Continued
WE,STHN CITY, SE1-rE-vtBFR 1994
?ace Ahwahnee Principles:Toward More Livable Communities,Continued ---
residences.The city is now preparing spe- a 3,000 acre development near the Ontario
".: cific plans to guide what that growth airport to incorporate the concepts of the
should look like. One of the projects, a Ahwahnee Principles in that project.
mixed--use housing development near a With the assistance of urban designer
downtown rail stop,is already complete. Michael Freedman,the City of Cathedral
In San Jose, the city has produced, City is no longer focusing solely on den-
under the guidance of citizen advisory sity and the control of uses as a means
groups,a total of four specific plans for of guiding its future growth. At a joint
infill sites in various parts of the city meeting of the city council, planning
covering a total of almost 1,000 acres. commission, and architectural review
Their goal is to ensure that new committee, Freedman presented the
{° development will occur as compact, Ahwahnee Principles and the key role of
mixed use neighborhoods located local government in future planning and
near transitstops. general plan development. Cathedral
The City of San Diego has adopted City adopted the Ahwahnee Principles by
"Transit-Oriented Development Design resolution and has started to incorporate
Guidelines"for the purpose of redirect- them into its general plan.With only 50
ing existing patterns of building within percent of the city built out and develop
the city and helping reduce the com- went plans on the table,the city council
munity's dependence on the automo- acknowledged the importance of having
bile.The planning staff has completed planning guidelines.An innovative city
the first public review draft of a com- in the desert region, Cathedral City
! prehensive zoning code update that understands the best way to deliver good
' will create zoning designations to planning principles is to work both with
implement the guidelines. the community and the building indus-
"' In Sacramento,Walnut Creek, try to develop a comprehensive strategy
' Santa Barbara and San Diego, of planning more livable neighborhoods.
city officials have broken new Even the federal government has
ground by siting new shopping mails embraced the Ahwahnee Principles.Archi-
�1' downtown,near transit, rather than off tett Peter Calthorpe reports that the plan-
freeways.The benefits include both a ping concepts outlined by the Ahwahnee
' new surge of economic activity for Principles have been written into a guidance
rl
downtown businesses and a reduction document recently published the federal
in auto use and the associated nega- government.Calthorpe was a coauthor of
tive air quality impacts.The Califor- the document VisionlRealiO;produced by
nia Air Resources Board has noted the D.S.Department of Housing and Urban
s. that over 60 percent of the people Development for local government officials
arriving at San Diego's downtown interested in applying for Community
-1 mall, Horton Plaza, arrive via Development Block Grant program and
transit or walking. other funds.
Developer-proposed, large- A number of city planners believe that,
scale,new development is also if they can just solve the problem of traf-
reflecting the influence of the fie,they can solve the major problems of
Ahwahnee Principles. The their cities.Yet, the simple needs of the
1,000-acre, Playa Vista infill automobile are far more easily under-
project in Los Angeles will stood and accommodated than the com-
include the preservation of 300 acres of plex needs of people. The Ahwahnee
wetlands. As it is designed now, the Principles outline a set of ideas for plan-
development will feature moderately ning more livable communities built for
dense housing built around small people,not just cars,and provide a vision
neighborhood parks. Large offices, for an alternative to urban sprawl.This
small retail stores, restaurants,gro- new vision will lead to neighborhoods
eery stores and small telecommuting where people no longer live in houses
offices will be integrated,allowing with isolated rear yard's.They will live in
residents to walk when they go to homes with comfortable relationships to
work,shop,or go out to dinner.A their streets which are part of a neigh-
bicycle and pedestrian esplanade borhood.Tree-lined sidewalks with nar-
will link the town with the beach. row streets will induce cars to drive slow-
Rialto's
low-Rialto`s Mayor John iongville is er.Children will be safer when they play
working with the developer of in the neighborhood and the sense of
_ LEAGUE 4r• CALIFORNIA CITIES
community will add a feeling of security. charge of the process of planning while project often cited as the best existing example
When they need to go to school, to the involving and utilizing its best asset,the ofsustainzbledevelopment in the world. The
store, or to baseball practice, children people who work,live and play in our com- husband-wife team of Andres Duany and
will be able to walk or ride bikes rather munities,■ Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk made headlines
than being dependent on someone's dri- with their highly successful Seaside develop-
ving them there. ABOUT HE ARCHITECTS meet in Florida and have become highly ae-
`i he top down, traditional planning of claimed architects and planners of over 70
yesterday is no longer an acceptable The architects who gathered in 1991 to de- new towns and community revitalization pro-
means of making cities.The people served velop the Ahwahnee.Principles are all inter
must be involved. When people come nationallyknownfortheir inspirational work jests,Stef fi rc Pocture t the
an Associate
together and openly discuss their visions and innovative ideas. Peter Calthorpe, Professor of architecture at the University of
for the future,a sense of community will is one of the leaders of the New Urbanism" Southern California. He and his partner,
result. Bringing citizens into the process movement and was cited by Newsweek ma,- Elizabeth Moule,are the architects of Los
of developing and revising the general azine as one of 25 innovators on the cutting Angeles'downtown strategic plan and Playa
plan will also result in new development Vista in.lass Angeles,a model application o,
which both serves the reeds of the com- edge."Michael Corbett*,aformerMayorof the Ahwahnee Principles.
munity and is used and respected by the the City of Davis,has received international
residents it serves.To make better,more recognition for his design of the resource-effl-
livable cities,local governments must take dent Village Domes development in Davis,a *Mike Carbet and judy Corbett are husband andfe•
THE AHWAHNEE PRINCIPLES
PREAMBLE G.The location and character of the com- RECIONAL PRINCIPLES:
Eyisting patterns of urban and suburban munity should be consistent with a larger 1.The regional land use planning struc-
development seriously impair our quali- transit network. tare should be integrated within a larger
ty of life.The symptoms are:more con- 7.The community should have a center transportation network built around
gestion and air pollution resulting from focus that combines commercial,civic,cul- transit rather than freeways.
our increased dependence on automo- tural and recreational uses. Z.regions should be bounded by and
biles,the loss of precious open space, 8.The community should contain an ample provide a continuous system of green-
the need for costly improvements to supply of specialized open space in the belt/wildlife corridors to be determined
roads and public services,the inequit- form of squares,greens and parks whose by natural conditions.
able distribution of economic resources, frequent use is encouraged through place- regional institutions and services
and the loss of a sense of community. ment and design.
(government,stadiums,museums,etc.)
By drawing upon the best from the past 9. Public spaces should be designed to should be located in the urban core.
and the present,we can,first,infill exist encourage the attention and presence of 4.Materials and methods of construc-
irg communities and,second,plan new people at al€hours of the day and night tion should be specific to the region, j
communities that will more successfully 10.Each community or cluster of comrnu-
serve the needs of those who live and pities should have a well defined edge, exhibiting continuity of history and cul-
work within them. Such planning such as agricultural greenbelts or wildlife tore and compatibility with the climate
should adhere to these fundamental corridors, permanently protected from to encourage the development y local
character and community identitty.
principles: development .
11.Streets,pedestrian paths and bike paths
COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES: should contribute to a system offidly-cone IMPLEMENTATION STRATE&Y'
1.All planning should be in the form of netted and interesting routes to all destina- 1.The general plan should be updated
complete and integrated communities tions.Their design should encourage pedes- to incorporate the above principles.
containing housing,shops,work places, trian and bicycle use by being small and 2.Rather than allowing developer-initi- I
schools,parks and civic facilities essen- spatially defined by buildings,trees and light- ated,piecemeal development,local gov-
tial to the daily life of the residents. ing,and by discouraging high speed traffic. ernments should take charge of the
2.Community size should be designed 1.2.Wherever possible,the natural terrain, planning process.General plans should
so that housing,jobs,daily needs and drainage,and vegetation of the communi designate where new growth,infill or
other activities are within easy walking ty should be preserved with superior exam- redevelopment to where
e e allowed,i Decor.
distance of each other. pies contained within parks or greenbelts. 3.Prior to any development,a specific
3.As many activities as possible should 13.The community design should help plan should be prepared based s these
be located within easy walking distance conserve resources and minimize waste. planning principles.With the adoption j
' of transit stops. 14. Communities should provide for the
4,A community should contain a diver- efficient use of water through the use of of specific dans, complying protects
sity of housing types to enable citizens natural drainage, drought tolerant land- could proceed with rr?inimal delay. !
from a wide range of economic levels and scapi'=_ng and recycling. 4. Plans should be developed through
age groups to live within its boundaries. 15.The street orientation,the placement of an open process and participants in the
5. Businesses within the community buildings and the use of shading should process should be provided visual mod-
should provide a range of Job types for contribute to the energy efficiency of the els of all planning proposals.
the community's residents. community.
WESTERN CITY,SEFTEMBER, 1994 �
The Center for Livable Communities
A Project of the Local Government Commission
The mission of the Center for Livable Communities is to help
communities be proactive in their land use planning and to
encourage the adoption of programs and policies that lead to more
livable land use patterns. Center programs can help jurisdictions
increase transportation alternatives,reduce infrastructure costs,create
more affordable housing, improve air quality, preserve natural
resources,and restore local economic and social vitality.The Center
provides a range of services including information and referrals,
computer simulation, community mediation, planning assistance,
awards, workshops and conferences.
The following materials are available from the Center:
A Model Projects File: 'Model projects are available from the Center
that summarize outstanding examples of pedestrian-and transit-oriented land
use planning.
Community Image Surveys: Inspired by the Visual Preference Survey`I.1,the
Community Image Survey is a highly effective mechanism for educating community
members about the advantages of pedestrian-and transit-oriented land use planning.
Community Image Surveys,including sets of slides and rating forms,are available
on loan from the Center. They can also be customized to meet specific needs.
Publications: Current publications of the Center include: Land Use Strategies
for More Livable Places, the Energy Aware Planning Guide, the Ahwahnee Principles,
and the summaries of the Center's annual Putting Our Communities Buck On Their
Feet conference.Other publications which are currently being developed include guide-
books on participatory planning and infill development.
Newsletter: The Center distributes the Local Government Commission's newslet-
ter, Livable Places Update, which highlights innovative steps taken to implement
pedestrian-and transit-oriented land use planning in communities nationwide.
Video Catalogue:The Center has developed a catalogue of videos useful in intro-
ducing and implementing the concepts of pedestrian-and transit-oriented
land use planning. Those videos not available through other sources are distributed
by the Center at minimal cost.
Slide Catalogue:The Center offers a catalogue of slides to help you produce your
own slide presentation on pedestrian-and transit-oriented land use planning.
Speakers List: The Center recommends dynamic and interesting speakers on
a variety of topics related to livable communities.
General plan Language and Ordinances: Photocopies of exemplary
measures adopted by local governments are currently available from the Center.
Bibliographies:The Center provides bibliographies of important books,pamphlets,
and articles on pedestrian-and transit-oriented land use planning.
For further information.,contact:
Center for Livable Communities
c/o Local Government Commission
1414 K.Street,Suite 250
Sacramento,CA 95814 '° •"
tel 915-448-1198
fax 916-448-8246 ,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMMS?ON Hours: 8:30-5:00 PM PST AN EPA TRANSPORTATION PARTNER
Request to Speak Form
( THREE ) MINUTE LIMIT)
complete this form &*W ph4m ft in the bac aw the Weaken" mtrum
before addreWrg Ow
10� 169 Z
or
Omwv Of Sept
J
ONE:
whh to Weak on Agersda hem
#Ay c*rn me will be: . `...0h
1wfsht* We&kon #* K6J9d0f
I do rat wish to "A bit leave was for *2
to C
REQUEST TO 8PRAX r0RM -�...,T
(THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT)
Complete_ this form and place it in the box near the speakers'
rostrum before addressing the Board.
Name* �' '� ' ,., Phone:
Address: City: �, �
I am speaking for myself or organization: i ' 4 zy /0A)
(» of orsanization)
CRECK ONE:
I wish to speak on Agenda Item # � Late:
My comments will be; general for , against
I wish to speak on the subject of
I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the
Board t:o consider: