Form-Based Codes A Planning Tool for Healthier Communities Sponsored by: Local Government Commission Leadership for Healthy Communities Modesto, CA August 27, 2009 What s Health Got to Do With It Paul Zykofsky, AICP Local Government Commission Form-Based Codes: A Planning Tool for Healthier Communities Modesto, CA August 27, 2009 1
Local Government Commission Nonprofit membership organization based in Sacramento, CA of local government officials elected and staff Founded in 1979 to work on solar energy During 1980s expanded to work on environmental issues: pollution prevention, waste management, hazardous waste 1991: Started working on land use issues The Ahwahnee Principles, 1991 Response to our members concerns over sprawling, poorly planned development in their communities Assembled with assistance from leading architects and planners working on innovative solutions 2
The Ahwahnee Principles, 1991 Planning complete and integrated communities with mix of uses Different uses should be in walking distance of one another Within walking distance of transit stops Should contain a diversity of housing types Should have a center focus The Ahwahnee Principles, 1991 Embraced by local government officials in California and other states LGC initiated programs on land use and transportation planning 1993 created Center for Livable Communities Many cities and counties in California adopted all or part into their planning documents Since 2001 have organized National New Partners for Smart Growth Conference 3
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Alternative Patterns of Development Traditional Walkable Conventional Automobile-Oriented 5
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On your marks, get set, go 7
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Standard Of Living Quality Of Life Very High Low 9
U.S. Population Growth and Transportation 1970-2000 U.S. Population Growth, 1950-1990 Land has been urbanized 2½ times faster than the increase in urban population 1950 (millions) 100 200 300 400 Urban 70 Population Urbanized 13,000 Land (square miles) 15,000 30,000 45,000 60,000 1990 (millions) 100 200 300 400 Urban 150 Population Urbanized 60,000 Land (square miles) 15,000 30,000 45,000 60,000 Source: National Geographic Graphic courtesy Design Community & Environment 10
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 10, 2006 Projected Population Growth Rates in the U.S. (2000-2030) Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau 12
The Health Impacts of Sprawl/Poorly Planned Communities global warming air pollution heat island effect car crashes pedestrian injuries water quality mental health social capital physical activity Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson Potential Health Effects of Climate Change Heat stress, cardiovascular failure Injuries, fatalities Climate change: Temperature rise Sea level rise Hydrologic extremes Asthma, cardiovascular disease Respiratory allergies, poison ivy Malaria, dengue, encephalitis, hantavirus, Rift Valley fever Cholera, cryptosporidiosis, campylobacter, leptospirosis Malnutrition, diarrhea, harmful algal blooms Adapted from J. Patz, Courtesy Dr. Richard Jackson Anxiety, despair, depression, post-traumatic stress Forced migration, civil conflict 13
Transportation Accounts for Largest Share of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in U.S. VMT/household and CO 2 Emissions 14
Carbon loading of Atmosphere: Traveling just one mile A good car: Walk: 450 grams Carbon loading of Atmosphere: Traveling just one mile A good car: Walk: 450 grams 1 gram 15
Air pollution Major pollutants of concern: Ozone Lead NOx SOx CO Air toxics Allergens Particulates Hydrocarbons Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson Air pollution Major pollutants of concern: Ozone NOx CO Particulates Hydrocarbons Produced by cars and trucks Lead SOx Air toxics Allergens Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson 16
Ozone health effects Respiratory effects: Airway inflammation Decreased air flow Increased symptoms, ER visits, medication use, hospitalizations Cardiovascular effects: Increased mortality Immune effects: Increased susceptibility to infection Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson Deaths Due to Asthma in the United States, 1979-1997 Age group 6000 0 to 4 5 to 14 15 to 34 35 to 64 65 + Average # Deaths/Year 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 Year Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson 17
Car crashes Leading cause of deaths among persons 1-24 years old Each year in the United States, motor vehicle crashes account for: Over 40,000 deaths 3.4 million nonfatal injuries 24 million vehicles estimated $200 billion in costs Source: NHTSA Pedestrian Fatality Index The most dangerous metropolitan areas to walk in tend to be newer, sprawling, southern and western communities, where vast distances make walking impractical, and where transportation systems are designed for motor vehicle travel at the expense of other transportation options. Surface Transportation Policy Project Mean Streets 1997 report 18
Safety and Community Design More than half of the pedestrian fatalities occurred on minor arterials and local roads Water quantity and quality Quantity: runoff groundwater recharge Quality: non-point source pollution siltation Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson 19
Sprawl and Physical Activity sprawl trip distances vehicle trips walking overweight obesity Credit: Dr. Richard Jackson Physical Activity Concern over impacts of sedentary lifestyle on public health 200,000 deaths/year attributable to physical inactivity Increase in seriously overweight youth 5% in 1963-70 14% in 1988-94 20
Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 1987 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 1991 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 21
Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 1995 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 1999 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 22
Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 2003 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20-24% 25% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 Obesity* Trends Among U.S. Adults 2007 * BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5 4 woman No Data <10% 10%-14% 15-19% 20-24% 25-29% 30% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Source: Mokdad A H, et al. JAMA 2003;289:1 23
Diabetes Projected Risks: For Babies Born in 2000 Girls: 38% lifetime risk Latino girls: 53% If diabetic before age 40, Lifespan shortened by 14 years (Quality of life by 19 years) Boys: 33% lifetime risk Latino boys: 45% If diabetic before age 40, Lifespan shortened by 12 years. (Quality of life by 22 years) V Narayan et al: JAMA 8 Oct 2003 24
Los Angeles Times, 6/6/05 Underlying Causes of Death in the US 3% 19% 4% 5% 14% Source: McGinnis & Foege, JAMA, 270, 1993 25
Explaining the Obesity Epidemic Not genetic or biological changes But sweeping societal and environmental changes The Unfortunate Result The Problem 27% of adults are sedentary 61% of adults are overweight 1 in 4 adults is obese The Outcome Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Diabetes Physical inactivity is a primary factor in over 250,000 deaths annually. Medical costs associated with physical inactivity and its consequences may exceed $120 billion annually. Data Sources: 2000 BRFSS, 1999 NHANES, Powell 1994, Pratt et. al. 2000 26
Physical Inactivity/Overweight Trends Among Youth 1 in 7 youth ages 6 19 is overweight Children spend more time watching television in a year than they do attending school The Disappearing Walk to School 1 in 4 trips made by 5-15 year olds are for the journey to and from school. Only 10% of these trips are made by walking and bicycling. Of school trips one mile or less, about 28% are walk-based and less than 1% are bike-based. 27
The Disappearing Walk One fourth of all trips people make are less than one mile, yet three-fourths of these short trips are made by car Source: Nationwide Personal Transportation Study (NPTS), 1970, 1990, 1995 The harangues haven t worked Percentage of Adults reporting participation in regular and sustained activity 1986-1994 BRFSS* *25 states and the District of Columbia 28
It s the Community Design Reliance on physical activity as an alternative to car use is less likely to occur in many cities and towns unless they are designed or retrofitted to permit walking or bicycling. The location of schools, work sites, and shopping areas near residential areas will require substantial changes in community or regional design. Journal of the American Medical Association, Editorial, 10/27/99 The good news Physical activity need not be of vigorous intensity for it to improve health. Report of the Surgeon General on Physical Activity and Health, 1996 29
The good news Significant health benefits can be obtained through moderate amount of physical activity on most days of the week: 30 minutes of brisk walking or raking leaves 15 minutes of running 45 minutes of playing volleyball Create opportunities for routine physical activity Factors that Influence Active Living/Health Land Use Mix Density Site Design Connectivity Street Design 30
Higher density and connectivity: lower obesity Atlanta study 2004 Land Use Mix Summary of the Literature Residents of mixeduse communities have more opportunities to walk and use transit For trips less than one mile (75% of trips), mixed-use communities generate up to 4-times as many walk trips. 31
Compact Development Summary of the Literature Appropriate residential and employment density (>7 units and 100 employees per acre) are associated with increased walk, bike, and transit trips Site Design Summary of the Literature Design features that promote walk/ bike trips Appropriate levels of residential density, land use mix, and street connectivity Short building setbacks Neighborhood parks and greenspace 32
Connectivity Summary of the Literature Poor connectivity reduces pedestrian mobility and trips As the number of intersections and blocks increase the number of walk trips increase As the number of culde-sacs and loops increase the number of walk trips decrease Street Design Summary of the Literature Perceptual qualities of the street influence pedestrian use Good pedestrian environments maintain visual and sensory attention streets are calm, narrow, and complex 33
Well-intentioned policy statement: Infill and develop in existing urbanized areas. Build affordable multifamily housing near transportation corridors. Well-intentioned policy statement: Infill and develop in existing urbanized areas. Build affordable multifamily housing near transportation corridors. 34
Regulating Mechanism: Today s System: Land-Use Zoning Use/Density Management Source: Peter Katz, President, Form-Based Codes Institute Form Regulating Mechanism: A Better Balance: Form-Based Codes Management Use/Density Form Source: Peter Katz, President, Form-Based Codes Institute 35
Message is getting out Message is getting out Published by Island Press 36
Collaboration between health and planning: Stanislaus County Examples Stanislaus County Health Services, Public Health has been working on built environment issues with: Safe Communities Coalition Ceres Partnership for Healthy Children CA Dept of Public Health Funders: Kaiser, The California Endowment, RWJF Photovoice picture taken by youth Collaboration between health and planning: Stanislaus County Examples Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) West Modesto canal walking trail Community Health Assessment Identifying concerns/solutions related to built environment Central CA Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP) joint use, farmers market in downtown Ceres 37
www.lgc.org Free Publications Land Use Fact Sheets For more information Web: www.lgc.org Phone: 800-290-8202 Phone: 916-448-1198 e-mail: center@lgc.org New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Seattle, WA February 4 6, 2010 www.newpartners.org 38