Smart * Growth
oEPA
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For too long, federal policy has actually encouraged sprawl and
congestion and pollution, rather than quality public transportation and
smart, sustainable development...
And that's why we've created a new interagency partnership on
sustainable communities, led by Shaun Donovan, Ray LaHood, and Lisa
Jackson. And by working together, their agencies can make sure that when
it comes to development—housing, transportation, energy efficiency—
these things aren't mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. And that
means making sure that affordable housing exists in close proximity to
jobs and transportation. That means encouraging shorter travel times and
lower travel costs. It means safer, greener, more livable communities.
— President Barack Obama, July 13, 2009
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A Message From
EPA Administrator Lisa R Jackson
Congratulations to this year's winners of the National
Award for Smart Growth Achievement.
We have a vision of American communities that are clean, healthy,
environmentally responsible, and economically resilient. Your amazing
work brings us closer to realizing that vision and helps everyone—from
government and business to our citizens—take part in addressing the
urgent environmental and economic challenges we face as a nation.
The projects honored this year come from all across the country
and range from urban areas to rural farming communities. In each
case, we see innovative ways to provide more transportation and
housing choices, make smarter investments in efficient infrastructure,
create new opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and offer
stronger environmental protection to residents. These smart growth
achievements also will help inform the critical work of our Partnership
for Sustainable Communities, an unprecedented, interagency
collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
Our honorees represent the best in smart growth development in
2009 and have set the stage for continued success in the years ahead.
I'm happy to join in honoring your achievements.
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Protects the Environment
Smart growth strategies create sustainable communities
by siting development in convenient locations and
designing it to be more efficient and environmentally
responsible. Smart, collaborative decisions about where
and how communities develop can help protect our air,
water, and land while also creating vibrant places to live,
work, shop, and play.
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Two previous National Award for Smart Growth
Achievement winners highlight these benefits.
• The Atlanta Regional Commission's Livable Centers Initiative, the
2008 Policies and Regulations award winner helps communities
in the Atlanta region create more sustainable neighborhoods by
changing their comprehensive plans and zoning to support more
pedestrian-and transit-friendly development. The commission
reported in 2009 that new smart growth regulations will help
reduce vehicle miles traveled in nine of the 10 communities
that adopted these rules.1 This reduction translates into fewer
greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, which benefits
both the local community and the region.
• The New Columbia neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, the
2007 Overall Excellence award winner, illustrates the social
and environmental benefits of sustainable neighborhood
redevelopment. The mixed-income redevelopment almost
doubled the amount of housing in the neighborhood. The streets
were reconnected with the surrounding neighborhood grid and
designed to capture and infiltrate almost all of the development's
stormwater, requiring 80 percent less underground stormwater
piping.2 This stormwater management system not only protects
water quality, it also saves money.
Atlanta Regional Commission, "2009 Livable Centers Initiative Indicators and Benefits Study."
Housing Authority of Portland, website. Available: www.hapdx.org/newcolumbia/sustainability.html
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About
the Award
Smart Growth Principles
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 toward 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.
EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth
Achievement in 2002 to recognize exceptional approaches
to development that respect the environment, foster
economic vitality, and enhance quality of life. Over the
past eight years, EPA has received 623 applications from
47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Of
that total, EPA received 102 applications from 34 states
this year.
The winning entries were selected based on their effectiveness in
creating sustainable communities; creating a robust public involvement
process; generating partnerships among public, private, and non-profit
stakeholders; and serving as national models.
Award winners were selected by two separate panels. The first
consisted of experts from the planning and design profession,
non-profits, academia, and federal agencies. The second was an
internal EPA panel that provided additional comments. EPAs Associate
Administrator of Policy, Economics, and Innovation made the final
award determinations.
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Smart Growth Achievement Winners
Overall Excellence
Envision Lancaster County Comprehensive
Plan and Implementation
Lancaster County Planning Commission
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Policies and Regulations
The City of Charlotte
Charlotte Department of Transportation
Charlotte, North Carolina
Built Projects
Parkside of OldTown
Chicago Housing Authority,
FitzGerald Associates Architects, and
Moisten Real Estate Development Corporation
Chicago, Illinois
Smart Growth and Green Building
Tempe Transportation Center
City of Tempe and Architekton + Otak
Tempe, Arizona
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Overall Excellence
Envision Lancaster
County Comprehensive
Plan and Implementation
Lancaster County
Planning Commission \
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
' fc
1 incaster County, in soutl.
iltur4 her
ages, ~
To main1
-..argctB^wrte'county, as well as
its diverse economy and natural
resources, for future generations,
the Lancaster County Planning
Commission established a regional,
countywide comprehensive growth
management plan, which protects
its valuable farmland and historic
landscapes by strategically directing
development to established towns
and cities in the county.
; •
' For More Inforrr,
Mary Frey
Principal Planner
Lancaster County Planning
Commission
Tel: (717) 299-8333
frey@co.lancaster.pa,us
Like many rural areas, Lancaster County is facing pressure
to develop its extensive farmland and open space.
In response, the Lancaster County Planning Commission and
its member municipalities created Envision Lancaster County, a
comprehensive, multi-staged countywide plan to manage growth and
maintain the county's distinctive sense of place over the next 25 years.
Envision Lancaster County directs new development to existing
towns to protect the farmland, rural areas, and natural landscapes that
define the county's character. The plan considers the entire region
by promoting reinvestment in existing communities and encouraging
more compact, interconnected neighborhoods. By doing so, the plan
preserves open space, protects water resources, and provides for
greater housing and transportation choices.
One of the defining features of Envision Lancaster County is its
emphasis: a balance between protecting natural resources and farmland
and encouraging growth and development in appropriate areas. Using
the plan's principles, the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board
and the Lancaster Farmland Trust worked together to permanently
protect almost 82,000 acres of farmland. This effort is helping to keep
the local agricultural economy viable. To protect vital watersheds
and groundwater recharge areas, the commission worked with the
Lancaster County Conservancy and National LandsTrust to preserve
nearly 6,000 acres of parks and natural lands throughout the county.
This preservation is part of a broader Green Infrastructure Plan that
establishes a countywide framework for sustaining natural resources.
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Smart growth in Lancaster County thrives due to citizens'
dedication to maintain its unique sense of place.
— Harry Loshnowsky East Hempfield Township resident
The plan directs development to selected growth areas and away
from environmentally and agriculturally important land. The newest
element of the Growth Management Plan is the Rural Strategy, which
goes beyond farmland protection by encouraging municipalities to
adopt Rural Areas that are on par with Urban Growth Areas. These
areas will be designated for long-term rural uses including agriculture,
resource-based economic development, and conservation. In addition,
Rural Centers, including villages, will be the focal point for residential
development and appropriate support uses.
The commission worked with municipalities to establish 47 Urban
Growth Areas and Village Growth Areas. In the city of Lancaster,
62 projects have been completed, are under development, or are
planned for development in Growth Areas. These projects will enhance
the livability of the city and, ultimately, reduce pressure to develop on
rural lands.
Throughout the process, the commission actively engaged the public
and local governments. The county's good working relationship with
municipalities encouraged them to buy into the plan's principles. To
ensure public input, the commission conducted educational workshops
and public forums and developed a citizens' task force. The county also
reached out to Lancaster's Amish and Plain Sect communities through
targeted publications and meetings with religious leaders. This plan will
help Lancaster County continue to be a model for communities that
balance growth with natural, historic, and cultural preservation.
Lancaster County's growth management and
nationally ranked farmland preservation programs
help preserve the agricultural economy, rural
character, and unique culture of the area.
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Winner
Policies and Regulations
tte Depar
Dortation
)tte, North
As the cent
growing
Charlotte is under
development pres
than continue the
dominated develop
of the last 50 years,
adopted Urban Stre
Guidelines to make
ther
lile-
atterns
tte
jsign
.king,
bicycling, and transit more
appealing and make the city
more attractive and sustainable.
For More Information:
Danny Pleasant
Director
Charlotte Department of
Transportation
Tel: (704) 336-3879
dpleasant@ci.charlotte, nc.us
With the Urban Street Design Guidelines, the city of
Charlotte is using street design to shape its development
patterns and provide residents and visitors with viable
choices for how they move about the city. The guidelines
include innovative policies, implementation processes,
and a variety of street types. Also included is a six-step
planning and design process that matches each street to
the existing and emerging land use context. The process
helps planners design streets that are sized appropriately
for their neighborhood context and select streetscape
elements that create an appealing environment and keep
pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists safe.
The guidelines promote sustainable development patterns and streets
that are more pleasant, safe, and walkable. For instance, policies
include recommending block lengths for new development that create
a more dense, well-connected network of streets that in turn promote
more compact building design. Additionally, the city encourages
wide planting strips to allow large, mature trees to grow, enhancing
Charlotte's tree canopy and making the streets more pleasant for
pedestrians and motorists alike. The city also has improved pedestrian
crossings by making them more visible and changed traffic signal
timing to better accommodate pedestrians.
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Since 2004, the Charlotte Department of Transportation has applied
the guidelines to more than 20 streets and 10 intersections. Seven of
these projects included "road diets," which allow more bike lanes and
improve sidewalks and crossings for pedestrians. The guidelines have
facilitated the increase in the bike lane network from one mile in 2000
to more than 55 miles today.
Meaningful public input was sought throughout the development
process. Small-group interviews, web-based opinion surveys, and
public meetings helped to identify potential issues. The department
met with fire and police to ensure that street designs would not
impede on their response times. Before adoption, the department
conducted outreach to ensure that both the public and the developers
understood the guidelines.
The Urban Street Design Guidelines have been nationally recognized
as a model for expanding conventional street design to include
infrastructure, green space, and overall impact. Over time, these
improved street designs will encourage more walking, bicycling, and
transit trips, which will help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution,
and create a more attractive, sustainable Charlotte.
As a Dilworth business owner and resident, I believe the
USDG and the East Boulevard road diet are a tremendous
success for everyone in our community. With the road diet,
travel speeds have been slowed, pedestrians can safely cross
the street at the pedestrian refuge islands, it is comfortable to
bicycle along the road in the bike lanes, and the restaurants
and businesses along the boulevard have benefited from
the increased accessibility. In many ways, the road diet has
transformed East Boulevard into a vibrant Main Street for
everyone to enjoy.
— Josh Rimany, Dilworth Neighborhood Development
Association President, owner of Dilworth Drug
East Boulevard was a four-lane, undivided street
carrying more than 20,000 vehicles a day through
the heart of Dilworth, a historic neighborhood with
multiple land uses in close proximity. The street
was successfully converted to three lanes with
bicycle lanes and pedestrian refuge islands.
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Winner
Built Projects
Parkside of Old Town
Chicago Housing Authority
FitzGerald Associates Architects,
Moisten Real Estate
Development Corporation
Chicago, Illinois
Parkside of Old Town sits on
eight city blocks that were
once home to a public housing
complex notorious for criminal
activity.The redevelopment has
transformed the neighborhood
by reconnecting it to downtown
Chicago and creating mixed-
income housing, parks, and
new shops and restaurants.
Parkside of Old Town, a HUD Hope VI development,
has brought life back to an area once riddled with crime
and socially disconnected from the rest of Chicago. The
eight-block area was once part of a larger public housing
complex that consisted of a park and several mid- and
high-rise towers. The towers and park eventually fell into
disrepair, in part due to a lack of community involvement
and sense of ownership. To create a sense of community
and responsibility, the Parkside designers created smaller,
more intimate spaces that would meet the practical needs
of residents. They strategically placed larger, "family unit"
townhomes near the playgrounds so that children would
be closer to adults—providing additional "built-in" security.
For More Information:
Steve Ryniewicz
FitzGerald Associates Architects
Tel: (312)563-1900
sryniewicz@fitzarchitects.com
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/ really like the open space. There is a large grassy area, and
in our townhome area, there is a nice courtlyard] walk, where
neighbors socialize and children play on the sliding board and
ride their bikes round and round. I love our location. We can
walk to the lake, major stores, and restaurants, and I even
walk to Lincoln Park Zoo.
— Realie Kaplan, Parkside resident
This two-phase, 800-unit housing project replaced a failed segregated
housing project with a mixed-use, socioeconomically diverse
neighborhood. The design seamlessly blends a variety of housing
options and pricing levels with the larger city. Inside the neighborhood,
rental, market-rate, and affordable housing units are indistinguishable,
leading to a cohesive community. The design incorporates pedestrian
pathways and reestablishes the original street grid to enhance the link
between the community and downtown Chicago.
The project's success depended on the involvement of public and
private partnerships. The Chicago Housing Authority hosted weekly
and monthly working group meetings, inviting city government
agencies, as well as representatives from the community, to
participate. Representatives for the public housing residents formed
a Local Advisory Council and attended weekly design meetings to
ensure that the project met their needs. Responding to requests from
residents, a community center with job training resources and meeting
spaces was included in the design. To further involve the community,
27 local residents were hired to assist with project construction.
Parkside of OldTown is an example of how an aging public housing
development can be rebuilt into a successful community.
Townhomes line streets and greenways to situate
multi-bedroom family units at the street level,
allowing for private yards, convenient access
to green spaces, and buffering between units,
minimizing noise.
This mid-rise building provides a gateway to and
from the surrounding neighborhood. The building
houses community rooms, meeting spaces, a
fitness center, and commercial spaces. i
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Winner
Smart Growth and Green Building
;mpe Transportation
enter
ty ofTempe and
Architekton + Otak
Tempe, Arizona
The Tempe Transportation
Center is a model for
sustainable design, a
v brant, mixed-use regiona
transportation hub that als<
ncorporates innovative anc
beautiful green building
elements tailored to the
Southwest desert
For More Information-
Bonnie Richardson
Architect/Principal Transit Planner
City ofTempe
Tel: (480) 350-8628
Bonnie_richardson@tempe.gov
The city of Tempe designed the Tempe Transportation
Center as a multi-use green facility that is not only a
transportation hub, but also a gathering spot for the
community. A multimodal, mixed-use facility, the center
integrates the downtown light-rail stop, the main city bus
station, and the state's first "bike station," which offers
secure on-site storage and repairs. The center, which
replaced a 2.7-acre surface parking lot, provides much-
needed public amenities, including a community room
and a shaded public plaza. Additional uses include a transit
store, a cafe, shops, and offices, including the city of
Tempe'sTransportation Division. Also notable, the center
does not provide any automobile parking beyond spaces
reserved for persons with disabilities.
Designed to fit into the landscape, the center was oriented on the
site to preserve views of the adjacent Hayden Butte, a historically
significant geological formation. Taking into account the arid climate
of the Sonoran Desert, the center includes many water conservation
features, such as waterless urinals, greywater harvesting, stormwater
capture and reuse, and drought-tolerant plants. To reduce energy
consumption, the design includes a green roof, solar shades (shade
screens), and natural ventilation to keep the building cool, as well as
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The Transportation Center is truly the mu/timodal
transportation hub of the community. It's where everything
comes together—bikes, buses, light rail, and walking—as an
integral part of our downtown and greater community.
— Don Cassano, Transportation Commissioner
daylighting and solar hot water heaters that use the abundant desert
sunlight. An under-floor air cooling system allows occupants to control
the amount of air delivered to their individual workspaces. As a result,
the project uses approximately 50 percent less energy than a typical
building. To build public awareness of the sustainability strategies
in the building, the center includes a "Green Screen" touch screen
dashboard detailing the building's energy consumption, water use, and
other green features.
TheTempeTransportation Center gathered community input
through a robust public involvement program to make sure the new
building would meet residents' needs. The city facilitated numerous
public workshops that fostered consensus decision-making in a
collaborative atmosphere. The city also targeted outreach to public
and private organizations, including Arizona State University and
Tempe Historic Preservation Commission, as well as several Native
American communities, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community, Gila River Indian Community, Fort McDowellYavapai Nation
and Hopi Tribe. The Native American communities specifically provided
input to preserve the historical significance of the Hayden Butte.
The vegetated roof displays low-water-use plants that
are appropriate to the Sonoran Desert. The green roof
contributes to the reduction in energy use, extends
the life of the roof, collects and filters rainwater for
storage and reuse, and restores native habitat.
Arizona's first bike station—The Bicycle Cellar—
provides secure indoor parking, showers, lockers,
bike repairs, and rental bicycles. The courtyard is a
popular gathering place for pedestrians, bicyclists,
transit patrons, and visitors.
The Transportation Center is where residents
and visitors can access the free neighborhood
circulator, the ASU shuttle, and local and
regional buses. It also has become a gathering
place for public events.
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Achievements o
Past Award Winners
City/County Association of Governments of
San Mateo County, California
2002 Award Winner
Since 2002, theTransit-Oriented Development Housing Incentive Program has allocated
more than $3.1 million for local transportation projects. Now in its fourth cycle, the
program, which promotes high-density, transit-oriented development, will make an
additional $3 million in funding available to San Mateo communities. To be eligible for
the program, residential projects must have a minimum density of 40 units per acre
and be located within 1/3 of a mile of a transit station. Funding from past program
cycles has been used to improve access to transit stations, create more walkable
streetscapes, and expand transit options. For the latest cycle, the program, in support
of the Great Boulevard Initiative, will award funding to projects along El Camino Real,
a major transportation corridor. The county hopes that providing financial incentives
for development along this corridor will further revitalization efforts to rebuild this
underutilized thoroughfare.
City of Greensboro, North Carolina
2004 Award Winner
Five years after receiving their award, the redevelopment of the Southside neighborhood
is nearing completion.The mixed-use neighborhood integrates multiple housing
options, from apartment-style lofts to single family houses, with a range of commercial
amenities, including restaurants, a coffeehouse, locally-owned shops and businesses,
and office space. While the housing market softens nationwide, Southside homes
have maintained their value; some have even increased. Residents credit the sense of
community, interconnected and pedestrian-friendly streets, and proximity to downtown
Greensboro.The district's revitalization has spurred reinvestment in neighboring
communities. Since 2004, three residential developments have been completed on
adjacent lots, adding approximately 300 units.The Cityview Apartments, the largest
of the three developments, is so popular that it currently has a waiting list of eager
would-be tenants. Southside, once-forgotten and neglected, has become a thriving
traditional community featuring all the benefits of urban living.
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Wake County Public School System/City of
Raleigh, North Carolina
2003 Award Winner
The Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School has continued to capitalize on its
central location in Raleigh's cultural core. The school has forged successful partnerships
with nearby museums, performing arts centers, and businesses to extend the learning
environment beyond the schoolyard and integrate these unique local resources into the
curriculum to promote hands-on learning. For example, the Contemporary Art Museum
offers a program for students to explore the impacts of Raleigh's development and
growth on the public. Students are taught the importance of designing for pedestrians
and other principles of Raleigh's revitalization.
City of Winooski, Vermont
2006 Award Winner
Winooski's once-underused downtown has again become the heart of the community.
The O'Brien Community Center, a repurposed shopping center, recently opened with
dental and health clinics, recreation space, family and youth centers, a cybercafe,
and a YMCA facility. The redevelopment has sparked additional investment from the
Community College of Vermont, which is constructing a flagship facility consisting
of 78,000 square feet of classroom and office space. Additionally, the Cascades
Condominiums are enjoying good sales, and local developers recently purchased the
Champlain Mill building. Other improvements, such as improving Riverwalk access and
repairing streetlights and sidewalks, complement the transformation.
Seattle Housing Authority, Washington
2007 Award Winner
In April 2009, construction on the rental housing concluded in the High Point community
with the completion of 256 affordable units.The new townhouses will serve residents at
income levels ranging from 30 to 60 percent of the area median income (approximately
$23,500-$42,000 for a family of four). Like the rest of High Point, these units have
integrated state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures to reduce utility costs and
conserve resources. A recent study of household utility bills found that High Point
residents had electricity bills 21 percent lower and gas bills 45 percent lower than similar
developments built to state energy standards.
The Moore Square School continues to take
advantage of its central location in Raleigh's
cultural core.
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Thanks to our Review Panel Members
Debra Bassert, National Association of Home Builders
Land Development Services
Kaid Benfield, Natural Resources Defense Council
Stephanie Bothwell, American Society of Landscape Architects,
Congress for New Urbanism, Urban and Landscape Design
Kendra Briechle, The Conservation Fund
Robert Brosnan, Arlington County
David Carlson, Federal Highway Administration
Maurice Cox, National Endowment of the Arts
Sophie Lambert, U.S. Green Building Council
Anica Landreneau, HOK
Elizabeth Morton, Virginia Tech-Alexandria Center
George Nichols, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Department of Environmental Programs
Cy Richardson, National Urban League
Gabe Rousseau, Federal Highway Administration
Stephanie Seskin, National Complete Streets Coalition
Scot Spencer, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Frances Stanley, Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Matt Ward, The Ferguson Group
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Photo Credits
Front cover: Bethesda Row, Bethesda, MD: Photo courtesy of EPA.
How Smart Growth Protects the Environment (pages 2-3):
Livable Centers Initiative, Atlanta, GA: Photo courtesy of Livable Centers Initiative.
DuluthTown Green, Atlanta, GA: Photo courtesy of Livable Centers Initiative.
New Columbia, Portland, OR: Photo courtesy of Housing Authority of Portland.
New Columbia, Portland, OR: Photo courtesy of Housing Authority of Portland.
National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Winners (page 5):
Main Street, Lancaster County, PA: Photo courtesy of the Lancaster County Planning Commission.
Award Winners (pages 6-13): Photos courtesy of award winners.
Policies and Regulations: Bus Aerial, Charlotte, NC: Photo courtesy of Abby Hall, (page 9)
Continuing Achievements of Past Winners (pages 14-15):
San Mateo County, CA: Photo courtesy of San Mateo County.
Greensboro, NC: Photo courtesy of Mike Cowhig, City of Greensboro.
Raleigh, NC: Photo courtesy of Wake County Public Schools.
Winooski,VT: Photo courtesy of EPA.
Seattle, WA: Photo courtesy of EPA.
BULIUM;
MUSEUM
National Building Museum
The 2009 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement ceremony was held at the National
Building Museum in Washington, DC, on December I.The National Building Museum, created
by an act of Congress in 1980, is America's leading cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating
architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. Since opening its doors in 1985, the
museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about such topical issues as managing
landmark preservation, urban revitalization, sustainable and affordable design, and suburban growth. Its engaging
exhibitions and education programs, including innovative curricula for school children and stimulating programs
for adults, annually attract nearly 400,000 people, making the museum the most-visited institution of its kind in
the world.
17
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Smart t Growth
ACH I EVEN ENT
For more information about the National
Award for Smart Growth Achievement and
EPA's other smart growth activities, visit:
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
1807-T
Washington, DC 20460
Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation (1807-T) • 231-K-09-002 • November 2009
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