GUIDELINES FOR  SUSTAINABLE
A PROJECT OF THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
SMART GROWTH IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM &

THE CONNECTICUT CAPITOL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
                                   NOVEMBER 2009

                          JONATHAN ROSE COMPANIES LLC
                            WALLACE ROBERTS AND TODD

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SMAR'                A/TH
GUIDELINES            SUSTAINABLE
DESIGN  AND  DEVELOPMENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many organizations and individuals contributed to the preparation of these Guidelines and the companion report, Together We Can
Grow Better: Smart Growth fora Sustainable Connecticut Capitol Region.The staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
Smart Growth Program and the Connecticut Capitol Region Council of Governments were instrumental to shaping the project and
provided key insight on issues at the local, regional, state and federal levels. Other contributors during the planning process include local
municipalities in the Connecticut capital region, Connecticut state agencies, and not-for-profit entities focused on smart growth, quality
affordable housing, and green building.The multiple entities from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors are provided below.


SPONSORS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Capitol Region Council of Governments


PARTNERS

1,000 Friends of Connecticut
American Farmland Trust
Center for Integrated Design
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
Connecticut Main Street Center
Homebuilders Association of Connecticut
HOMEConnecticut
Partnership for Strong Communities
Regional Plan Association
Town of Bloomfield, Connecticut
Town of Manchester; Connecticut
Town of South Windsor; Connecticut
Town ofTolland, Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
OTHERS

Lyceum Resource and Conference Center in Hartford Connecticut
Clough Harbour & Associates

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ABOUT THE SPONSORS
Smart Growth Guidelines for Sustainable Design and Development is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Capitol Region Council of Governments.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation's Smart Growth Program

Founded in 1970, EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts.The mission of the
Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. EPA's Smart Growth Program helps communities
improve their development practices by working with local, state, and national experts to discover and encourage successful,
environmentally-sensitive development strategies.

For more information: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
CAPITOL REGION  COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is the largest of Connecticut's 15 regional planning organizations. CRCOG
was established under the Connecticut General Statutes in  1978 as a voluntary association of municipal governments serving the City
of Hartford and 28 surrounding suburban and rural communities. CRCOG is governed by the chief elected officials of the 29 metro
Hartford municipalities. The region is 760 square miles in size and houses approximately 741,303 residents. CRCOG is dedicated to
expanding the concept of voluntary cooperation among its member municipalities as the means to successfully respond to many of the
region's pressing governmental and public challenges. CRCOG members recognize that the future of individual municipalities is tied to
the future of the region as a whole and have collaborated for more than 30 years on a wide range of projects.

For more information: http://www.crcog.org/index.html
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jonathan Rose Companies is a green real estate policy planning development, owner's representative, and investment firm whose
mission is to repair the fabric of communities while preserving the land around them.The firm works with cities, not-for-profit
organizations and private clients to develop creative solutions to real estate challenges. A leading green urban solutions provider; we
understand buildings, neighborhoods, cities, regions, and the nation as complex, adaptive, and interdependent systems. Our goal is to
help metropolitan regions become more resilient, competitive, and equitable. We believe that our integrated, multi-disciplinary approach
to policy and practice is the key to achieving transformative change. Founded in  1989  by Jonathan FR Rose as a mission-based practice,
the firm is recognized for its ability to achieve visionary goals through practical strategies and affordable green urban solutions. Jonathan
Rose Companies has offices in the East Coast, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain regions.

For more information: http://www.rosecompanies.com

Wallace Roberts andTodd  is a collaborative practice of city and regional planners, urban designers, landscape architects, and
architects who create vibrant, imaginative, and sustainable places at many scales. Our work reinforces the integrity of cities and
regions and  seeks to enhance their quality of life—whether retaining a community's  identity and sense of place, promoting more
sustainable suburban patterns, protecting urban communities from sprawl, integrating nature into urban patterns, or revitalizing city
centers. Successful plans give tangible expression to the aspirations and values  of citizens, and we employ a range of techniques to
engage community members so that the planning process reflects their priorities and builds consensus. Urban design is the crucial
middle scale between large-scale planning and the design of individual sites. Urban design frameworks organize and guide the efforts
of designers and developers of public space and individual private parcels so that these  works contribute to the larger collective
task of community building. We believe that development patterns are most successful when they acknowledge the vital function of
public space networks, environmental systems, building typologies, and the many economic factors that affect them.

For more information: http://www.wrtdesign.com

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CONTENTS
Introduction                    l&

Overview                     4&

Development                   &
& Design Guidelines
 Prosperous, Smart Growth Locations  7
 Placemaking, Neighborhood Design   | |
 Green Building & Infrastructure      I 6
Resources
22&

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                                           "Vi
                                         !       11
                                                                                r
  NTRODUCTION&
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, population
in the United States is projected to grow from
305 million in 2009 to 439 million people in
2050, and an estimated 89 million homes  and
190 billion square feet of new offices, institutions,
stores, and other non-residential buildings will be
built. That means that approximately two-thirds
of total development on the ground in 2050 will
have been built between now and then, which
creates great opportunities and responsibilities to
develop in a manner that addresses the resiliency
of our communities to respond to the impacts
of a changing climate and resource demand  and
production equitably and sustainably1  This major
increase in population and development presents
I  "Leadership in a New Era, Nelson, A. C., Journal of the American
  Planning Association, Vol. 72, no. 4, 2006, pp. 393-409
                            several  critical  opportunities  for communities,
                            regions, and states to grow smarten invest in
                            existing communities  and  infrastructure,  and
                            green their existing and future building stock
                            However, without a coordinated local, regional,
                            and national commitmentto green and sustainable
                            development   and    infrastructure  practices
                            to support transit-oriented  development  in
                            smart  locations, costs associated with  energy
                            consumption and demand, natural resource and
                            open space depletion, as well as greenhouse
                            gas  emissions  will  continue  to  escalate  at
                            unprecedented  rates.

                            Many  communities  and regions  around  the
                            country are looking for ways to grow smarter
                            that use less  land  and  energy;  provide safe,

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affordable  housing options  for  people  of all
incomes and ages, and support  transportation
options such as walking, biking, and public transit.
A recent study suggests that  increasing numbers
of Americans are seeking to live in locations that
offer walkability, more transportation choices, and
a mix of housing,  retail, jobs, and neighborhood
services.2

Investing  in  existing  buildings,  neighborhoods,
and   infrastructure  that   supports   walkable
communities connected to transit, can  increase
economic competitiveness for communities and
regions. As we plan for the future of communities,
the economics  of development will  need  to
consider the fact that many Americans currently
cannot afford to live near where they work and
are spending excessive amounts of time  and
their limited incomes on transportation, primarily
owning and driving cars. In addition, homes that
are not energy or water efficient also translate
to more money spent on high energy and water
bills.  A  comprehensive  planning  approach that
integrates the  location  of  development  with
neighborhood  and  building design  to create
walkable, transit-served neighborhoods will mean
that  households with varying income levels will
have access to  more jobs  in the region  because
they do not need  a can and  businesses will have
access to more workers.

Smart growth and green building  are also critical
if this country is committed to reducing its impact
on global climate change.  Combined, buildings
and  transportation  currently make  up  about
71  percent  of the country's  greenhouse gas
emissions.3  By  investing in our communities and
regions with homes that are closer to  jobs,  retail,
civic  centers, and neighborhood services, and by
creating walkable neighborhoods, we will help to
reduce the amount of driving and the greenhouse
gas emissions that result. Making our buildings
and infrastructure  more energy efficient further
2 "2007 Growth and Transportation Survey" National Association
   of Realtors and Smart Growth America, 2007.
3 2009 EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory, http://www.epa.gov/
  climatechange/emissions/usinvento ryreport.html
contributes to these reductions. Several strategies
to  achieve  energy  savings  and  greenhouse
gas emissions reductions  are  proposed  in  this
publication.

A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO
HOUSING  AND DEVELOPMENT

Green building  strategies create more  energy
efficient  homes, which directly translates  into
significant savings in  housing costs.  However, a
comprehensive  planning  and   policy  approach
that identifies smart locations for development,
design of  mixed-use,  walkable  neighborhoods,
and  green   building  strategies  will  have  the
broadest impact on creating economically viable
and  sustainable  development  patterns  in  our
country. According to  the U.S.  Department of
Housing  and Urban  Development (HUD), "the
average American household  now  spends  34
percent of their annual income  on  housing  and
I  8  percent on transportation - the  combined
total of 52 percent of their  budgets is wrapped
up  in these two largest expenses".  While  this
country has experienced lower housing costs in
suburban and rural locations, transportation costs
are higher, "and the combination of housing  and
transportation averages 57 percent for working
families in the metropolitan area". The study cited
by HUD, also found that "households in a centrally
located neighborhood, with access to mass transit,
only spent 34 percent of their income on the same
costs"4 With nearly 50  percent of people  living in
rural  places within the bounds of metropolitan
statistical areas, an integrated planning approach
that spaces jurisdictional boundaries is  needed.5

Successfully  addressing  the   challenges   and
opportunities of growing smarter and  building
greener will require that communities collaborate
with each  other, as well as  with regional, state,
and  federal  agencies   and  organizations. The
4  The Affordability Index: A New Tool for Measuring theTrue
  Affordability of a Housing Choice,
  http://www.brookings.edu/reports/.. JO I _affordability_index.aspx
5  American Housing Survey forthe United States:2007,
  http://www.census.gOV/prod/2008pubs/h 150-07.pdf
INTRODUCTION

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infrastructure  and  economic  stability  of our
communities are tied  to what  happens at the
regional  and  state levels, and  vice  versa. For
example,  providing a  regional   public transit
system  is  a  critical  element  of the  regional
infrastructure  system that requires coordination
between local municipalities, regional  authorities,
and state and federal agencies. Making sure that
these decisions yield benefits for  households—
in the form of greater choice, lower combined
housing and  transportation costs, and  healthier
communities—also strengthens local economies.
To accomplish these multiple outcomes, agencies
must  collaborate to efficiently share  information
and   resources   and   to  appropriately  target
programs, policies, and  resources.

In Connecticut,  the Capitol  Region Council  of
Governments (CRCOG)  partnered  with the
U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency (EPA) to
address these challenges—many  of  which are
shared by communities and regions  around the
country. CRCOG collaborated with EPA's Smart
Growth Program to identify tools  and strategies
for implementing  a   state affordable   housing
program, HOMEConnecticut,6 to  grow smarten
ensure  healthy   and   affordable  housing,  and
support long-term  economic competitiveness  at
the local and regional levels. The EPA and CRCOG
hired a team  of experts, which included urban
designers from Wallace Roberts &Todd and real
estate planning  and development advisors from
Jonathan Rose Companies.The guidelines in this
document are a result of that collaboration and
will  help guide  development in the 29  urban,
suburban, and rural  municipalities  that make up
the Connecticut Capitol Region.

These guidelines were developed for communities
in Connecticut and around the country striving to
get development and future growth that result
in  stronger   neighborhoods,  protected   open
space  and watersheds, and  healthier and more
affordable homes.The guidelines are also applied
to site-level conceptual  plans for development
that  are featured   in  a  companion  report,
Together We  Can Grow Better: Smart Growth
for a  Sustainable  Region. That  report  analyzes
four types of development that represent many
of the  challenges and opportunities faced by
communities:

• Infill redevelopment in an existing residential
  neighborhood;
• Greyfield redevelopment  of a dead shopping
  center in a retail corridor;
• Infill development in afunctioning but underused
  shopping center; and
• Development in a rural context adjacent  to a
  village center
6 Authorized in 2007,the HOMEConnecticut program (Public
  Act 07-4) creates incentives for municipalities to establish land
  use regulations that allow higher density residential development
  with affordable housing requirements.The legislation authorized
  $4 million for technical assistance and planning grants to
  towns, non-profit developers, housing assistance organizations,
  and regional planning agencies and for zoning and building
  permit incentive  payments.
                                                                                INTRODUCTION    3

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Highlands' Garden Village Mixed-Use and Mixed-Income Community - Denver, Colorado
Jonathan Rose Companies


            OVERVIEW&

            PURPOSE OFTHE GUIDELINES FOR
            SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

            These guidelines can helpindividuals.organizations,
            and agencies involved in the  planning, design,
            and  development  of homes,  neighborhoods,
            and  communities. They  are intended  mainly
            for  local government officials who are at the
            forefront of making  decisions on land  use, site
            and neighborhood design, housing, green building,
            development  agreements,   and  public-private
            partnerships.  Municipal   planners,  engineers,
            commissioners,  council  members, and  others
            must grapple with making the right decisions on
            projects of all sizes as they strive to make their
            communities more livable and sustainable.These
            guidelines  can provide  a framework  to  help
these local decision-makers guide development,
preserve  open  space, provide  housing  that
is  affordable  and energy  efficient,  and  create
neighborhoods that are enjoyable and walkable.

These guidelines  are also a resource for regional
and state officials responsible for the allocation of
state and federal resources. Funding for regional
infrastructure—roads,  transit,  sewers,  water,
etc.—is usually allocated at the state  level  but
has a significant impact on the way  regions and
communities grow.These guidelines demonstrate
the   connections    between   infrastructure
investments and land  use  and  development
decisions and can help identify projects, features
of projects, or broader areas that warrant more
targeted state investment.

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The guidelines are also for designers, developers,
advocates, and builders of attractive buildings and
neighborhoods, as well as those who are interested
in  developing homes  and neighborhoods that
respond to changing demographics and market
demands. They offer important  considerations
on how to generate long-lasting value from land
use and development decisions, including location,
orientation and layout, composition and character
and green building materials and design.

Finally,  these  guidelines  are  intended to  help
residents who wantto more effectively participate
in the development of their neighborhoods and
towns.   This  document  provides a framework
for them to engage with the local  government
and developers in siting, planning, designing, and
developing high-quality projects that create great
places.
GUIDELINES VERSUS CRITERIA

The guidelines were developed with the specific
intent of providing strategies for decision-makers
and  practitioners   involved   in  policy-making,
planning, and  development   of  our  buildings,
neighborhoods, and communities. They are not
intended to  be prescriptive or to offer uniform,
rigid metrics or benchmarks, but rather to provide
a comprehensive overview of how to approach
equitable, sustainable neighborhood building.

These  guidelines differ from, but complement,
other   certification  programs  that   contain
comprehensive  criteria  to  achieve a certain
standard of sustainability Certification programs
such as the Enterprise Green Communities, the
U.S. Department of Energy and EPA's  ENERGY
STAR, and the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED
certification  systems  (USGBC  LEED) include
specific requirements that  the  developer or
homebuilder must  meet in order to qualify for
certification. These  programs  provide standards
that   agencies,  individuals,  and   organizations
can use to establish benchmarks and  measure
outcomes. They have also  helped to popularize
green building and design  not only in the real
estate and development industries, but also with
residents, property owners and business tenants.
While some programs focus on green homes or
developments (such as ENERGY STAR, USGBC
LEED-Homes, and the National Association of
Home  Builders  Green  Building Program), other
programs  (such  as  Green  Communities and
USGBC   LEED-Neighborhood  Development)
emphasize the creation of green neighborhoods.
(See Resources -  Certification Programs for
access to further information).

The  ways in  which  communities use  these
programs  vary  widely.  Some  local  and  state
governments  have begun to require  that projects
meet green  certification  thresholds  as  part
of a policy strategy to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Other jurisdictions have incorporated
elements of these green programs into their land
use ordinances and building codes.The guidelines
in  this  document provide  a framework for the
basic considerations for mixed-income,  mixed-
use,  sustainable  development. This publication
also includes a list of resources that illustrate how
the design guidelines could be incorporated into
municipal land use regulations.
HOWTO USETHE GUIDELINES

The   guidelines  offer   strategies   that   are
appropriate  for  each  scale  of  development—
region,  neighborhood,  and  building.  Regional
strategies establish the foundation for determining
highest and best land use patterns that achieve
better environmental  and  economic benefits.
Neighborhood  strategies lay the groundwork
for livability, equity, good design, and marketability.
Building strategies ensure that structures include
green, energy-efficient design that  reduces costs
and  improves the quality and durability  of the
built environment.
                                                                                  OVERVIEW

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Site  Location: The site location criteria can  be
used as a checklist for prospective development
sites. They  provide  focused guidance  for  the
most critical decisions that planners and policy-
makers can make to  help  reduce the impacts
of development  patterns on  climate change,
natural resources and ecological systems, reduce
household costs and  living expenses, and  more
efficiently use  limited  public  resources to build
regional infrastructure.

Neighborhood Plan: The neighborhood planning
guidelines are  more detailed, matching the scale
of decisions that can  be  made  at the block and
neighborhood  scale to create  livable, equitable,
and diverse communities. The guidelines include
a list of strategies that could be considered for
each project.They may not all apply, but they will
add beauty and market value to projects, as well
as enhance and preserve environmental features
that create a sense of place.

Design  and  Construction:   The design  and
construction guidelines are the  most detailed.
They focus on the building and site infrastructure-
scale design decisions and strategies that can help
reduce energy and water consumption, improve
air  quality,  and   create   green   infrastructure
systems.  Implementation  of  the  strategies  will
vary depending on site conditions, availability of
materials, capacity of local  designers and builders,
and  other reasons.  However, all  the  strategies
should be considered as a  menu of opportunities
to  create  high-performance  buildings  in well-
designed neighborhoods in smart locations.

Community participation in these issues is critical
and should be integrated  from the start into all
development and  land  use planning and policy
activities  at the  regional and local levels. These
guidelines will provide  residents  with tools to
identify and advocate for smart growth projects
in their region, town, or city  so they can more
effectively participate in the planning process.

The economic  and quality  of  life  advantages
communities gain from  using smart growth  and
green building strategies are increasingly evident.
As the market demand for  energy-efficient homes
and more affordable, sustainable neighborhoods
increases, the capacity of local builders,  designers,
and  suppliers will  grow to meet  that demand.
The result will be well-designed communities that
contribute to a stronger local  economy, healthier
residents,  and a more environmentally sound
approach to growth.
OVERVIEW

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                                                              Opportunties By:
                                                                   Access
                                                               ^•A
                                                                   Transit (proposed)
                                                               (?.•  Transit (existing)
                                                                   Natural Edge
                                                                   Center (existing)
                                                                      :er (proposed)
                                                      Example Regional Transit Planning Analysis
                                                                     Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC
PROSPEROUS,
SMART  GROWTH   LOCATIONS
Planning at the regional scale is the first critical
step in creating livable communities.  Locating
development on underused, vacant, abandoned,
or contaminated land in existing towns and cities
reduces development pressure on rural or prime
agricultural lands. These sites, typically infill sites
or parcels adjacent to existing development, are
often the cornerstones catalyzing further private
investment in other underused properties nearby.

The benefits of this approach are many For example,
revitalizing neighborhoods and downtown districts
strengthens the municipal tax base and prods
communities  to improve existing infrastructure.
A regional analysis of development opportunities
highlights new ways to increase accessibility to
employment centers, reduce the time and energy
residents spend commuting, and improve air and
water quality. Complementary land preservation
and conservation strategies at the regional scale
identify vulnerable lands and help protect them
from  development, which focuses local  and
regional market forces on existing neighborhoods.
Combining  revitalization  strategies with  land
preservation policies work together to strengthen
the vitality and economic  viability of mixed-use
town centers and neighborhoods.

Local  governments, planners, developers, and
others who are involved in selecting and approving
                SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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sites for future development make their decisions
based on many  considerations.The guidelines on
the following pages can be the foundation upon
which to base location decisions for residential,
commercial, mixed-use,  or other development
to achieve  long-term economic and sustainable
development objectives. Key  regional  strategies
for locating development  and making  land-use
policy are:

• Natural Resources Preservation
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas Protection
• Existing Development and Infrastructure
  Connections
• Transportation and Transit Systems Access
• Community-Oriented Services Proximity
                                                     THE LINK BETWEEN VEHICLE MILES
                                                     TRAVELED (VMT) AND CLIMATE CHANGE

                                                     Transportation accounts for 1/3 of CO2 emissions in the
                                                     United States.' Transportation related CO2 reduction
                                                     efforts can be understood as a three-legged stool.The
                                                     first leg is fuel efficiency, the second leg is developing
                                                     cleaner, lower carbon fuels, and the third leg is the
                                                     reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

                                                     To date, most policy attention  has been paid to the
                                                     first two legs of the stool, the gains of which have been
                                                     canceled out by the additional VMT growth attributed to
                                                     ongoing conventional development patterns. If current
                                                     development patterns do not change,VMT in the United
                                                     States will experience a rise of 48% by 2030 and  102%
                                                     by 2050.2 By creating walkable compact communities
                                                     connected to local and regional transit, Smart Growth
                                                     development can effectively slow the growth in VMT by
                                                     significantly reducing the  need  to drive.
                                                     I  "Growing Cooler;The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate
                                                       Change" ULI, Washington DC, 2008
                                                     2 Ibid

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OBJECTIVES
                  PROSPEROUS SMART GROWTH  LOCATIONS
GUIDELINES
NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION
Preserve and protect farmland,
natural resources and habitat
Locate the development on a site that does not have:
- Wetlands, water bodies or land within 100 feet of these areas
- Prime agricultural soils
- Unique or prime forest soils
- Threatened or endangered species habitat
- Aquifer recharge areas
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS PROTECTION
Protect environmentally
sensitive areas
Enhance and protect the
ecology of natural systems
Locate the development on land that does not have:
- Steep slopes greater than 15%
- 100-year floodplains
- Highly credible soils

Establish a mandatory no-development buffer at wetlands,
floodplains, lakes, rivers, and estuaries
EXISTING DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTIONS
Capitalize on
existing infrastructure
Redevelop and restore value of
contaminated or under-utilized
land
Minimize reliance on private
septic systems
Locate the development on a site that has access to existing
roads, water, sewers and other infrastructure and is within or
contiguous to existing development

To the greatest extent possible, locate the project on a greyfield
(underused or abandoned site), brownfield (underused
or abandoned site with real or perceived environmental
contamination), or other adaptive reuse/infill site

Discourage development on sites where private septic
systems will be required, both because of the cots of
maintenance and typical system failures, and because of the
large lot size required to service the systems
TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT SYSTEMS ACCESS
Encourage transit and other
alternatives to single
occupancy cars, reduce
total congestion, vehicle
miles traveled, household
transportation costs, and
greenhouse gas emissions
Locate the development on a site that is served by or
within walking distance of public transit or other alternative
transportation, such as:
- Bus
- Train (light rail, heavy rail, tram)
- Ferry
- Bike lanes and designated bike routes
- Car share
                 SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT    9

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      OBJECTIVES
                        PROSPEROUS SMART GROWTH LOCATIONS
GUIDELINES
      COMMUNITY-ORIENTED SERVICES PROXIMITY
      Support community health by
      encouraging walking and biking
      and reducing driving
Locate the development on a site that is served by or is
within 15 minutes walking distance of community-oriented
services, such as:
- Grocery store
- Convenience store
- Civic, community and educational facilities
- Cultural and entertainment facilities
- Child care
- Job centers
- Health clinic (medical or dental)
- Post office
- Pharmacy
- Laundry/ dry cleaner
- Police or fire station
- Place of worship
- Public park and recreational facility
10    SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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^HiJ
                                                             £j£':':t'^Y'V-.
                            Vm
                            i
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                                                          Highlands' Garden Village, Co-housing - Denver, Colorado
                                                                                   Jonathan Rose Companies
              NEGHBORHOOD   PLAN  -
              PLACEMAKING&
             Desirable neighborhoods that offer a good quality
             of life and maintain lasting value for residents are
             not only located in convenient areas (see previous
             section) but also include well-designed buildings,
             streets, and  infrastructure.  Good  neighborhoods
             are sustainable and maintain enduring value for
             their inhabitants.They provide good quality housing
             opportunities for people at all stages of life, from
             young to old, and with different income levels. Good
             neighborhoods are memorable and  have  clear,
             identifiable boundaries, connections to surrounding
             places, parks and civic spaces, a diversity of uses and
             housing types, and create a cohesive sense of place.
These neighborhood-scale guidelines  contribute
to  creating walkable neighborhoods,  pedestrian
friendly  streets,  and  thriving, diverse,  healthy
communities. There are  exciting opportunities
within these guidelines to be creative.  Green
design and development strategies, such as those
listed in  this document, can be used to create
neighborhoods that are environmentally sensitive
and vibrant, attractive places. For example, trees
along  streets are aesthetically pleasing,  protect
and shade pedestrians,  cool  the ambient air
temperature, and slow and retain water as part of
a stormwater management system.
                             SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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     The guidelines work together to  achieve high-
     quality neighborhood design in these areas:

     • Neighborhood Fabric and Composition
     • Community Streets
     • Nature and Open Space
     • Equity Diversity and Affordability
                                                          Gateway Crossing - Hagerstown, MD
                                                          Placemaking in Practice
                                                         A former neighborhood of industrial lands and public
                                                         housing sites in Western Maryland, this neighborhood
                                                         revitalization effort created place by reinterpreting
                                                         historic workforce housing that supported the railroad
                                                         industry at the turn of the 20th century. A series of
                                                         neighborhood parks and community centers were all
                                                         placed within  1/4-mile walking radius.

                                                         The mixed-income redevelopment is designed to
                                                         integrate well into an existing historic neighborhood,
                                                         while providing energy efficient homes that are LEED
                                                         for Home qualified. Due to the rocky soil conditions in
                                                         this community along the foothills of the Appalachian
                                                         Mountains, the site development balanced density with
                                                         large areas reserved for stormwater infiltration in front
                                                         yards and in the parks.
12

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  OBJECTIVES
                      NEIGHBORHOOD  PLAN  - PLACEMAKING
GUIDELINES
  NEIGHBORHOOD FABRICAND COMPOSITION
  Encourage walking and reduce
  vehicle miles traveled by mixing
  uses and densities

  Maximize density levels to
  create optimal nodes of activity
  Minimize the negative impact
  of car parking and encourage
  healthy modes of transportation
  Maximize opportunities for
  passive solar heating and cooling
  COMMUNITY STREETS
  Calm traffic and create desirable,
  pedestrian friendly, safe streets
Incorporate a diverse mix of uses within the development, or
locate housing within a 15-minute walk of commercial and
retail districts within diverse, community-oriented services

Exceed existing density patterns or requirements for a
residential and mixed-use development. Suggested minimum
densities for new residential construction:
- Six (6) units  per acre for detached/semi-detached houses
- Ten (10) units per acre for townhomes
- Twenty (20)  units per acre for apartments

Design car parking areas so that they are not the primary
visual components of the neighborhood character by:
- Providing opportunities for shared parking between
  structures
- Reducing parking ratio requirements in areas served by
  public transit
- Providing preferred or discounted parking for carpools,
  vanpools and low-emitting, fuel-efficient vehicles
- Providing designated street parking for car-sharing service
- Limiting and  screening parking and loading areas to the side
  and/or rear of buildings
- Providing bike racks and walking amenities (water fountains,
  benches, etc) near entrances at points of destination

For new street blocks or buildings, take advantage of natural
solar heating and cooling by orienting the longer side of the
street grid and/or buildings along the east-west axis
Design safe, pedestrian-friendly streets by including elements,
such as:
- Wide sidewalks on both sides of the street (4 feet
  minimum width on residential blocks, 8 feet minimum width
  on non-residential or mixed-use blocks)
- Street furniture (e.g., benches, street lamps)
- Trees and other landscaping
- Street curb bulb-outs
- Adequate space for transit stops/shelters
- Wbonerfs (streets that give legal priority to pedestrians
  and cyclists)
- Narrower streets to reduce speeds and impervious surfaces
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
                                                             13

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                           NEIGHBORHOOD  PLAN - PLACEMAKING
       OBJECTIVES
       COMMUNITY STREETS
       Create bike-friendly streets
       Maximize neighborhood
       connectivity
       Enliven street frontages
       Beautify streets with trees and
       green infrastructure practices
       NATURE AND OPEN SPACE
       Create or enhance green open
       space networks
             GUIDELINES
              Create a bike-friendly environment with continuous, and if
              possible, separated bike lanes that connect to a larger bike
              network, bike parking, and easily accessible bike racks

              Connect new streets, sidewalks and bike lanes to the existing
              street grid and surrounding neighborhoods, districts, and
              transportation network

              Support a pedestrian-friendly street pattern by:
              - Orienting buildings toward the street and sidewalk with
               front facades and entrances facing a public space but not a
               parking area
              - Locating front building facades near the front property line
              - Zoning for pedestrian-oriented uses at the ground level
               (e.g., retail, community services such as libraries and
               community centers, etc.,)

              Encourage the use of green infrastructure practices as
              standard practice  for roads and public rights-of-way. For
              example, provide street trees on both sides of streets
              between the street and sidewalk.  Use appropriate (drought
              tolerant) tree species and ensure the trees have the correct
              soils and root and growth space to thrive
              Design green open space so that it is connected to existing
              green open space networks within or adjacent to site
              boundaries
       Conserve natural resources
       Maximize access to parks and
       recreational areas
              Preserve and restore natural resources through compact
              conservation design

              Include and/or provide direct access to parks and
              recreational areas
       Maximize access to local food
              Provide access to local food and opportunities for food
              production, by:
              - Zoning or CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions)
               that allow for growing produce on residential property
              - Dedicating open space for a community garden in the
               development
              - Locating the project near a farmers' market.
              - Planting edible landscapes as part of landscaping plans
14
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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  OBJECTIVES
                      NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN - PLACEMAKING
GUIDELINES
  EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND AFFORDABILITY
  Encourage housing type,
  tenure, and income diversity
  Create environments usable by
  all people, to the greatest extent
  possible, without the need for
  adaptation or specialization
Exceed the affordability requirements of applicable local and/
or state programs, and:
- Include a mix of housing types, tenures, income targeting
  and density patterns
- Establish zoning regulations that allow accessory units

To the greatest extent possible, incorporate the following
universal design strategies:
- One zero-step entrance, at the front, back or side of the
  house
- At least 32 inches of clear passage space for all main floor
  doors, including bathrooms
- At least a half bath, preferably a full bath, on the main floor
- Incorporate universal design  strategies in the design of the
  residential units (Universal Design Resources1,2)
                                  I  Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/
                                    idea/Home/index.asp
                                  2  Center for Neighborhood Technology Housing and Transportation Affordability
                                    Index, http://www.cnt.org/tcd/ht
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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                                                             Othello Station at New Holly - Seattle, WA
                                                                Wallace Roberts &Todd, LLCw'ithWRTISolomon ETC
     GREEN   BULDNG    &
     &    NFRASTRUCTURE&
    Green  building  techniques make  new  and
    existing buildings healthier more durable, and
    more energy and water efficient. Buildings are
    healthier when they are designed to improve
    the indoor air quality, thereby reducing incidence
    of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Also,
    more durable buildings consider the lifecycle
    of materials,  selecting efficient, recycled,  or
    recyclable construction and finish materials and
    using construction  methods that extend their
    functional life, reduce cost, and reduce  waste.
    These  materials, appliances, and techniques
    not only conserve  resources, they also reduce
    household energy and water costs.
                        These techniques are within the reach of both
                        experienced green builders and those that are just
                        beginning  to  incorporate  sustainability,  energy
                        efficiency  and  compact  design   into  their
                        construction practice and business model. In the
                        guidelines  below,  experienced  builders may
                        recognize  similarities with other green building
                        certification programs, such as the Enterprise Green
                        Communities  Program, the U.S.  Green Building
                        Council LEED programs, and EPA's ENERGY STAR
                        ratings for homes, appliances, and fixtures.

                        In some municipalities, developers  and builders
                        may have varying levels of capacity or knowledge
                        in green  construction  and design, or may  be
16
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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located  in  areas  with  limited access to green
materials. In these cases, these Green  Building
and Infrastructure Guidelines can serve as a list of
sustainable  construction methods and materials
to consider Policy  makers  might use  this  list
as a good  starting point in working with local
builders who may have little to  no experience
in green building to  both  build capacity  and
establish low cost, high impact, accessible green
building methods. In areas where builders have
experience and capacity to design and construct
green buildings, policy makers might set minimum
standards  or program certifications and  offer
incentives to project developers that exceed them.

Using cost-effective  methods to create  high-
performance building  envelopes  advance local
green  building  capacity  and help  households
to save money on  energy costs. The following
strategies may serve as a menu of options that
can  be  incorporated  in various combinations
into  the  design  and  construction strategy  for
building green to independently and cumulatively
increase  building  and  neighborhood  efficiency
and sustainability

The  Guidelines  focus on   energy  and water
efficiencies,  but also include simple green  building
methods.The list is not a detailed specification, nor
does it reflect EPA national green building guidance
that  is  under   development. EPA's  ENERGY
STAR Qualified Homes  Program contains more
complete information, checklists, best practices and
technical resources for the design and construction
of energy-efficient homes.  Please refer  to  the
Resources-Certification  Program   section   of
this  document to access  these  resources. The
Green  Building and Infrastructure Guidelines are
organized as follows:

• High-Performance Buildings
• Green Building Materials
• Sustainable and  Indigenous Landscaping
• Green Infrastructure
• Green Construction Best Practices
• Green Operations and Maintenance
Highlands' Garden Village -  Denver, CO
Green Building in Practice

Highlands' Garden Village, developed by Jonathan Rose
Companies, is a mixed-use transit oriented development
on the site of a former amusement parkThe community's
range of housing types and  price points demonstrate
that smaller, infill sites can accommodate diversity, and
also enhance economic and social viability. By combining
residential with office and neighborhood serving retail
uses, residents have the opportunity to live, work and
shop within a few minutes walk of each other.

The village is an early example of the extensive use of green
building and planning techniques at the neighborhood and
building scale.The single-family homes exceed ENERGY
STAR program  requirements. All of the buildings
incorporate recycled materials, LOW-VOC products,
and energy efficient windows.The neighborhood's road
beds are constructed from  concrete recycled directly
on site from the demolition of the amusement parkThe
landscaping consists of water-conserving native  plants
and special efforts were made to keep many of the
site's existing trees. All of the community buildings are
powered with alternative energy sources.

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                            GREEN BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE
       OBJECTIVES
             GUIDELINES
       HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
       Create high-performance
       residential projects to reduce
       household water consumption,
       water utility costs, and protect
       natural water supply
       Create high-performance
       residential projects to
       reduce household energy
       consumption, energy utility
       costs, and greenhouse gas
       emissions
             Use durable, water-efficient fixtures, such as EPAWaterSense
             labeled products'
             - Showerheads with a flow of less than 2 gallons per minute
               (gPm)
             - Sink faucets with a flow of less than 2 gpm
             - Toilets that use less than  1.6 gallons per flush (gpf)
             - Urinals that are waterless or use less than I  gpf

             - Use Technical Resources: Guidelines for ENERGY STAR
               Qualified New Homes'
             - Identify ENERGY STAR partners to design and build the
               homes'
             - Identify Home Energy Rater to verify ENERGY STAR
               checklists'
       Design and construct sound
       building envelope
       Design and install high-
       performance heating/
       ventilation/air conditioning
       system
       Design water efficient
       plumbing system

       Specify and install energy
       efficient appliances and lighting
               Complete Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist
               Complete Quality Framing Checklist
               Install ENERGY STAR qualified or better windows and doors

               Complete HVAC Quality Installation Contractor Checklist
               Complete HVAC Quality Installation Rater Checklist
               Specify and install ENERGY STAR HVAC equipment
               Install ENERGY STAR qualified thermostat (except for
               zones with radiant heat)
               Install ENERGY STAR ceiling fans

               Use demand pumping, manifold, or core layout hot water
               distribution system

               Install ENERGY STAR refrigerators, dishwashers, and
               clothes washers/dryers
               Use ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package, and/or
               install ENERGY STAR bulbs in 80% of sockets'
       Specify construction methods
       that ensure healthy indoor air
       quality

       Create high-performance
       commercial/ mixed-use
       projects to reduce household
       water consumption, water
       utility costs, and protect
       natural water supply
             - Use EPA's Indoor airPLUS'
             - Complete Indoor Air Quality Checklist
             - Complete Water-Managed Construction Checklist

             Design buildings using the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design
             Guides'
                                       See Resources sec
18
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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                       GREEN BUILDING &  INFRASTRUCTURE
  OBJECTIVES
  GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
  Use materials and products
  that are environmentally
  preferable and safer for
  occupant health
GUIDELINES
To the greatest extent possible, use materials that have
minimized environmental and health impacts over their
lifecycle:
- Use recycled or recyclable building and finish materials
- Use locally available, indigenous materials and/or products
  that have been certified under a trusted green program
- Use healthier and durable materials. Some flooring options
  include:
    - Living Areas and Bedrooms: Suggested materials
      include wood harvested from a certified sustainably
      managed forest, salvaged or reclaimed woods, cork (a
      fast growing, renewable material), and carpets certified
      to the NSF-140 standard.1
    - Entryway Kitchen, Laundry Room, and other Wet
      Areas: avoid moisture absorbing flooring. Suggested
      materials include ceramic tile, linoleum, rubber, sealed
      concrete
    - Basement: avoid moisture absorbing
      flooring. Suggested material includes exposed slab with
      low-VOC stain
    - Bedrooms: Suggested materials include those suggested for
      Living Areas, natural fiber area rugs or Green Label carpet
    - To facilitate reuse at the end of a product or building's
      life, consider using nails and screws instead of adhesives
      when practicable.
    - More environmentally preferable materials and methods
      can be found in  the model green construction
      specifications at: www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php
  SUSTAINABLE & INDIGENOUS  LANDSCAPING
  Reduce maintenance
  requirements and costs, water
  consumption, and negative
  environmental impacts
- Limit the use of turf grass and install native, drought-
  tolerant ground cover or other landscaping to replace
  lawns. Reduce areas maintained by greenhouse gas-
  emitting maintenance equipment
- Design landscapes to be  low maintenance and require little
  or no fertilizers, pesticides, or watering except for when
  they are first established
- Select and install plants that are appropriate to the site's soils
  and micro-climate and require little or minimal irrigation,
  fertilization, and chemical management (pesticides), f irrigation
  is required, design system to EPAWaterSense standards.1
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
                                                             19

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                             GREEN BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE
       OBJECTIVES
       GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
       Incorporate stormwater
       management practices as
       part of neighborhood design
       features and amenities
       Mitigate heat island impacts
             GUIDELINES
                Use green infrastructure and low-impact development
                techniques to manage runoff on-site, such as bioswales,
                pervious pavement, green roofs, tree plantings, bio-filtration,
                cisterns, and stream da/lighting
                To the extent practicable, minimize impervious surfaces by
                using gravel, permeable pavers, open grid pavers, and similar
                pervious surfaces for driveways, parking lots, and other
                areas that would usually be paved
                Encourage green infrastructure practices in landscaping
                features, such as community gardens, rain gardens and large
                canopy trees
                Locate deciduous trees and  other plant materials to
                provide shading in summer and solar access in winter,
                as well as to provide stormwater management for any
                impervious areas on site

                Use ENERGY STAR qualified or  other highly reflective roof
                products
                Use paving materials with high solar reflectance
                Select and install street trees, and/or preserve existing
                trees, to shade sidewalks and hard surface areas
       GREEN CONSTRUCTION BEST PRACTICES
       Control soil erosion and
       sedimentation
       Redevelop brownfield sites
       using ecologically innovative
       and responsible environmental
       remediation and abatement
       practices
       Reduce excess construction
       waste and make recycling easy
                Implement local or state erosion and sedimentation
                controls during construction using EPA's Stormwater Best
                Management Practices'

                Conduct an environmental assessment that meets the
                requirements of the local or state environmental
                protection agency. If applicable, employ EPA's Green
                Remediation Best Management Practices'
                Use EPA Steps to Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and
                Painting'

                Whenever possible, use building technologies, materials and
                finishes that minimize finishing on-site
                Place recycling bins on construction site for recyclable/
                reusable waste materials that can  be diverted from landfills
                                        See Resources section under "Certification Programs"
20
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

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  OBJECTIVES
                     GREEN BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE
GUIDELINES
  GREEN ENERGY PRODUCTION & SUPPLY
  Encourage on-site production
  and use of renewable energy
  Enhance on-site energy
  production with off-site
  renewable energy sources
  Install non-polluting, renewable energy generation
  technologies such as solar, wind, or geothermal
  Alternatively, consider designing and wiring the
  development to accommodate renewable energy sources,
  such as photovoltaic cells, in the future

  Purchase household energy from renewable resources that
  may be available from the local utility/energy provider
  GREEN OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
  Ensure that ongoing operations
  and maintenance practices
  promote green and healthy
  living by developing operations
  and orientation manuals
- Building maintenance manual1
- Homeowner / Renter green guide1
- Homeowner/ Renter green orientation1
SMART GROWTH GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
                                                        21

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                                                                      Site Planning Detail -South Windsor, CT
                                                                                     Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC
      RESOURCES

     This section provides a reference list of certification
     programs and resources for readers who are
     interested  in  obtaining additional information
     on  planning  or  certifying neighborhoods  and
     buildings that are healthy, walkable, diverse in uses
     and incomes, and environmentally responsible. In
     addition to certification programs, there  is also a
     list of leading entities in the fields of smart growth,
     neighborhood design, and green building.

     SMART GROWTH PLANNING,
     DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN RESOURCES

     Federal Agencies
     Federal  agencies  provide  a  wide  range  of
     resources as well as grants, loans, and advisory
     services. Establishing long-term relationships with
     government agencies is important,  particularly
in  projects  that promote  smart  growth  and
energy-efficient development and design. Regular
research on key websites helps provide access to
new resources, funding notifications, and policy
initiatives at  the federal  level.  For example, as
an extension of its work supporting community
development and  affordable  housing,  HUD
joined with EPA and DOT in the  Partnership for
Sustainable Communities to facilitate integrated
planning to  help American  families gain  better
access to affordable housing, more transportation
options, and  lower transportation costs.

Some key federal agencies are:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov
22

-------
Office of Administrator; Office of Policy Economics
and Innovation, Smart Growth Program
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth

Office of Air and Radiation
www.epa.gov/oar

Office of Environmental Justice
www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/
index.html

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
www.e pa.gov/swe rri ms

Office ofWater
www.epa.gov/OW

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
www. e n e rgy.gov

U.S. Department of Energy Center of Excellence
for Sustainable Development
www.smartcommunities.ncat.org

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD)
www.hud.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) - Community Planning
and Development Green Homes and
Communities
www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/conplan/
greenhomes.cfm

U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT)
www.dot.gov

U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT)
Federal Transit Administration Transit and
Environmental Sustainability
www.fta.dot.gov/planning/planning_
environment 85IO.html
U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) -
Federal Transit Administration Transit-Oriented
Development
www.fta.dot.gov/planning/planning_
environment_6932.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
www.usda.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Sustainable
Development
http://www.usda.gov/oce/sustainable/funding.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention(CDC) - Healthy Communities
Program
www.cdc.gov/healthycommunitiesprogram
Regional Organizations
Metropolitan   Planning  Organizations   (MPO)
and Regional  Council of Governments that plan,
research, and support smart growth and green
development  patterns  are  often  sources  of
information. Therefore, it is  important to  learn
about your local regional planning organizations.
They  are  frequently members of the National
Association  of Regional Councils  and/or the
American  Metropolitan  Planning Organizations.
For more  information on these groups or to find
your regional  organization, visit their websites at:

American  Metropolitan Planning Organization
www.ampo.org

National Association of Regional Councils
www.narc.org
RESOURCES
                                                23

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      Professional Associations
      Professional associations are excellent resources
      for  identifying experienced  project teams and
      researching best practices in green design, as well
      as potential planning and design grant opportunities.
      Some key professional associations are:

      American Planning Association
      www.planning.org

      American Institute of Architects
      www.aia.org

      Building Owners and Managers Association
      International
      www.boma.org

      National Association of Homebuilders
      www.nahbgreen.org

      Urban Land Institute
      www.uli.org
      Associations for
      Public Agencies and Officials
      These associations provide resources for public
      officials  and  staff to  help them create more
      opportunities  for smart growth development,
      community revitalization, energy-efficient infrastructure,
      transportation options, and community development
      to address climate change.

      International City/ County Management
      Association (ICMA)
      www.icma.org

      ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
      www.iclei.org

      Local Government Commission
      www.lgc.org

      National Association of Counties (NACo)
      www.naco.org
National Governors Association - Environment,
Energy & Natural Resources Best Practices
www.nga.org/portal/site/nga

U.S. Conference  of Mayors - Mayors Climate
Protection Center
www.usmayors.org/climateprotection
Certification Programs
Green certification and rating programs provide
standards for  measuring  and evaluating a type
of  building product,  such  as  residential   or
commercial buildings, or large-sea e, multi-phased
projects  with  several  buildings.  These programs
include certain prerequisites and  criteria to  be
addressed  as  part  of the  project  assessment
process.  Most programs  are  based on  a  point
system that evaluates a project's  location, context,
design, construction, and operation to determine
the project's eligibility for certification.  Some  key
certification programs include:

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air-Conditioning  Engineers (ASHRAE) -
Advanced Energy Design Guides
www.ashrae.org/technology/page/938

ENERGY STAR Program -AJoint Program of
the EPA and DOE
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.
hm_index

ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes (Checklists,
Technical Resources, Specifications, etc)
www. e n e rgysta r.go v/i n d ex. cf m ? c=b I d rs_l e n d e rs_
raters.homes_guidelns

ENERGY STAR Partners (Find or become a
Partner)
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=partners.pt_index

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=fixtures.alp_
consumers
24
                                 RESOURCES

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov

EPA Indoor airPLUS
www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/

EPA National Menu of Best Practices
cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps

EPA Steps to Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and
Painting
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

EPAWaterSense
www.e pa.gov/Wate rSe n se

EPA Smart Growth Code Auditing
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/scorecards/index.htm

Enterprise Green Communities
www.enterprisegreencommunitiesonline.org

Enterprise Green Communities Templates
www.greencommunitiesonline.org/tools/resources/
index.asp#tl

NSF International - Sustainable Building Product
Standards
http://www.nsf.org/business/sustainability

National Association of Home Builders -
National Green Building Program
www.nahbgreen.org

U.S. Green Building Council - Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
www.usgbc.org
Green Development,
Neighborhood, and Building Resources
These   resources  provide    tools  to  create
development plans and policies that build well-
designed,   green  communities.  The  following
list   includes  key   organizations  involved   in
smart  growth,  green  building  and  sustainable
development. Also noted in this  list are special
program  areas  that  these  organizations  have
developed.

Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental
Access
Program Area: Visitability Booklet (pdf)
www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/Home/index.asp

Center for Neighborhood Technology
www.cnt.org
Program Area: Housing and Transportation
Affordability Index
www.cnt.org/tcd/ht

Center for Universal Design
www.design.ncsu.edu/cud
Program Area: Universal Design in Community
Planning
www.design.ncsu. edu/cud/about_ud/udincommunity.
html

Congress for the  New Urbanism
www.cnu.org
Program Area: Achieving Sustainability from Building
to Region
www.cnu.org/lntro_to_new_urbanism

Global Green USA
www.globalgreen.org
Program Area: Green Building Resource
www.globalgreen.org/greenurbanism

Leadership for Healthy Communities
www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org
Program Area: Active Living
www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/
component/option,com_advancedtags/view,tag/id,2/
ltemid,74

Lincoln Land  Institute  of Land Policy
www.lincolninst.edu
Program Area: Visualizing Density
www.lincolninst.edu/subcenters/visualizing-density/
RESOURCES
                                                  25

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      National Complete Streets Coalition
      www.completestreets.org
      Program Area: Complete Street Fundamentals
      www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-
      fundamentals

      Natural Resources Defense Council
      www.nrdc.org
      Program Area: Smart Growth
      www.nrdc.org/smartgrowth/default.asp

      Playbookfor Green Buildings and
      Neighborhoods - Strategic Local Climate
      Solutions
      www.greenplaybook.org

      Project for Public Spaces
      www.pps.org

      Reconnecting America - Center forTransit-
      Oriented Development
      www.reconnectingamerica.org

      Sierra Club USA
      www.sierraclub.org
      Program Area: Cool Cities
      www.coolcities.us
      Program Area: Clean Energy Solutions
      www.sierraclub.org/energy

      Smart Growth America
      www.smartgrowthamerica.org
Smart Growth Leadership Institute -A Project
of Smart Growth America
www.sgli.org
Smart Growth Network
www.smartgrowth.org/sgn/default.asp

Smart Growth Online -A Service of the Smart
Growth Network
www.smartgrowth.org

Sustainable Communities Network- Linking
Cities to Resources and to One Another
www.sustainable.org
Sustainable Sites Initiative - Sustainable
Landscapes
www.sustainablesites.org

Urban Advantage - Envisioning Urbanism
www.urban-advantage.com

The Urban Land Institute
www.uli.org
Program Area: Smart Growth Alliance Information
Network
www.uli.org/CommunityBuilding/Smart/o20
Growth/620Alliances.aspx
Program Area: Regional Leadership and
Cooperation - Smart Growth
www.uli.org/CommunityBuilding/
RegionalLeadershipandCooperation/Smart/620
Growth.aspx

Walk Score - Find a Walkable  Place to Live
www.walkscore.org
26
                                  RESOURCES

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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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