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Planning for Smart Growth

Planning for Smart Growth. in Rural New Hampshire. SWRPC. Southwest Region Planning Commission. SWRPC. Planning for SMART GROWTH. Purpose of Smart Growth Audits : Assist rural communities in coping with change, development and growth. Provide guidance by promoting Smart Growth.

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Planning for Smart Growth

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  1. Planning for Smart Growth in Rural New Hampshire SWRPC Southwest Region Planning Commission

  2. SWRPC Planning for SMART GROWTH • Purpose of Smart Growth Audits: • Assist rural communities in coping with change, development and growth. • Provide guidance by promoting Smart Growth. • Assist communities in implementing the prin-ciples of Smart Growth to effectively manage growth. SWRPC

  3. SWRPC Planning for SMART GROWTH Content of Slide Show: Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire NH Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool SWRPC

  4. SWRPC Planning for SMART GROWTH Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire NH Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool SWRPC

  5. SWRPC Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire Sprawl: amount of developed land grows faster than population. SWRPC

  6. SWRPC • Nashua – Manchester Area: • 29 % increase in population, but... • 70 % increase in developed land = • 25 % decrease in density Source: Brookings Institution, 2001. Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire Sprawl: amount of developed land grows faster than population. SWRPC

  7. SWRPC • Signs of Sprawl in Rural Areas: Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire Sprawl: amount of developed land grows faster than population. • Dominance of Town-wide Medium- to Low-Density Residential Housing, • Single-Use Zoning, • Large-Lot Zoning in Town Center, • Current Development Trends that don’t follow Historic Patterns. SWRPC

  8. Landscape prior to development SWRPC Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, US EPA

  9. Landscape after conventional development Sprawl SWRPC Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, US EPA

  10. SWRPC Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire Costs of sprawl: • Loss of open space and wildlife habitat • Loss of farming, forestry, hunting & recreation • Increase in polluted storm water run-off • Depletion of ground water • Congestion and attrition of local roads • Higher housing costs due to land & road costs • Higher school transportation costs • Change of community character SWRPC

  11. Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire Geography of sprawl: Household Density Patterns (2000) Concord Manchester Keene Nashua Greenfield, MA Lawrence, MA Source: 2000 Census SWRPC

  12. SWRPC Planning for SMART GROWTH Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire NH Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool SWRPC

  13. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth is the opposite of Sprawl. Smart Growth does not stop growth. Smart Growth can protect the environment, build better communities, preserve community character, and provide employment and housing opportunities, including the building of affordable housing. SWRPC

  14. NH Smart Growth Principles Principles: Office of Energy and Planning publication. SWRPC

  15. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles A) Maintain traditional compact settlement patterns. B) Preserve traditional character of downtowns and villages. C) Incorporate a mix of uses. D) Preserve our working landscape & environmental quality. E) Provide choices and safety in transportation. F) Manage growth locally in the NH tradition … and work with neighboring towns. SWRPC

  16. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles A) Maintain traditional compact settlement patterns. X Compact pattern Strip development SWRPC

  17. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles A) Maintain traditional compact settlement patterns. • Mixes uses • Is pedestrian-friendly • Uses less infrastructure • Uses land efficiently • Expands or in-fill in existing village or • Creates new center Important: In concert with land protection measures SWRPC

  18. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles B) Preserve traditional character of downtowns and villages. • Maintains human scale • Promotes consistent architectural & site design • Creates sense of community • Retains rural character SWRPC

  19. Landscape with conventional development Sprawl SWRPC Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, US EPA

  20. Landscape with compact settlement patterns Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) SWRPC Source: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, US EPA

  21. NH Smart Growth Principles C) Incorporate a mix of uses. • Variety of Housing Types • Commercial / Residential • Business / Retail / Services • Public Facilities • Public Green Space SWRPC

  22. NH Smart Growth Principles D) Preserve our working landscape & environmental quality. • Growing • Processing • Selling SWRPC

  23. NH Smart Growth Principles D) Preserve our working landscape & environmental quality. • Storm water management • Riparian land protection • Vegetated buffers • Protection of steep slopes • Open space protection SWRPC

  24. SWRPC NH Smart Growth Principles E) Provide choices and safety in transportation. • Walking & biking • Safe & convenient • Year-round use SWRPC

  25. NH Smart Growth Principles F) Manage growth locally in the NH tradition … and work with neighboring towns. • Helps towns to achieve common goal: Smart Growth • Helps towns to effectively address common problems: traffic, capacities of services etc. • Implemented through master plan policies, land use regulations and intermunicipal agreements. SWRPC

  26. SWRPC Planning for SMART GROWTH Sprawl in Rural New Hampshire NH Smart Growth Principles Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool SWRPC

  27. SWRPC What is a Smart Growth Audit? A systematic inquiry to evaluate existing land-use plans, policies and practices against the accepted principles of Smart Growth. Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool SWRPC

  28. Methodology and Parameter: Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool American Planning Association, Planning Advisory Service Report # 512, 2003. SWRPC

  29. Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool Parameter checklist: • Water Quality • Air Quality • Housing • Transportation • Parking • Water, Sewer, and Other Infrastructure • Permitting Processes • Regionalism and Intergovernmental Relations • Efficient Land Consumption • Direction of Growth Density • Urban Form • Land Use • Jobs-Housing Balance • Open Space/Green Space • Energy Conservation SWRPC

  30. SWRPC Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool Principle: Incorporate a mix of uses. Example for applied methodology Question: Does the local zoning ordinance provide at least one or more zoning districts that allow mixes of residential and commercial uses? Analysis: The auditor consults the town’s master plan and zoning ordinance. Comments: The auditor answers the question and comments on results. Recommendations: If necessary, the auditor recommends amendments to the town’s master plan and zoning ordinance. SWRPC

  31. SWRPC Smart Growth Audit as a Planning Tool • Recommendations • Implementation SWRPC

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