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2004-R-10RESOLUTION NO. 2004-11-10 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA; IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO INITIATE PHASE II, IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR SMART GROWTH INITIATIVES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROGRAM; REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR APPLICABILITY, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Edgewater, Florida, has made the following determinations: Representatives from various community organizations, cities, the County, School District, and others have initiated an educational series of "Smart Growth Summitts' ; and 2. There is general community support and interest in furthering the study, exploration and implementation of Smart Growth strategies in Volusia County; and 3. The University of Central Florida and Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium have supported and facilitated the efforts to date; and 4. The University of Central Florida and Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium have submitted a proposal to assist in the implementation phase of the Smart Growth Initiative; and 5. The City of Edgewater desires to support the Smart Growth Initiative and to provide financial support to the University of Central Florida for their assistance in the Program. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Edgewater, Florida: Section 1. The City of Edgewater supports the proposal from the University of Central Florida and Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium and the efforts of various individuals and 2004-R-10 organizations to date towards Smart Growth Initiatives. Section 2. The City of Edgewater appreciates the interest and support of many diverse individuals and organizations towards improving the quality of life in our City and in Volusia County. Section 3. The City Council desires to support the Smart Growth Initiative and hereby authorizes an amount of $ 41 000. 00 in an effort of financial support to the University of Central Florida for their assistance in the Program Section 4. Conflicting Provisions. All resolutions orparts ofresolutions in conflict herewith be and same are hereby repealed. Section 5. Severability and Applicability. If any portion of this resolution is for anyreason held or declared to be unconstitutional, inoperative, or void, such holding shall not affect the remaining portions of this resolution. If this resolution or any provisions thereof shall be held to be inapplicable to any person, property, or circumstances, such holding shall not affect its applicability to any other person, property, or circumstance. Section 6. Adoption and Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption. 2004-R-10 2 rE A@erMotionby Councilwoman Rhodes and Secondby Councilwoman Lichter , the vote on this resolution was as follows: Al NAY Mayor Donald A. Schmidt x Councilman James P. Brown % Councilman Dennis A. Vincenzi ABSENT Councilwoman Harriet E. Rhodes x Councilwoman Judy Lichter x PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 21 at day of June, 2004. For the use and reliance only by the City of Edgewater, Florida. Approved as to form and legality by: Scott A. Cookson, Esquire City Attorney Foley & Lardner 2004-R-10 3 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATTEER, FLORIDA By: Donald A. Schmidt Mayor Robin L. Matusick Legal Assistant(Paralegal Approved by the City Council of the City of Edgewater at a meeting held on this 21 st day of June, 2004 under Agenda Item No..6 E . TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? APPENDIX: SUMMIT SUMMARIES 17 "In the end our society will be defined by not only what we create but by what we refuse to destroy." John C. Sawhill, President The Nature Conservancy 1990-2000 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In January of 2003 the Volusia County Council identified smart growth as its highest priority. In response, VCARD, in partnership with the County Council, the Volusia County School Board, municipalities, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and interested citizens and environmental groups formed a Steering Committee to sponsor a series of Volusia Smart Growth Summits. The goal of the summits has been to educate ourselves and interested citizens of Volusia County about smart growth, and to explore support for applying smart growth ideas in Volusia County. Nationally renowned experts on smart growth spoke at the summits, and facilitators from the Florida Institute of Government at UCF and the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium led the discussions. Participants at the summits represented the broad range of those affected by or interested in growth -related issues. In every instance, the key concepts of smart growth received broad support. The Steering Committee has prepared this report to provide a concise summary of what smart growth is, why it is important, and how it could be implemented in Volusia County. The report also summarizes the discussions and recommendations of participants at the summits. WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? Smart growth is defined as a three-legged stool: it is economically sound; it is environmentally responsible; and it promotes community livability. Smart growth is characterized by: • Collaboration on solutions — it is not a government responsibility, but rather a community responsibility. • A mix of uses on both buildings and projects. VOLUSIA SMART GROVTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Encouragement of infill and redevelopment (while recognizing that this alone cannot handle growth.) • Promotion of the building of master -planned communities. • Transportation choice. • Housing opportunities for different income levels. • Lowering of barriers to and the provision of incentives for smart development. • Promotion of high quality design techniques. • Conservation of open -space and recognition of green infrastructure, which is not random, not piecemeal, not isolated, and not single purpose. Smart Growth is founded on eight principles: 1. Identify and protect what needs to be protected before development occurs. 2. Engage diverse people and organizations in green infrastructure initiation. 3. Recognize that linkages are key. 4. Design systems at different scales. 5. Base the provision of infrastructure on sound science and land use priorities. 6. Fond green infrastructure upfront. 7. Emphasize the benefits that accrue to both nature and people. 8. Development should serve as a framework for both conservation and development. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HOW MIGHT SMART GROWTH IDEAS BE APPLIED IN VOLUSIA COUNTY? Throughout the summits, participants suggested recommendations regarding how smart growth ideas might be applied in Volusia County. They evaluated each suggested recommendation using the following scale: support, minor reservations, and major reservations. Below is a summary, in no particular order, of ideas that received broad support. (Defined as a ranking of support or only minor reservations from more than ninety percent of participants). • Develop a countywide policy or vision with "sub -visions" for different areas or communities. • Promote corridors for the conservation and enhancement of green space. • Encourage multi -use development to put less demands on infrastructure. • Focus mixed uses in downtowns and redevelopment areas. • Implement redevelopment strategies that include: economic development standards, a community vision, and defined areas. • Limit development in the fringe areas to encourage development in the core. • Have cities and coantyjointly adopt smart growth principles to help eliminate competition among communities. • Create incentive programs to promote smart growth. • Rewrite land use regulations to promote infill and allow increased densities. • Use transportation, school Rod other infrastructure investments to promote smart growth. • Emphasize partnership between public and private entities. • Partner with the media to highlight positive examples of smart growth and to educate the public. Greater detail on these ideas and the full range of recommendations offered by participants can be found in the short summaries of the individual summits appended to this report or in the full summit summaries available separately. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IMPLEMENTATION — PHASE II At Summit 5 participants discussed and endorsed a Phase It implementation strategy to move the smart growth initiative forward. They agreed that the purpose of Phase II of the initiative should be to promote collaboration between county, cities and stakeholders to further define, adopt and implement smart growth principles. This would include collaboration to develop measurable objectives, incentives, and tools, including comprehensive plan amendments and land development code provisions, that Volusia's local governments and others can use to implement smart growth. The principal components of the implementation strategy include a new, broad -based steering committee structured to allow representation of all major public and private stakeholders in smart growth in Volusia County to coordinate the work. Workgroups composed of volunteers could undertake the following activities, among others, under the guidance of the steering committee. • Collect information on smart growth implementation efforts from around the country that may be relevant to Volusia County. • Develop model plan policies and land development code provisions. • Promote awareness, support, and adoption of smart growth principles. • Solicit additional participation in Phase II activities. Participants agreed that broad -based, engaged participation by the full -range of public, private and non-profit stakeholders concemed with growth in Volusia County is essential for the continued success of the smart growth initiative. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE G WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? Smart growth is a vision for managing growth in Volusia County. It is a vision based on three principles: a strong economy, strong communities and a clean, healthy environment. Smart growth works with all levels of government, stakeholders, and communities to ensure that decisions on public investment help to improve our economic competitiveness, protect and enhance our environment, build livable communities and create transportation choices. At its core smart growth, which is a growing national movement whose principles have been successfully implemented in numerous communities in this country, is about partnership and collaboration. It requires the collective work of many diverse stakeholders both public and private developing innovative solutions to some of our more pressing growth issues. These groups overcome their differences to plan and find strategies to create healthy communities with the high quality of life that we all want. In communities across Florida, there is a growing concern that current development patterns, dominated by "sprawl", are no longer in the interest of our cities, existing suburbs, small towns, rural communities, and wildlife areas. Though supportive of growth, communities are questioning the economic costs of abandoning infrastructure in the city, only to rebuild it further out. Spurring the smart growth movement are demographic shifts, a strong environmental ethic, increased fiscal concerns, and differing views of growth. The result is both a new demand and a new opportunity for smart growth. The goal of Smart Growth is to achieve livable, healthy, and economically robust communities through compact, orderly development and re -development. Smart growth patterns bring lasting abundance and vitality for the economy, the environment, our communities and people of all income levels. Our definition of smart growth is growth that it: protects our area's natural resources and environment minimizes tax burdens by efficiently using public investments promotes prosperous and attractive commercial and industrial development VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 7 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? • retains community character and capitalizes on local assets • preserves and encourages development of affordable housing • balances individual property rights with those of the larger community • provides appropriate transportation choices for people of all ages and incomes ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION Growth can create great places to live, work and play. Communities have different needs and will emphasize some smart growth principles over others. Those with robust economic growth may need to improve housing choices. Others that have suffered from disinvestment may emphasize infill development. Newer communities with separated uses may be looking for the sense of place provided by mixed -use town centers, and others suffering from traffic congestion may seek relief by offering transportation choices. The common thread is the needs of every community, and the programs to address them are best defined by the people who live and work there. Citizen participation can be time-consuming, fmstmting and expensive, but encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration can lead to creative, speedy resolution of development issues and greater community understanding of the importance of good planning and investment. Smart growth plans and policies developed without strong citizen involvement can create unhealthy, undesirable communities. When people feel left out of important decisions, they will be less likely to become engaged when tough decisions need to be made. Involving the community early and often in the planning process vastly improves public support for smart growth and often leads to innovative strategies that fit the unique needs of each community. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 8 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? FOSTER DISTINCTIVE, ATTRACTIVE PLACES WITH A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE Smart growth encourages communities to craft a vision and set standards for development and construction, which respond to community values of architectural beauty and distinctiveness, as well as expanded choices in housing and transportation. It seeks to create interesting, unique communities, which reflect the values and cultures of the people who reside there, and foster the types of physical environments, which support a more cohesive community fabric. Smart growth promotes development, which uses natural and man-made boundaries and landmarks to create a sense of defined neighborhoods, towns, and regions. It encourages the construction and preservation of buildings, which prove to be assets to a community over time, not only because of the services provided within, but because of the unique contribution they make on the outside to the look and feel of a city. Guided by a vision of how and where to grow, communities are able to identify and utilize opportunities to make new development conform to their standards of distinctiveness and beauty. Contrary to the current mode of development, smart growth ensures that the value of infill and greenfield development is determined as much by their accessibility by mode of transportation, as their physical orientation to and relationship with other buildings and open space. The goals are met by creating high -quality communities with architectural and natural elements that reflect the interests of all residents. MAKE DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS PREDICTABLE, FAIR AND COST EFFECTIVE For a community to be successful in implementing smart growth, it must be embraced by the private sector. Only private capital markets can supply the large amounts of money needed to meet the growing demand for smart growth developments. If investors, bankers, developers, builders and others do not cam a profit, few smart growth projects will be built. Fortunately, government can help make smart growth profitable to private investors and developers. Since the development industry is highly regulated, the value of property and the desirability of a place are VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 9 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH] largely affected by government investment in infrastructure and government regulation. Governments that make the right infrastructure and regulatory decisions will create fair, predictable and cost effective smart growth. Despite regulatory and financial barriers, developers have been successful in creating examples of smart growth. The process, however, requires them to get variances to the codes, which often is a time-consuming and costly requirement. Expediting the approval process is of particular importance for developers, for whom the common mantra, "time is money", very aptly applies. The longer it takes to get approval for building, the longer the developer's capital remains tied up in the land and not earning income. For smart growth to flourish, state and local governments must make an effort to make development decisions about smart growth more timely, cost- effective, and predictable for developers. By creating a fertile environment for innovative, pedestrian -oriented, mixed -use projects, government can provide leadership for smart growth that the private sector is sure to support. CREATE A RANGE OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHOICES Providing quality housing for people of all income levels is an integral component in any smart growth strategy. Housing is a critical part of the way communities grow, as it constitutes a significant share of new construction and development. More importantly, however, it is also a key factor in determining households' access to transportation, commuting patterns, access to services and education, and consumption of energy and other natural resources. By using smart growth approaches to create a wider range of housing choices, communities can mitigate the environmental costs of auto -dependent development, use their infrastructure resources more efficiently, ensure a better jobs -housing balance, and generate a strong foundation of support for neighborhood transit stops, commercial centers, and other services. No single type of housing can serve the varied needs of today's diverse households. Smart growth represents an opportunity for local communities to increase housing choice not only by modifying their land use patterns on newly -developed land, but also by increasing housing VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 10 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? supply in existing neighborhoods and on land served by existing infrastructure. Integrating single- and multi -family structures in new housing developments can support a more diverse population and allow more equitable distribution of households of all income levels across the region. The addition of units through attached housing, accessory units, or conversion to multi- family dwellings to existing neighborhoods creates opportunities for communities to slowly increase density without radically changing the landscape. New housing construction can be an economic stimulus for existing commercial centers that are currently vibrant during the workday, but suffer from a lack of foot traffic and consumers in evenings or weekends. Most importantly, providing a range of housing choices allow all households to find their niche in a smart growth community, whether it is a garden apartment or a traditional suburban home, and accommodate growth at the same time. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COMPACT BUILDING DESIGN Smart growth provides a means for communities to incorporate more compact building design as an alternative to conventional, land consumptive development. Compact building design suggests that communities be designed in a way which permits more open space to be preserved, and that buildings can be constructed which make more efficient use of land and resources. For example, by encouraging buildings to grow vertically rather than horizontally, and by incorporating structured rather than surface parking, communities can reduce the footprint of new construction and preserve more green space. Not only is this approach more efficient by requiring less land for construction, but it also provides and protects more open, undeveloped land that would otherwise not exist to absorb and filter rainwater, reduce flooding and storm water drainage needs, and lower the amount of pollution washing into our rivers and lakes. Compact building design is necessary to support wider transportation choices, and provides cost savings for localities. Communities seeking to encourage transit use to reduce air pollution and congestion recognize that minimum levels of density are required to make public transit networks viable. Local governments find that on a per -unit basis, it is cheaper to provide and VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 11 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? maintain services like water, sewer, electricity, phone service and other utilities in more compact neighborhoods than in dispersed communities. Research based on these developments has shown that well -designed, compact New Urbanism communities that include a variety of house sizes and types command a higher market value on a per square foot basis than do those in adjacent conventional suburban developments. Perhaps this is why increasing numbers in the development industry have been able to successfully integrate compact design into community building efforts despite current zoning practices, such as those that require minimum lot sizes, or prohibit multi -family or attached housing, and negative community perceptions of "higher density" development. CREATE WALKABLE Walkable communities are desirable places to live, work, learn, worship and play, and therefore a key component of smart growth. Their desirability comes from two factors. First, walkable communities locate within an easy and safe walk goods (such as housing, offices, and retail) and services (such as transportation, schools, libraries) that a community resident or employee needs on a regular basis. Second, by definition, walkable communities make pedestrian activity possible, thus expanding transportation options, and creating a streetscape that better serves a range of users: pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and automobiles. To foster walkability, communities must mix land uses, build compactly, and ensure safe and inviting pedestrian corridors. Walkable communities are nothing new. Prior to the last half -century, communities worldwide created neighborhoods, communities, towns and cities premised on pedestrian access. Within the last fifty years public and private actions often created obstacles to walkable communities. Conventional land use regulation often prohibits the mixing of land uses, thus lengthening trips and making walking a less viable alternative to other forms of travel. This regulatory bias against nixed -use development is reinforced by private financing policies that view mixed -use development as riskier than single -use development. Many communities, particularly those that VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 12 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? are dispersed and largely auto -dependent, employ street and development design practices that reduce pedestrian activity. As the personal and societal benefits of pedestrian friendly communities are realized, benefits that include lower transportation costs, greater social interaction, improved personal and environmental health, and expanded consumer choice, many are calling upon the public and private sector to facilitate the development ofwalkable places. Land use and community design play a pivotal role in encouraging pedestrian environments. By building places with multiple destinations within close proximity, where the streets and sidewalks balance all forms of transportation, communities have the basic framework for encouraging walkability. STRENGTHEN AND DIRECT DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS EXISTING COMMUNITIES Smart growth directs development towards existing communities already served by infrastructure, seeks to utilize the resources that existing neighborhoods offer, and conserves open space and irreplaceable natural resources on the urban fringe. Development in existing neighborhoods also represents an approach to growth that can be more cost-effective and improves the quality of life for its residents. By encouraging development in existing communities, communities benefit from a stronger tax base, closer proximity of a range ofjobs and services, increased efficiency of already developed land and infrastructure, and reduced development pressure in edge areas thereby preserving more open space, and, in some cases, strengthening rural communities. The ease of Greenfield development remains an obstacle to encouraging more development in existing neighborhoods. Development on the fringe remains attractive to developers for its ease of access and construction, lower land costs, and potential for developers to assemble larger parcels. Typical zoning requirements in fringe areas are often easier to comply with, as there are often few existing building types that new construction most complement, and a relative absence of residents who may object to the inconvenience or disruption caused by new construction. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE 13 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? Nevertheless, developers and communities are recognizing the opportunities presented by infill development, as suggested not only by demographic shifts, but also in response to a growing awareness of the fiscal, environmental, and social costs of development focused disproportionately on the urban fringe. Journals that track real estate trends routinely cite the investment appeal of the "24-hour city" for empty nesters, young professionals, and others, and developers are beginning to respond. A 2001 report by Urban Land Institute on urban infill housing states that, in 1999, the increase in housing permit activity in cities relative to average annual figures from the preceding decade exceeded that of the suburbs, indicating that infill development is possible and profitable. MIX LAND USES Smart growth supports the integration of mixed land uses into communities as a critical component of achieving better places to live. By putting uses in close proximity to one another, alternatives to driving, such as walking or biking, once again become viable. Mixed land uses also provide a more diverse and sizable population and commercial base for supporting viable public transit. It can enhance the vitality and perceived security of an area by increasing the number and attitude of people on the street. It helps streets; public spaces and pedestrian -oriented retail again become places where people meet, attracting pedestrians back onto the street and helping to revitalize community life. Mixed land uses can convey substantial fiscal and economic benefits. Commercial uses in close proximity to residential areas are often reflected in higher property values, and therefore help raise local tax receipts. Businesses recognize the benefits associated with areas able to attract more people, as there is increased economic activity when there are more people in an area to shop. In today's service economy, communities find that by mixing land uses, they make their neighborhoods attractive to workers who increasingly balance quality of life criteria with salary to determine where they will settle. Smart growth provides a means for communities to alter the planning context, which currently renders mixed land uses illegal in most of the country. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 14 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? PRESERVE OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, NATURAL BEAUTY AND CRMCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS Smart growth uses the term "open space" broadly to mean natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g. wetlands). Open space preservation supports smart growth goals by bolstering local economies, preserving critical environmental areas, improving our community's quality of life, and guiding new growth into existing communities. There is growing political will to save the "open spaces" that Americans treasure. Voters in 2000 overwhelmingly approved ballot measures to fund open space protection efforts. The reasons for such support are varied and attributable to the benefits associated with open space protection. Protection of open space provides many fiscal benefits, including increasing local property value (thereby increasing property tax bases), providing tourism dollars, and decreasing local taxes (due to the savings of reducing the construction of new infrastructure). Management of the quality and supply of open space ensures that prime farm and ranch lands are available, prevents flood damage, and provides a less expensive and natural alternative for providing clean drinking water. The availability of open space also provides significant environmental quality and health benefits. Open space protects animal and plant habitat, places of natural beauty, and working lands by removing the development pressure and redirecting new growth to existing communities. Additionally, preservation of open space benefits the environment by combating air pollution, attenuating noise, controlling wind, providing erosion control, and moderating temperatures. Open space also protects surface and ground water resources by filtering trash, debris, and chemical pollutants before they enter a water system. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 15 WHAT IS SMART GROWTH? PROVIDE A VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION CHOICES Providing people with more choices in housing, shopping, communities, and transportation is a key aim of smart growth. Communities are increasingly seeking these choices, particularly a wider range of transportation options, in an effort to improve beleaguered transportation systems. Traffic congestion is worsening across the country. In 1982, 65 percent of travel occurred in uncongested conditions. By 1997 only 36 percent of peak travel did so. In fact, according to the Texas Transportation Institute, congestion over the last several years has worsened in nearly every major metropolitan area in the United States. In response, communities are beginning to implement new approaches to transportation planning, such as better coordination of land use and transportation; increasing the availability of high quality transit service; creating redundancy, resiliency and connectivity within their mad networks; and ensuring connectivity between pedestrian, bike, transit, and road facilities. In short, they are coupling a multi -modal approach to transportation with supportive development patterns, to create a variety of transportation options. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 16 APPENDIX Appendix This appendix provides brief summaries of the information presented, activities undertaken, and conclusions reached at each of the summits. More extensive summaries of each summit are available separately. • Summit 1: June 13, 2003 • Summit 2: August 22, 2003 • Summit 3: October 3, 2003 • Summit 4: January 23, 2004 • Summit 5: February20, 2004 VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 17 APPENDIX SUMMIT 1: JUNE 13, 2003 Michael Pawlukiewicz of the National Urban Land Institute provided a presentation on concepts of smart growth. Four out of 5 residents live in a city or suburb. In 20 years, we will add 50 million people to our population, the equivalent of adding the population of Texas and Colorado. The U. S. lost approximately 16 million acres of lands in agriculture, forests, or green space between 1992 and 1997. This equates to 3.2 million per year. Between 1982 and 1992, the loss was 1.4 million per year. DEFINITION OF SPRAWL: • There is separation of uses • Automobile dependent • Low density • Segregation of income levels Ideally, growth is not a problem... it is an opportunity. Without management, it is a problem. Opposite of smart growth is mindless growth. Smart growth is a three-legged stool — it is economically sound; it is environmentally responsible; it promotes community livability. SMART GROWTH FEATURES: Collaboration of solutions — it is not a government responsibility. 2. Mix of uses VOLUSIA SMART G R 0 WTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 18 APPENDIX 3. Encourages infill and redevelopment (acknowledges that this alone cannot handle growth) 4. Promotes the building of master planned communities S. Offers transportation choices 6. Provides housing opportunities for different income levels 7. Lowers barriers to and provides incentives for smart development 8. Promotes high quality design techniques 9. Conserves open space —recognizes green infrastructure which in not random, not piecemeal, not isolated, and not single purpose PRINCIPLES: 1. Identifies and protects what needs to be protected before development 2. Engages diverse people and organizations in green infrastructure initiation 3. Recognizes that linkages are key 4. Design systems at different scales 5. Infrastructure is focused on sound science and land use priorities 6. Green infrastructure is funded upfront 7. Emphasizes benefits that accrue to both nature and people 8. Serves as a framework for conservation and development NEXT STEPS: I. Realize that sprawl is implementation of public policy 2. Make it easy to permit smart growth or say no real soon 3. Density is not a four letter word — making densities lower is not smart growth VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE 19 4. Density can happen by design 5. Engage the community to create a vision VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT APPENDIX PAGE 20 APPENDIX SUMMIT 2: AUGUST 22, 2003 Montye Beamer gave a presentation on growth and patterns within the county comparing Volusia's growth to that of the state. Key data included: • The county's population has grown fromjust over 250,000 in 1980 to just over 450,000 in 2002 • The county's population growth is projected to be as high as 652,173 by 2020 • The five largest cities in 2002 were as follows: Deltom: 73,824 Daytona Beach: 64,945 Pon Orange: 48,831 Ormond Beach: 37,603 DeLand: 20,904 The five largest cities in 2020 are projected to be: Delon: 114,700 Daytona Beach: 110,000 Pon Orange: 67,590 Ormond Beach: 55,614 DeLand: 35,977 There is vacant land within all municipalities as demonstrated below: Municipality Vacant Acreage Daytona Beach 15,126 Daytona Beach Shores 17 Edgewater 1,824 Holly Hill 198 New Smyrna Beach 6,733 VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 21 APPENDIX Oak Hill 757 Ponce Inlet 166 Port Orange 2,065 South Daytona 97 DeBary 3,905 DeLand 2,203 Deltona 3,941 Lake Helen 982 Orange City 575 Pierson 1,184 Joel Ivey provided a presentation on smart growth and density. I. Definitions A. DENSITY — number of residential units per acre B. INTENSITY — amount of square footage of non-residential use within a given area C. MIXED USE — a project that has more than one major use, or a building that has more than one major use. II. Opposing Values/Why The Issue May Be Important A. Higher density means more people within a given area B. Lower density means a higher consumption of land to meet the demand C. Higher density means more impervious surface within a given area D. Lower density means a higher cost of infrastructure E. Higher density means increased traffic within a given area F. Lower density means transferring this traffic to more rural areas G. Some people like lower densities so that they can `commune with nature" H. Nature is wiped out by sprawl VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 22 APPENDIX I. Some people like the feel of the "urban fabric" I. The higher the density the more probable that yew neighbors' problems will be your problems (noise, traffic congestion) III. The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly A. Residential I. Bad — A project in South Orange County (slide). A high density residential project. Only has three or four housing types, all painted same color, same type/color of roofing tile, minimal landscaping, single use. Better love your cu. B. Good — Abacus and Celebration. Architectural diversity is mandated. Street design, to include parking, sidewalks, landscaping is mandated. Mixed use was the intent. Internalizing trips was the intent. B. Commercial I. Bad— Retail center in Winter Park area. Almost impervious. Sea of asphalt, heat, glare. Colors and signage intrude deliberately. II. Good — Reflections in Ormond. Maximum retention of vegetation between the street and the building front. Tint of reflective glass almost renders the buildings invisible. Shady, cool. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 23 APPENDIX C. Industrial D. Mixed Use - (Still not allowed by most caning codes except as a PUD.) Mixed use should be actively promoted with incentives. Benefits of mixed use include higher internalization of trips, less need for auto trips, improved survivability of retail uses and general "leveraging" of successful projects. IV. Benefits And Costs A. Costa 1. Requires development of new regulations which will have the appearance of accommodating more growth at higher intensities. May be hard to sell to public. 2. Hard to retrofit 3. Usually will require a unique set of circumstances a. single ownership b. well funded c. receptive local government d. developer who is comfortable with mixed use ... most developers are single use oriented. B. Benefits 1. Efficiency 2. Demand 3. Higher return to the landowner VOLUSIA SMART GRO WTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 24 APPENDIX V. Techniques A. New Urbanislx/Neo Traditional "Our predicament is this: we admire one kind of place - Marblehead, Massachusetts, for example — but we consistently build something very different, the more f anifiar sprawl of modem suburbia. Our zoning tools — notably our zoning ordinances — facilitate segmented, decentralized suburban growth while actually making it impossible to incorporate qualities that we associate with towns such as Marblehead. Few ordinances tolerate (much less encourage) the concentration of uses, the multiplicity of scales, the redundancy of streets, and the hierarchical fabric of public spaces which characterize the towns of our memory and our travels." (From: Towns and Town Madding Principles. by Andres lluany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, 1991.) The new urbanist movement attempts to rectify this. New Urbanism is an effort to resurrect some of the desirable principles of our past and use those principles to implement, and occasionally correct, development which is appealing on a community wide basis vs. an individual lot or neighborhood basis. It is founded on the basic principles of master planning at a community level instead of a subdivision level; creating a functional street network that is designed to be pedestrian friendly; creating an extended pedestrian network; creating zoning regulations which emphasize mixing uses vs. separating them; providing for public buildings and spaces within the master plan; creating codes that ensure the implementation of the plan to include architectural regulations, parking and affordable housing. Examples: Celebration; Abacoa; Seaside Difficulties: Doesn't always retrofit well; difficult to apply to small acreages; cost and delay for a ground zero start up may be prohibitive; common ownership very important. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 25 APPENDIX B. Green Development Green Development, "...integrates social and environmental goals with financial considerations in projects of every scale and type... green development is about solution multipliers, whereby one feature provides multiple benefits in reducing a projects' impact on the environment." Example: A developer's project was receiving strong community opposition. He opted to evaluate the feasibility of green development. Guided by community interviews, he analyzed the environmental issues of the area and recognized two key areas of importance — water conservation and preservation of natural systems. He therefore deleted golf courses from his design (water conservation) and clustered his development in areas that had been previously impacted by human activity (agricultural). The result he was able to increase the total number of lots while preserving 43 percent if the sites as open space and reducing road lengths from 5,800 to 4,700 feet. The community won, the developer won, and the future residents won. (From Green Development: Inteeratine Ecology and Real Estate, Rocky Mountain Institute, 19".) Of note here is that both lot yield and open space increased by allowing smaller lots. Green development is based upon achieving balance between the three principles of community and cultural sensitivity; integration of ecology values with real estate values; responding to environmental reality; and resource efficiency. Examples: the Inn of the Anasazi, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dewees Island, S. C. DEWEES ISLAND: Approved to develop 420 out of 1,206 acres; VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 26 APPENDIX • Lawns are prohibited; • Construction may not permanently disturb more than 7,500 square feet of ground per lot • Established both architectural and environmental guidelines • New plantings must come from an approved list of native plants • Researched and developed its own on -island mix of native wildflower seeds • Education Center and full-time naturalist • No cars Difficulties: Rules frequently don't allow such flexibility; information and technology still thin; not for the income challenged. C. Conservation Subdivisions 1. Definition: conservation subdivisions are residential or mixed use developments in which a significant portion of the lot is set aside as undivided, permanently protected open space, while houses are clustered on the remainder of the property. They are similar to golf course communities but instead of manicured golf courses they feature natural forests, meadows, wetlands, and community gardens or farmland. They contrast with conventional subdivisions, in which all or nearly allof the parcel is subdivided into house lots and streets. Conservation subdivisions can be more profitable to build than conventional subdivisions, they tend to have lower infrastructure maintenance costs, and they reduce the demand for taxpayer funded green space. (From: Conservation Subdivisions. the Atlanta Regional Commission.) 2. Examples from Forth and Van Dyke 3. Difficulties: who owns what; who maintains it; who insures it VOLUSIA SMART GROIPTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 77 APPENDIX D. Inducements4ncentives 1. Allow smaller lots for more conservation set aside; 2. Allow higher FAR in return for conservation set aside; 3. Strengthen buffer plantings/density requirements in return for thinner buffers 4. Encourage vertical development and give financial incentives to go into the right location for the community. Density and intensity is very much tied to aesthetics. Ugly can happen anywhere at any density. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 28 APPENDIX SUMMIT 3: OCTOBER 3, 2003 ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY "The most commonly quoted definition of sustainability was established by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development; under this definition, sustainability is development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet their needs." (htti)://www.ci.asheville.nc.us/businessismart. The Objectives: • Explore the importance of economic and environmental sustainability, as they relate to smart growth • Explore how economic and environmental sta tainability are interconnected • Develop policy recommendations for local governments in Volusia County regarding economic and environmental sustainability. • Environmental Sustainability is defined as: "The act of working toward minimizing the environmental impacts of daily activities and projects, with a goal of having no environmental impact at all." The Challenges: • Can we have both environmental and economic sustainability in Volusia County and what would be the challenges? • What policies should Volusia County's local government implement to ensure economic sustainability, and economically feasible development and redevelopment within a smart growth context? • What policies should Volusia County's local government implement to identify and protect its green infrastructure and ensure environmental sustainability? • What policies should Volusia County's local governments implement to achieve the right balance of economic and environmental sustainability? VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 29 APPENDIX Next Steps: • A vision has to be created, defined, implemented and agreed upon with consistent policies — A Master Plan. • Educating the people • Creating regulations between developers and the government in regards to development. • Setting aside environmental areas before development • Maintain consistency to regulate sustainability • Identify the critical habitats throughout the county • Create conservation incentives, reward re -development VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 30 cmaaero00• SUMMIT 4: JANUARY 23, 2004 GREEN BUILDING, SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION Green Building • Enlist help from respected environmental specialist familiar with the area. • Lem what is important to the stakeholders — Developer, Agency, and Special Interest Croups. • Realize the value of time on the cost of a project. • Green building reduces the impacts of development and construction, sustains energy and water resources, and improves air quality. Green standards and certification allow the developer to earn points for using: • Redevelop an existing site • Energy efficient appliances and lighting • Water conserving fixtures • Utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation • Minimizing site disturbance • Preserving vegetation, wedands/uplands and wildlife • Enhancing indoor air quality • Utilizing recycled materials • Construction to withstand hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires • Providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities Smart growth and Schools: • Mix of land uses VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE .3l r. cmaam.3n4 • Central focal points in the community • Walkable communities • Promote reinvestment in existing schools and neighborhoods • Schools foster a strong sense of place • Promote efficient use of existing infrastructure • School construction includes energy efficient fixtures and provides indoor air quality • Minimizes environmental impacts • Preserves natural features • Utilizes reclaimed water for irrigation and drought tolerant landscaping Transportation: • Provide livable communities • Discourage urban sprawl • Encourage multi modalism • Pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment • Handicap accessible facilities Strings and Ribbons Game: • Allows the public to participate in transportation planning process • Promotes consensus building • Demonstrates differences between technical level of service analysis and public opinion VOLUSIA SMART GROI H SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT PAGE 32 APPENDIX SUMMIT 5: FEBRUARY 20, 2004 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND NEXT STEPS Executive Summary: • The participants reviewed the results and conclusions of the first four sununits. • The Draft Executive Summary was presented to the participants for their review and comments. • The participants reviewed a draft implementation strategies structure. • Small groups were formed to discuss and refine the document. Implementation Strategies: • Emphasize collaboration among stakeholders. • Develop county —wide tools and master plan. • Provide clear objectives and measurable goals. • Provide incentives. • Promote cooperation between the County and Cities. Next Steps: • Develop a mission statement with a clear purpose. • Emphasize water supply and include water discussion with green infrastructure. • Encourage master planning and utilize joint planning agreements. • Build consensus among the stakeholders. • Encourage and solicit citizen participation. • Promote continuing education. VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 33 APPENDIX RECOMMENDATIONS: Throughout the previous summits, small groups have come up with recommendations for different strategies for smart growth. Those recommendations have compiled into a recommended countywide policy with "sub -visions" • Create incentives programs to promote smart growth • Corridors should be promoted for the conservation and enhancement of green space • Partnership with the media to highlight positive examples of smart growth and to educate the public • Start the task of re -writing the land use regulations to promote ill and increase densities • Encourage multi -use development to put less demands on infrastructure • Implement re -development strategies that include: economic development standards, a community vision, and defined areas • Focus mixed uses in redevelopment areas • Limit development in the fringe areas to encourage development in the core • Smart growth principals should be jointly adopted by the cities and the county to help eliminate competition among communities • Emphasize partnership between public and private entities IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES • County to hire/create position to implement smart growth • Smart growth incentives in Land Development Regulations to include those related to ecology and preservation of environmental lands, transportation and economic development VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARY REPORT PAGE 34 • Create development incentive programs/packages • Promote Green Building certification program • Develop / implement smart growth evaluation checklist for use by local government decision makers VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH SUMMIT SERIES SUMMARYREPORT APPENDIX PAGE 35 -'6University of Central Florida May 24, 2004 Mr. Kenneth R. Hooper City Manager City of Edgewater P. O. Box 100 Edgewater, Florida 32132-0100 Subject: SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE Dear Ken: 7heJohn SconDailey Florida Institute of Government 4+/a Cjfy C e ` During the past year representatives from various community groups have gathered together to discuss the concept of "Smart Growth." An informal steering committee organized five summits with the assistance of VCARD, the University of Central Florida, and the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium. Each summit presented information and allowed discussion of a variety of topics and issues associated with Smart Growth. Based on the high level of interest in the summits and the current level of community support for implementation of smart growth/managed growth strategies, the committee that has been guiding the process is proposing that the community enter into Phase II of the Smart Growth Initiative, Implementation. A draft proposal from the institute of Govemment at the University of Central Florida is attached that examines some of the elements that are envisioned in the implementation phase. in order to begin implementation, funding, leadership and participation are essential. We consider the involvement of your city as critical to the success of this effort. Please consider providing financial assistance. Amounts from $4,000 to $6,000 would be helpful and appreciated. Additionally, representation from your elected leadership and staff is critical. Representatives from the initial steering committee are willing to make a presentation before your elected body if you deem it useful or necessary. I have also enclosed a sample support resolution for you city to approve. Please send your financial contribution made out to the University of Central Florida to the address at the bottom of this letter. Hopefully, with you assistance, we can plan for the future of Volusia County in a collaborative way. Sincerely, ., Marilyn E. Crotty Director enclosures 36 W. Pine Street, Suite 204, Orlando, Florida 32801-2612 (407) 317-7745 SunCAm 344-7745 FAX (407) 317-7750 An Equal Opportunity and Af innallve Action Inannalon VOLUSIA SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Phase I April — June, 2004 Transition and Organization • Selection of Steering Committee • Endorsement and Participation of Local Governments, Community Groups, and the Business Community • Securing Funding June — August, 2004 Design Implementation Strategies • Designation of Work Groups — tasks and members • Media Relations Component • Educational Program Phase H Sept. —April, 2005 Research and Activity Implementation May, 2005 Community Celebration — Smart Growth Accomplishments PROPOSED BUDGET* UCF Faculty Support $ 33,125 2 faculty members for 2 semesters UCF Student Support $ 15,000 4 graduate students for 2 semesters Administration (includes staff, printing, postage, travel) Institute of Government $ 25,000 Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium $ 20,000 Total $ 93,125 *This budget does not include costs associated with special events or community forums