Sustainable Growth Initiative
The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission is working to improve the quality of life for Miami Valley residents through research, consensus building, public education and public policy focusing on intelligent and well-planned land use. The term "Sustainable Growth" is used to describe the on-going efforts by communities across the country to manage and direct growth in a way that minimizes damage to the environment and builds livable towns and cities that can prosper. The central issues are “how and where should new development be accommodated?”
The issues that Sustainable Growth addresses are universal – in central cities/older suburbs there’s deteriorating housing stock, poorer school districts and declining infrastructure. In newer suburbs, problems include increased traffic congestion (creating additional air pollution), the loss of open space/farmland and the lack of a “sense of place.” Greater Ohio is a public policy network working on dealng with these issues in Ohio. MVRPC commissioned a survey of over 1000 Miami Valley residents to get a sense of residents perceptions on growth issues. A follow-up survey of community leaders was also performed. The third and final market research effort focused on implementation of possible growth strategies
In general, Ohio’s metropolitan areas are spreading outward into the surrounding countryside at a rate almost five times faster than the population growth. As development grows more dispersed, people must drive further to reach their destinations. Between 1980 and 1997, United States population growth increased at an annual rate of 1%, while miles driven increased 3.1% annually. In turn, this auto-dependence leads to more and longer vehicle trips, which are associated with increased auto-related air emissions.
Generally accepted principles of Sustainable Growth include:
- Provide a variety of transportation choices including pedestrian, bicycle, transit, rail and automobiles
- Develop walkable communities
- Strengthen and direct new development towards existing communities
- Take advantage of compact building design
- Include a range of housing choices and opportunities
- Mix land uses throughout the community
- Foster distinctive, attractive places with a strong sense of place
- Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas
- Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration
- Make development decision predictable, fair and cost-effective
Sustainable Growth strategies emphasize the redevelopment of communities in existence and preservation and protection of natural countryside and farmland. They are not “anti-growth” but rather, as the name implies, “smarter growth” strategies that just makes common sense.
During the summer of 2005, an educational/informational campaign based on MVRPC's Sustainable Growth Initiative was launched. Radio advertising and a video were developed and aired on local radio stations (listen to living near work (mp3:945 kb); contain sprawl (mp3:945 kb); transportation alternatives (mp3:945 kb)), public access/DATV and network television stations. All used the common phrase "Wouldn't it be great?" indicating that there is obviously room for improvement when it comes to planning and developing the Greater Dayton Region.
"Wouldn't It Be Great?" |
Many of these principles parrot the goals and objectives found in our Strategic Plan. MVRPC plans to pursue integration of these principles into our regional efforts. One way to focus these efforts is in a form of "community-based regionalism" as described in this article. Other studies have shown the fiscal benefit of smarter growth development patterns.