On April 26, David Rouse and Rob Kerns of WRT and Shawn McLaughlin, Union County, PA Planning Director, presented "The Sustainable Comprehensive Plan" at the American Planning Association's National Conference in Minneapolis. WRT's planners are developing an overall approach and specific techniques designed to integrate sustainability into plans and implementing regulations at scales ranging from cities and regions to downtowns and neighborhoods. The Union County Comprehensive Plan, which was featured in the presentation, represents an application of WRT's sustainable planning and zoning initiative. It includes sustainability principles and keys as an organizing framework, supported by specific actions and indicators to measure progress in achieving sustainability targets. Union County is a rural county in central Pennsylvania that is rich in agricultural, natural, historic, and small town resources. The comprehensive plan, which is expected to be adopted by the county commissioners this summer, was prepared with extensive public participation using the "values-driven" planning process pioneered by WRT. Through this process county residents expressed a strong interest in energy conservation and other sustainability issues. "Union County is remarkable in that it is a small community with limited fiscal and staff resources that has made a commitment to sustainability in its draft comprehensive plan," said David Rouse, WRT's principal-in-charge of the project. "We expect major cities such as Seattle, Portland, and New York City to lead the way in addressing issues such as climate change and peak oil. However, we need many more places like Union County to take on this challenge if we are to find our way to a sustainable future."

1. The Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
APA National Conference
Minneapolis, MN
April 26, 2009
WRT Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC

2. Agenda
1. Introduction and Emerging Trends
2. Sustainability in the Comprehensive Planning Process
3. Case Study: Union County Comprehensive Plan
• Union County Background
• Community Outreach
• Cultivating Community: A Sustainable Comprehensive Plan for Union County
4. Questions and Discussion
David Rouse, AICP, Principal, Wallace Roberts & Todd
Shawn McLaughlin, AICP, Planning Director, Union County, PA
Robert Kerns, AICP, Associate, Wallace Roberts & Todd

3. Introduction and Emerging Trends

4. The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan
Values-Driven
•
Collaborative
•
Thematic Based
•
Linking Process and Outcome
•
Regional in Focus
•
Beyond Paper
•
Source: The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan, presentation and paper prepared
by David Rouse, Michael Chandler, and Jon Arason for the 1999 National APA
Conference in Seattle, WA

5. Sustainability Issues
• Critical Environmental Stresses (Lester Brown)1
– Deteriorating oil and food security
– Climate change: rising temperatures and sea levels
– Emerging water shortages
– Natural systems under stress
– Growing divides between rich and poor
• Two Great Oversights of Our Time (Rob Hopkins)2
– Peak oil
– Climate change
1 Plan B 3.0, 2008
The Transition Handbook, 2008
2

6. What is Sustainability?
• Definitions
…Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission,
1987)
…Development that improves the long-term health of human and ecological
systems (Stephen M. Wheeler, Planning for Sustainability, 2004)
• The Three “Es”
– Environment
– Economy
– Equity

7. Sustainable Comprehensive Plans
• The Leaders
– Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan: Towards a Sustainable Future
– Portland, OR: Portland Plan
– Plan NYC: A Greener, Greater New York
– Greenburg, KS: Sustainable Comprehensive Master P:lan
• Other Examples
– Minneapolis, MN: Plan for Sustainable Growth
– Salem, OH: Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
– Washtenaw County, MI: A Sense of Place, A Sustainable Future
• Cities with Extensive Sustainability Initiatives
– San Francisco
– Chicago

8. Emerging Trends
• State Legislation
– California: Climate change legislation
– Massachusetts Green Community Act (Comprehensive Energy Reform)
• Natural Step Framework
– Eco-Municipalities (Sweden)
– Santa Monica, CA Sustainable City Program
– Grassroots initiatives (e.g., Lewisburg, PA)
• Transition Initiatives
– 64 adopted Transition Initiatives as of 6/08
– 54 in UK, 4 in New Zealand, 2 in US, 1 in Ireland
– US communities: Boulder, CO and Sandpoint, ID

9. Sustainability in the Comprehensive
Planning Process

10. Typical Comprehensive Planning Process
• Outreach / Input
• Analysis
• Synthesis/Choice
• Plan Development
• Implementation

11. Sustainability in the Planning Process
• Outreach / Input: “Values-driven” planning meets the “environmental imperative”
• Analysis: Sustainability scan
• Plan Development: Sustainability “building blocks” (organizing the plan)
• Implementation: Sustainability indicators and tools

12. Sustainability Principles
• Energy
Reduce fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions through the planning and design of
communities, sites, and buildings
• Resiliency
Reduce vulnerability to external environmental and economic threats through planning,
design, and increased reliance on local resources, goods, and services
• Mobility
Locate and design transportation systems to reduce reliance on the automobile and
promote alternative modes
• Stewardship
Preserve and restore natural, cultural, and built resources. Integrate natural and human
ecological systems in the planning and design of communities
• Equity
Provide housing, transportation, and employment opportunities for persons of all
socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities

13. Outreach / Input
Vision: Define in relation to environmental
challenges and sustainability principles
Education: Frame sustainability issues to
resonate with community
Economic Challenges
•
– Impacts of volatile energy costs
– Fiscal impacts of inefficient development patterns
Environmental Challenges
•
– Impacts on climate change and security
– Vulnerability to natural and human disasters
Social Challenges
•
– Lack of affordable workforce housing
– Effects on community health (obesity)

14. Analysis
• Sustainability Scan: How sustainable is
your community?
• Level 1 (Qualitative)
– Review existing plans, policies, and regulations
– Evaluate land use patterns / infrastructure systems
• Level 2 (Quantitative): Impact modeling
(e.g., INDEX by Criterion Planners)
– Carbon footprint /greenhouse gas emissions
– Energy consumption
– Stormwater runoff
– Traffic impact modeling
– Fiscal impact modeling
– Land consumption/development patterns

15. Plan Development: Building Blocks
Land Use
• Model 1: Conventional Plan Elements •
Transportation
•
• Establish overarching sustainability
framework Housing
•
• Define sustainability principles and Natural & Historic Resources
•
themes with the community
Agricultural Resources
•
• “Activate” framework, principles, and Recreation and Open Space
•
themes through strategies and
actions in different elements Community Facilities
•
Economic Development
•
Potential New Elements:
Energy Conservation
•
Community Form
•
Hazard Mitigation
•

16. Plan Development: Building Blocks
• Model 2: Systems Approach Energy (utility infrastructure, energy sources/
•
production, conservation)
• Organize elements into “systems”
Food (local networks, production,
•
• Define sustainability principles and distributions, health, access)
themes with the community
Mobility (complete streets, connectivity)
•
• Emphasize interconnectedness
between elements Green Infrastructure (greenways,
•
sensitive environmental resources, urban
“greening”, etc.)
Housing (community character & form,
•
types, affordability, need vs. supply)
Economic (employment, diversity,
•
accessibility, local “asset-based” community
development)
Social (education, recreation, cultural and
•
historic resources, safety and security,
community health)

17. Implementation
Action Plan
•
– Types of actions (policy, regulatory, capital
investment)
– Schedule / timeframes
– Responsible parties
Capacity-Building / Partnerships
•
– Municipal government
– Other levels of government
– Non-profit organizations / institutions
– Private sector businesses
– Citizens
Plan Monitoring
•
– Measures of progress (sustainability indicators)

18. Union County Background

19. Union County Background
• Located along the
Susquehanna River 60
miles N of Harrisburg,165
New York, NY
miles NW of Philadelphia, Union County
and 200 miles E of
Pittsburgh
• Comprehensive plan for 13 Harrisburg, PA
municipalities
Philadelphia, PA
• 3 multi-municipal plans
Washington DC

20. Union County Background
• Attractive rural quality of life with strong agricultural
heritage and small towns / villages
• Forests and agriculture represents 60% and 30% of
total land use, respectively
• Access to major urban areas via I-80 and other
routes
• Historic downtown districts in Lewisburg and
Mifflinburg
• Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg

21. Existing Land Use

22. Union County Background
• 80% of County zoned for Agricultural or Woodlands
/ limited low-density housing is permitted in most of
these districts
• Residential housing growth: 14% from 1990-2000
and 8% from 2000-2006
• 40% housing growth projected by 2030 / highest
growth expected in agricultural townships

23. New Structures 2001-2006 (+1,000 units)
& Land Preservation

24. Union County Population, 1820-2050
70,000
60,000
2000
50,000
Population
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Year

25. Total Land Area
Needed for 2006-2050
@ 1 DU/Net Acre*
* 1) An additional 20% in land area is included in
acreage calculation to accommodate utilities and ROW;
2) Gregg Township is included in the total projection,
but is excluded from the Planning Area totals.
+ 8,826 Housing
Units
= 10,590
Net Acres in
Union County*
640
Acres
4 miles
1 2

26. Community Outreach

27. Outreach & Involvement Techniques
Website
•
Advisory Teams
•
Branding, Advertising & Marketing
•
Citizen Survey
•
Public Forums
•
Meeting In a Box
•
Stakeholder Interviews
•
Municipal Officials Meetings
•
School Programs
•

28. www.cultivatingcommunity.net

29. Advisory Teams
• Countywide Plan Advisory Team
• 28 volunteers – Represented diverse County stakeholders
• Met every other month on average
• 3 Multi-Municipal Advisory Teams
• Elected Officials & Planning Commissioners
• Met as needed

31. Citizen Survey Results

32. Outreach & Involvement Themes
Energy Conservation & Sustainability
•
Preservation of Agriculture & Natural Resources
•
Growth Management
•
Create Trails & Pedestrian-Friendly Development
•
Expand Public Transportation
•
Vitality of Town Centers
•
Regional Cooperation
•
Concern About Quality of New Growth
•
Economic Opportunity for Current Residents
•
Strategic Infrastructure Investment
•

33. Cultivating Community: A Sustainable
Comprehensive Plan for Union County

34. Vision Statement
Union County will be a prosperous
and beautiful valley in 2030 by:
Protecting precious natural resources & agriculture
•
Supporting sustainable economic growth
•
Promoting its unique town & country lifestyle
•
Three concurrent regional visions will contribute their special strengths to achieving these goals:
The western region will be a The central region will be The eastern region will be a
home for rural enterprise and the heart of Union center of county government,
connecting with nature. County’s agricultural and medical service, and higher
small town heritage. education in a town and
country setting.

35. Future Growth Management Framework
Continue Small Town
Citizen Direction &
Patterns
Sustainability

36. Recommended Growth Management Framework

37. What the Future Could Look Like

38. Union County’s Cultivating Community Comprehensive Plan:
A Hybrid Approach
• Topical Plan Elements
• Natural and Agricultural Resources
• Land Use
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources
• Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation
• Implementation
• Integrating Factors
• Sustainability Principles
• Sustainability Keys
• Sustainability Indicators

39. Sustainability Principles
1. Focus new development in and around established communities
• Promote reinvestment in existing towns and villages
• Develop in close proximity to existing infrastructure
2. Preserve rural resources
• Maintain agriculture and prime farmland soils
• Preserve sensitive natural features and scenic views
3. Conserve energy
• Decrease fossil fuel consumption
• Reduce automobile use / promote transportation alternatives
4. Conserve fiscal resources
• Limit the negative impacts of new development on municipal budgets
• Limit the negative impacts of new development on community services

40. Sustainability Keys
1. Natural and Agricultural Resources - System Integrity
2. Land Use - Mixed Use
3. Housing - Diversity
4. Economic Development - Building Local Assets
5. Transportation – Multi-Modal Choices
6. Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources - Adaptive Reuse
7. Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation - Energy
Conservation

41. Sustainability Key – Natural and Agricultural Resources
System Integrity
Maintain integrity of woodlands, greenways, waterways, wetlands,
•
habitats, open space, soils, and agricultural lands
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Water Quality
•
Animal and plant indicator species
•
Agricultural / forest lands preserved (e.g., easements, TDR)
•

42. Sample Actions
Natural and Agricultural Resources
Create a countywide Green Infrastructure
•
Plan
Educate farmers about alternative
•
livestock production systems with lesser
impacts on land and water quality (e.g.
organic, free-range, non-confinement,
grass-fed meat and poultry)

43. Sustainability Key – Land Use
Mixed Use
Strengthen the County’s traditional land use pattern of compact, mixed-
•
use development focused on small towns and villages
Sample Sustainability Indicators
New development inside vs. outside growth areas
•
Vertical vs. horizontal mixed-uses
•
Carbon footprint / greenhouse gas emissions
•
Cultivating Community

44. Sample Actions
Land Use
Prepare regulations to promote walkable,
•
mixed-use communities (e.g., TND, form-
based zoning, incentives, etc.)
Develop conservation subdivision / tree
•
preservation standards for use in rural
areas
Cultivating Community

45. Sustainability Key – Housing
Housing Diversity
Provide choices in housing types and prices to meet different segments
•
of the County’s population
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Mix of housing types vs. housing demand based on demographics
•
Affordability
•
Access to services (e.g., community facilities, parks and recreation, retail)
•

46. Sample Actions
Housing
Provide different housing types in
•
designated growth areas for a changing
and aging population
Implement a “green building” program
•
through new code requirements /
incentives, education, grants / loans, and
partnerships (electric companies)

47. Sustainability Key – Economic Development
Building Local Assets
Build economic activities that:
•
• Draw on County’s intrinsic values – high quality of life, fertile
agricultural soils, quality educational and medical institutions
• Reduce dependence on outside resources (e.g., use locally produced
goods and services rather than imported goods)
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Locally-owned businesses
•
Employment opportunities / living wages
•

48. Sample Actions
Economic Development
Focus programs on businesses that “fit”
•
with growing industry clusters
• Healthcare
• Education
• Lumber and wood products
• Diversified manufacturing
• Hospitality/tourism
Expand partnerships with area
•
educational / healthcare institutions
Cultivating Community

49. Sustainability Key – Transportation
Transportation Choices
Provide convenient choices for people to use different forms of travel
•
(autos, bicycles, transit, and walking) to meet their mobility needs.
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
•
Length of sidewalks / bike lanes / multi-use trails
•
Connectivity index
•
Cultivating Community

50. Sample Actions
Transportation
Designate a network of on-road routes
•
with adequate paved shoulders for non-
motorized travel (horse and buggy,
bicycles)
Provide for pedestrian / bicycle facilities in
•
land development / roadway
improvements (e.g., traffic impact study
ordinances, roadway design guidelines)
Cultivating Community

51. Sustainability Keys – Cultural, Historic, and Recreational
Resources
Adaptive Reuse
Refers to modification or rehab of existing structures to serve new uses
•
(e.g., “recycling: former schools for retail, office, or residential uses)
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Historic resources recognized / preserved
•
Recycled buildings
•
Heritage tourism activity
•

52. Sample Actions
Cultural, Historic, and Recreational Resources
Implement a countywide preservation
•
program to encourage rehab or adaptive
reuse of historic resources and other older
buildings
Designate Union County as part of the
•
Middle Susquehanna State Heritage Area

53. Sustainability Keys – Community Facilities, Utilities, and
Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation
Energy is required for all life’s activities; minimizing energy usage both
•
conserves resources and yields economic returns by lowering costs.
Sample Sustainability Indicators
Compactness of infrastructure systems
•
Renewable energy installations
•
Green buildings
•
Reduction in VMT
•

54. Sample Actions
Community Facilities, Utilities, and Energy Conservation
Support opportunities for energy
•
production on farms (e.g., methane from
dairies, regional manure digester)
Upgrade high school facilities as model
•
“green” facilities
• Sustainable building systems
• Site / stormwater management
practices
• Multi-modal transportation access

55. Union County’s Cultivating Community
Comprehensive Plan: Implementation
• Geographic Scale
• Countywide Action Plan
• Multi-Municipal Action Plans
• Actions
• Types (regulatory, policy / planning, capital investment, partnerships)
• Timeframes
• Responsibilities
• Funding sources
• Monitoring
• Annual Assessments / Work Programs
• Measures of Progress (sustainability indicators)

56. Key Issue: Capacity-Building
• Union County and its municipalities have a small population and limited
resources
• Three municipalities do not have zoning ordinances
• Partnerships among the public, private, and nonprofit / institutional
sectors will be key to success
• Public / public (e..g., PA State Agencies / Union County / municipalities)
• Public / private (e.g., Lewisburg Area Recreation Park – LARA / Playworld;
Pennsylvania House redevelopment)
• Public / institutional (e.g., Union County / Bucknell University)

57. The Sustainable Comprehensive Plan
APA National Conference
Minneapolis, MN
April 26, 2009
Contact Information
David Rouse, AICP, Principal, Wallace Roberts & Todd
drouse@ph.wrtdesign.com
Shawn McLaughlin, AICP, Planning Director, Union County
smclaughlin@unionco.org
Robert Kerns, AICP, Associate, Wallace Roberts & Todd
rkerns@ph.wrtdesign.com
www.cultivatingcommunity.net
WRT Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC