Hgap 6.8 - 6.9

Learning Goals

• Sustainable Design Initiatives & Zoning Practices: Identify initiatives and practices in urban geography.

• Responses to Urban Design Initiatives: Explain the positive and negative responses.

• Criteria for a Livable City: Beauty (natural & human-made), clean air & water, public transit, safety from crime, historical significance, accessibility, affordability.

Urban Design Initiatives

Importance of Sustainable Design

• Urban design aims to make cities livable, considering human and environmental impacts.

• Compact, walkable cities reduce dependence on cars, lowering pollution and congestion.

• Key approaches include smart growth policies, New Urbanism, greenbelt development, and slow-growth cities.

Smart Growth Policies

• Address regional sprawl through:

  • Mixed Land Use: Combines residential, business, and entertainment for a vibrant neighborhood.

  • Compact Design: Efficient land use through vertical growth rather than horizontal sprawl.

  • Infill Development: Utilizing unused lands within existing areas.

  • Walkable Neighborhoods: Promotes pedestrian-friendly design.

  • Transportation Variety: Ensures high-quality public transport and safe biking/walking infrastructure.

  • Diverse Housing: Offers housing for all life stages and income levels.

  • Environmental Preservation: Protects natural areas for recreation and limits sprawl.

New Urbanism

• Focus on dense settlements with attractive architecture within pedestrian reach of amenities.

• Advocates principles aligning with smart growth, including:

  • Walkability: Amenities within a 10-minute walk.

  • Connectivity: Interconnected streets facilitating ease of movement.

  • Mixed Use/Diversity: Mixed-use neighborhoods and varied housing types.

  • Quality Design: Emphasizes beauty and community identity.

  • Traditional Structure: Neighborhood centers with parks and high-density edges.

  • Smart Transportation: Enhances connections to public transport.

  • Sustainability: Focuses on energy efficiency and reduced dependence on cars.

Greenbelt Development

• Essential for maintaining ecological health and urban beauty.

• Benefits:

  • Reduces sprawl by restricting building in greenbelt areas.

  • Provides recreational spaces and connects urban residents to nature.

  • Economic advantages through local agriculture and tourism opportunities.

• Global Examples: London's greenbelt, U.S. states (Oregon, Washington, Tennessee), Canadian cities (Ottawa, Toronto), and Australian cities.

Slow-Growth Cities

• Update local zoning laws to manage urban growth effectively.

• Example: Issaquah, Washington took measures to control development and enhance community aesthetics.

• Focus on balancing development with community needs and resource limitations.

Positive Responses to Urban Design Initiatives

• Enhanced local amenities and quality of life in cities like Portland, Southern Village, and Seaside.

• Contributes to public health through cleaner air, reduced accidents, and increased physical activity.

• Reduced pollution and land preservation are praised by environmentalists and farming communities.

• Economic incentives for developers and government support improve development relationships.

Negative Responses to Urban Design Initiatives

• Concerns about decreasing property values due to increased density and crime.

• Fear of reduced affordable housing availability with mixed-use developments.

• Complaints from homeowners about restrictions on property use due to pedestrian-oriented designs.

• Potential disruption and displacement of existing communities due to high-density developments.

• Concerns about increased segregation and the potential destruction of historical sites.

• Some argue that smart growth fails to mitigate sprawl, leading to urban issues.

Conclusion

• This module covers urban design initiatives like smart growth, New Urbanism, greenbelt development, and slow-growth cities, highlighting their pros and cons as we prepare for further studies in urban geography.