Improve the Health of Communities and the Environment through Development

A “green” approach to planning and development that links transportation and land use benefits environmental quality and public health. Neighborhoods that promote pedestrian activity and transit use encourage increased physical activity, while mixed-use centers provide improved access to fresh groceries and other health benefits. New streets and development can also be designed to reduce their environmental impact through the use of sustainable building materials, energy efficient design, and stormwater management techniques.

This approach to transportation and development requires forethought, but often does not require additional expense, and even saves money in the long term. Projects large and small can utilize sustainable design techniques to realize these benefits. These techniques can often be combined with the approaches in other sections of the Clearinghouse to insert “green” objectives into all elements of transportation and land use planning.

 

 

National Best Practice Examples

Lloyd Crossing Sustainable Urban Design Plan, Portland, OR This urban design plan integrates a number of sustainability principles for energy, water, and natural habitat under one plan. In the process, it creates a new identity for a 35-block, inner-city area of Portland that was previously commercial in nature. The plan lays out a new analytical, design, and economic framework for adding 8 million square feet of development over 45 years while dramatically improving the district's environmental performance. A four-block, mixed-use project, the Catalyst Project, will serve as a testing ground for key elements of the design plan. More info

Computer rendering of proposed high-rises at Lloyd Crossing in Portland, Oregon. [Source: Portland Development Commission]

Republic Square Park, Austin, Texas Through partnerships with the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department and the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Austin Parks Foundation is working to revitalize Austin's three historic downtown parks at the same time the City is exploring opportunities for promoting infill and mixed-use development. The Republic Square Park is home to several important Citywide special events and serves as an important civic and cultural center. Efforts are underway to strengthen the Park’s place as an active open space including wireless Internet access, a weekly Farmer’s Market and annual festivals. This area's ongoing transformation highlights the interdependence of great public spaces and urban vitality. There are several new residential projects now underway around the park, capitalizing on the area's new lively atmosphere. More info

The Austin Farmer’s Market at Republic Square Park is a vital part of the community.

 

 

Additional Resources and Examples

 

Link	Source	What it is
LEED for Neighborhood Development Home	United States Green Building Council	The LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System is the first national standard for environmentally sustainable neighborhood design.
Water Resources Fact Sheet	Local Government Commission	A fact sheet on the significant impact of auto-oriented development on water pollution and flooding.
Understanding the Relationship Between Public Health and the Built Environment	United States Green Building Council	An analysis of the current research connecting public health and land use.
Green Streets Program	Portland Metro	A resource for designing environmentally-friendly streets.
Physical Activity and Use of Suburban Train Stations: An Exploratory Analysis Transit Advertising Revenue: Traditional and New Sources and Structures	Michael Greenberg and John Renne, Rutgers University Robert Lane and Jeffrey Zupan, Regional Plan Association	A study of the impact of transit access on health in suburban communities.
Influence of Community Factors on Health: An Annotated Bibliography	PolicyLink	Documents research connecting health and land use and the policy implications that can be drawn from that work.

 

 

Local/Regional Examples

MWCOG’s Priorities 2000: Metropolitan Washington Greenways is a regional example of how to improve environmental and public health through transportation and land use planning.

Several other recent examples in the Washington region database underscore the growing regional interest in green development. Expanding the potential for these types of projects in the region is essential in improving environmental quality and health in the region.