ecocity cleveland september-october 2000

11
. Volume 7. Numbers 8-9 Sept/Oct 2000 Editor: David Beach Inside First annual Bioregional Hero Awards O . Transportation updates o Americans want smart growth o Open space on the ballot . 0 Good words I am convinced that just beneath the surface of QUf national psyche lies a grassroots movement as potentially powerful a,S the environmental mo vement of the last several decades. Whether you caU this the "anti-sprawl, " "smart growth," or "livable communities" movement, it reflects a growing public awareness ihat communities havt: choices in how they grow and develop. They don't have to accept the nondescript an'd dysfunctional sprawllhat has dominated the dockets of local planning commissions . . for the last 50 years .. . -Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Hi storic Pr.eservation If you think you're too small to make a difference •. you've never been in bed with a mosquito. - Activist in Seattle . . . ve r de sign principles Help US dIsco.. Don 't mi ss ou: r . . for the reg tOn . Reserve" eve n's ' rh e Wesre m . 4/f . " Imag es OJ j J and J .' . on NOvi'l 'or derails. . See p. J' SATURATED WITH STORES . Sprawling. retail development is transforming the character of communities throughout Northeast Ohio . While the region experienced a slig ht loss of population over the past 30 years, it became'over-saturated w ith reta il and is continuing to add new developments in outlying suburbs and rural areas. Current zo ning could allow three times the . amount of existing retail to be built in this already over,saturated market. The economic and enviro nmental costs to the region are enormous. See pages 8-9 . Backyard techniques for protecting urban streams_' Special insert included with this issue

Upload: others

Post on 31-Oct-2021

6 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

. Volume 7. Numbers 8-9 Sept/Oct 2000 Editor: David Beach

Inside First annual

Bioregional Hero Awards O .

Transportation updates o

Americans want smart growth o

Open space on the ballot . 0

Good words I am convinced that just beneath the surface

of QUf national psyche lies a grassroots movement as potentially powerful

a,S the environmental movement of the last several decades.

Whether you caU this the "anti-sprawl, " th~ "smart growth," or "livable communities"

movement , it reflects a growing public awareness ihat communities havt: choices

in how they grow and develop. They don't have to accept the nondescript an'd

dysfunctional sprawllhat has dominated the dockets of local planning commissions

. . for the last 50 years .. . -Richard Moe, president of the National Trust

for Historic Pr.eservation

If you think you're too small to make a difference •.

you've never been in bed with a mosquito.

- Activist in Seattle

. . . ve r design principles Help US dIsco.. Don't miss ou:r . . for the reg tOn. Reserve" even's

' rhe Wesre m . 4/f . "Images OJ j J and J .' .

on NOvi'l 'or derails. . See p. J'

SATURATED WITH STORES

. Sprawling. retail development is transforming the character of communities throughout Northeast Ohio .

While the region experienced a slight loss of population over the past 30 years, it became' over-saturated w ith reta il

and is continuing to add new developments in outlying suburbs and rural areas.

Current zoning could allow three times the .amount of existing retail to be built in this already over,saturated market.

The economic and environmental costs to the region are enormous.

See pages 8-9

. Backyard techniques for protecting urban streams_' Special insert included with this issue

Page 2: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

HOME AT ECOCITV

Transitions . Sev~ral months ago we regretfully s~id goodbye, to ~ur pl:oject manager, Brad Flm;nIIl, who mQved on tO'seek a Ph.D. in city and regional

planning a,t the University of Califon~ia at Berkeley. Duri~g the past three years Brad playeo a big role in the ~ucc'ess of EcoCity Clevelalld. As our tra~sport~tion planning expert, he was an important civic

watchdog o'.'er the activities of the N0l1heast Ohio Areawide CoordinaHng Agency, ODOT, the Ore'ater Cleveland RTA, and oth~r agencies. He also managed our Citizel/s ' Bioregionaf Plall project and

was a voice for sustainability on numerous community ta~k forces and . CO llliluttees. His thought~l yoice and many skills ,will be missed in"

N0l1heast Ohio. ' While we were sorry to lose Brad, we were delighted at the high

caliber of candidates who _applied . to fill his position. -We finally hired Ryan McKenzie, who for the past . several years has been a leading transportation activist in the region, focusing on improving transit use and f~cilities for bicyciin·g. He has· been a leader. in the "Rack & Roll" project to" get bike racks on buses, and he played a key role in the deve~opment of the Ca.r:free i!1 .cleveland guideboqk, which ~oCity

. Cleveland. helped publish. Ryan bas a masters degree in urban studies (rom the .Levin College of Urban Affairs a~ . Cleveland State University. He is a member of RTA's Citizens Advisory Bo~rd and 'the NOACA -Bicycle Advisory Subcommitle~, and he is a tmstee of the Cleveland Waterfront Coalition and ·the Northeast Ohio RegiQn~1 Alliance. With all of hjs.experience, we are lo~king forward to having him .on our team.

.Thanks We;dlike to thank the following foundations for recent grants: The Cleveland Foun9ation for support of our comrnu·niGations and networking activities, the Raymond John-Wean Foundation for operating support, and the George W. Codrington Foundation fol' support of our '~kages of the Western Reserve" project.

We'd al~o like to thank the following design and engineeriI:lg finns . for supporting a second plinling our po.pular Citizens' Bioregiollal Plan publication:· Behnke Associates, 'City Architecture, ·CT Consultants, Davey Resource Group, D.B. Hartt fuc., Montgo~ery Watson AmeJicas, PKG Consultants, Sandvick Architect~ Inc., Schmidt Copel.~nd Parker Stevens, Urban Conservation & Design, and URS Corp·oration. Special

. _ thanks .to 'Tom Zarfoss of Behnke Associates for helping to organize the fundrai sing:

- David Beach . Editor

P.S. Sorry if you recei ved multiple copies of our recent postcard about the "Images of the Westem Reserve" events coming lip on November II and. 14. In· an effort to spread the word as widely as possible, we mailed to the lists of a number of co-sponsoring organizations. Although we 'did.

2

our best to weed out duplicate names, many people were on several lists in different [onnats. If you did get an extra postc~rd, we hope y~u were able to pass it on to a friend who might be intere.sted in our programs.

Mission EcoCity Cleveland is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization.

Througb tbe publication of the EcoCiry Cl~velall~ Joum~l and other progfam~, it will stimulate ecologicallhinking about t)le N<;lrtheast Ohi.o region (Cuyahoga Bioregion), nurture an E!-coCity Network among local

groups working on urban and envir-onmental issues, and promote ~ustainable ways to meet basic human needs for food ,. shelter,

productive work and stable communities.

Board of Trustees David Beach, Director, EeoCity Cleve/aM Stuart Greenberg, Ellvirollmelllal Healtl} Ward, Nancy F. Keithley, N. F. Keithiey & Co.

. Judy Rawson, CilY of Shaker Heights and First Suburbs CO/ls0l1ium Richard ShaHen, Weatherhead Schl!ol of Munagement, CWRU Phil Star, Celllerfvr Neighborhood Development, CSU Nelson S. Talbott, Sawyer Research ·PrOducts Chris Trepal, The Earth Day Coalition Carl Wirtz. HlIIIS}er + Taylor

A~.vlsory Bo~rd Molly Bartlett, Silver Creek Faml . Thomas Bier, CSUHv!lsing Policy Research· Program Jame~ Bissell, Cleveland MI/seum of Natural His(01)' Patricia. Carey, Regiol/al Solutiolls Anne Chaka, Union ojCvllcemed Scielltists Edith Cha<;e, Ohio Coaslal Resource Managelnem Proje.ct Herbert Crowther, Computer Aided Planning John Debo, Cuyahoga Valley Naliol/ol Recn;.atioll Area Ruth Durack, KSU Urban De,l·jgll Center . Richard En-ty, Gre.(lfer Cleveland Regional Trallsit AUfljor;ty George Espy, Sellenth GellerariOli Davi.d Ooss, Build Up Greater Cleveland Soren Ha·nsen, InterGraphic Ellgineei'ing 5.ervices Rick Hawksley, Fuller Design Group and NE Ohio umdTI"IISf Coalition Michael JohnstolJe, Minority Ellv;rolll1ie)'fai AssociatiOIl and

Ellvirospherics Consultifig Susanl.;acy, United WE-CAN! Steve Madewell, Lake Comity Metroparks Elaine Marsh, Friellds of the Crooked River Amanda Morris, Gwden Club ofClevelcmd David prr, Oberlin College Eflvirollffleflfal Studies J!!ffrey Rechenbach. Communications Workers of America . Mikelann Ward Rensel, CIe.l'eland Neighbl!,-hood Deve/opmem CO/po Nornial.1 Robbins, CWR-U Cellferjor the Envirollfllellt Erin RllsseU, Northeast Ohio Sierra Club Kathleen Tark , City Archilt:.ClI/re Carol 111aler, Cu)'ahoga COllllly Planning CimmHssion Jerome Walcott, Cotnmis:,>'iofl on Catholic COII/mllllity ACfimi BIlI ·Wh.itney, Detroit Shore way Community Developl1~eflf Olganiz(ltiOli

Staff David -Beach , Director ([email protected]) Ryan McKenzie, Project Manager (rn'[email protected]) Manda Gillespie, Ass!. Project Manage·r ([email protected])

• EcoCit)l Cleveland lOl/mal

2841 Sca[b~[Qu.gh Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 . . Cuyahoga Bioregion

Telephone 21.6-932-30071 Fax 2 16-932-6069 E-mail~ [email protected]

.Web: www.ecocleveland.org

• Publisbed mo~thly;except for occa~ional special issues. Un·less oth~rwise

nOled, all articles and ph~tographs an: by David Beach. Submissions frorn others arc . welcoTJle; but please call first. We cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials.

Readers are encouraged to use the information in EcoCity Cleve/mId. Just call for permission \0 reprim anicles. After y.ou're finished with your copy of {he journal,

. pass il on to friends or recycte it. If you are a regular reader, please subscribe. Supported by foundation grants, subscriplions and individual donations.

. Printed at Orange Blos.~om Press in Cleveland on 100% post-consumer was·le recycled paper using soy-based. inks.

ISSN 1084-0885 ©.2000 EcoCily Cteveland

EcoCiT)' ClEVElANd () September/October 2000

1

HOME AT ECOCITV

IIBioregional Heroes" recognized at first annual member party . More than 250 friends and supporters packed the Steamship William G. Mather on August 3 for EcoCity Cleveland's first annual Member Party and Bioregional Hero Awards Celebration.

"The evening gave our members ~ chance to meet and share ideas with each other, o~r trustees and staff," said Phil Star, president of EcqCity Cleveland's board of trustees. "And it was an opportunity to celebrate nQt just EcoCity Cleveland but also the many other people and organizations doil;1g great work in the region."

The·program included remarks by EcoCity trustee and Shaker Heights mayor Judy Rawson On the growing influence EcoCity Cleveland is having in planning and political circles throughout the region.. . EcoCity director David Beach descJibed .how:the organization has evolved. from a newsletter in 1993 into an· organization that now has a range of projects related to

. planning for open space preservation·in the . , region, urban design, transportatIon

alternatives, and neighborhood redevelopment using envirorunental thinking. . . . . The highlight ofthe evening was the presentation· of Bioregional Hero Awards to outstanding individuals and organizations who have improved the 10rig-term ·quality of life in Northeast ·Ohio by balancing environmental int~grity, social justice ·and economic prosperity.

This year's winners were: • Lifetime achievement: · Jim Bissell,

curato.r of botany a! the Cleveland Museum . of Natural History, for many years of work

discovering the biological diversity of Northeast Ohio ~nd establishing a system of nature. preserves to protect the region 's endangered habitats.

• Visionary: Ohio Canal Corridor founders and director (Tom Yablonsky, Jeff Lennartz, and Tim Donovan), for pioneering work to envision the Ohio & Erie Canal ~ational Heritage Corridor and the . Cleveland Metroparks Canal Reservation.

• Public official: Kenneth Montlack, vice mayor of Cleveland Heights and chair · of the First Suburbs Consortium, for his y.'ork to organize the First Suburbs and to speak for the needs of older communities in · Greater Cleveland.

• Develop.men~ project of the ye~r.:

~eeting in the hold: M~mbers and friends gathere.d in. the Steamship Mather ro.r F;c~City Cleveland's first annual member party. on August 3.

Adam J .. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College, for demonstrating cutting-edge green design· and · making ecology a living part of the: curricuium.

• Alternative transportation: The . Bicycle Advisory Subco~ttee 0.£ the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (Robert Parry, committee chai r, and Sally Hanley, staff), ·for making bicycles an · integral part of transpOltation planning in the region.

• Messenger: Steven .Litt, ·art and archite.cture cri.tic of The Plain Dealer, for helping to raise the standards of urban design in Northeast Ohio.

• Community activist: Laurel· . Hopwood_. for countless hours of volunteer work with the Sierra Club on the_ issues of pesticide use and bioengineering.

• Best new organization or program: Cleveland. Green Building Coalition and the Redesigning Cleveland for the -21 sl ~entury ·. Speakers Series, for raising awareness of the potential for gre~n developmenUo reduce

human impact on the planet while being .. economicaUy successful.

• Newcomer: David Abbott, president of · University Circle Inc., for advancing a new urban design aesthetic for the Circle that seeks to reverse years of domination by the ·automobile and creat~ _great places for

. people.

. Each -award recipient received a framed pr:int of an original painting by local artist Kate Pilacky. Her work focuses on the Northeast Ohio bioregion - evoking both jts beauty and its environmental problems.

We plan to make the Bloregional Awards an annuai event, :a.nd we are already starting to collect nominees for next year. Please think: about who i ~. making a difference in

·lhe region, and send us your suggestions (for both people to honor and award categories).

ThankS to Firstar Bank and Dollar Bank for their support of this year'.s .event:· And speci~1 thanks to the staff of the Steamship Mather for hosting us in their awe-inspiring ship. 0

EcoCiT)' ClEVElANd () September/October 2000 3

Page 3: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

TRANSPORTATION

Big-ticket projects nom.inated for state funding

Each year the board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) ' puts togeth~r a wish list of ,lew tran"sPQrtation projects to submit for sta.te funding. The process is a major 'opportunity to bring funds to the regjOli ' for iniportant

· transportation work.

T.his year,' s top regional priority is the SR 237/Hopkins Airport access project, which incll)des improved access for both passenger and freight movements. Most of the other projects., aside from .GCRT~· transit centers, are designed to temporarily "allevjate traffic congestion in growing areas of the region. The Industrial Parkway project in Lorain County is a long-planned access road that would open up land (&1)d many wetlands) for ~ndustrial development on the west side of Elyria.

The full list of recommended projects · follows:

I. SR 2371H0pkins Airport Access, Cuyahoga ($ 16.5 million)

2. Bagley-Pleasant Valley., Cuyahoga ($12.2 million)·

3. GCRTA Transit Centers; Cuyahoga ($18.7 million)

4 .. Snow-Rocks ide, Cuyahoga ($9 million) .

5. SR 84IBishop Road, Lake ($5 .8 million)

'6. SR 18,Medina ($9.2 million) .

7. Industrial Parkway, Lorain ($5 .9 million) ' .

8. Tower Boulev&fd, Lorain ($2.5 . mjllion) .

9. US 3221 Mayfield Rd, Cuyahoga ($9 million) . . .

. 10. SR 237/ Front Street, Cuyahoga ($6.1 million)

11. Crocker/Stearns Roads, Cuya~oga ($22.4 million)

Budget limitations of the Ohio Department of Transportation will likely mean. that only th~ top few projects will pe . 'approved for funding this year. For rnore

· infonnation, contact NOACA at 7 .16-241-2414, or see www.dot:state.oh.usffR.AC.

RTA: More rides, less funding? Northeast Ohioans have taken 500,000 more rides on the Greater Cleveland Regional

4.

Bus'stop

/

Outrage ofthe month Inaccessible malls: Many local shopping malls, such as the new South Park Mail in Strongsville, refuse to allow buses to drop riders at the mall entrance. Here the stop is ,aJong busy SR 82, and transit riders must cross' acres of pedestTian-unfriendly parking lots

. to reach the mail Even though .malls are major public destinations, they are private propelty and mall owners say they can exclude whomever the~ want.

Transit AuthOljty (GCRTA) in the first three qllarter~ of 2000 than in the-same period of '1999 - an increase of 1.1 percent. The increase has b~n led by an expandi'ng

: number-of cqmmunity circulators, whdse ridership IS up more than 50 percent for the year. The American Public Transit . Association reports a nationwide increase of more than 4 percent this ye~r"with overall ridership up 19 percent since 1995.

. Despite the increase in cu.stomers, GCRTA is.won·jed about its .budget, with rising fuel costs' a particular source of concern. Officials say that revenues an~ not keeping up with projected expenses, .while a half-dozen conun'unities are demanding their own conununity circulator;;;. In tesponse·; the

. agency has incrementally cut service on some of its most popular [(lutes, and it is cutting frequencies on many circulator Toutes in order to reallocate limited equipment to new ones:

This bridge is made for wall{ing and bil{ing? More than 3,000people took advantage of Cuyahoga County Engineer 'Robert K1aiper's tours of the Veterans Memorial Bridge lower level during seve~al October weekends. The lower .deck, closed' since 1954. once canied streetcars Qver the Cuyahoga River between downtown's Superior A venue:and Ohio '

City's Detroit A venue. Many people have noted i~s potential as a world":class bicycle . and pedestrian link.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Public Art . (f6nnerly the' Committee for Public ArtY is

. gearing up for a design project that will explore tl,lming the bridge's outer traffic lanes into exclusive pedes.trianlbike/art . space. When 'the lanes were added in the late 1960s, 'beautiful promenad!! sidewalks were chopped from 15 feet to only five. Traffic demand was later shifted tq 1-90, .but the underu~i liz'ed outer lanes remain a barrier to safe walking and biking.

. Klaiber IS open to working with.all ideas but cautions that the County Conunissioners own the bridge and have .the final word on any change .

Blaming the pedestrian Several pedestrians have been killed by . motorists in downtown Cleyeland this year, and the city r~cently responded by

. announcing a' high.-profile 'crackdown on jaywalking, Meanwhile, no plans have surfaced yet to slow traffic, bett.er define . crosswalks, o'r give walkers more time to cross streets safel y. .

Nationally, more than five percent of trips are made on foot and n percent of all traffic fatalities ate pede~trian,s, yet s~ates spend · less than one percent 'of their federal funds. on pedestrian safety projects.. .

EcoCil)' ClEVElANd 0 September/October 2000

Between cities • Intercity rail gaining

momentum ip Congress: The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers repOI1S that Congress is consideting . the High-Speed Rail Investment Act. The bill would authorize Amtrak (0 sell $10 billion in high-speed rail bonds over the next 10 years and dramatically:upgradepassenger rail service: .

• Ohio ~mbraces passenger rail: In May of this year, we reported on the Ohio Ra'il Development Commission's (ORDe) recommendation that the . Ohio Departfne~t of Transportation not invest in Cleveland-Columbus rail service. Since 'then, it seems that the state has had a change of heart. OR,DC recently applied' to the Federal Railroad Administration for a high­speed cor:ridor designation for the 3-C corridor (Cleveland - Columbus -Dayton - Cincinnati). If approved, this

. designation will make the corridor . eligible for federal funds (such as the bond funds noted above). Ohio and Amtrak are also discussing a new 'passenger rail ·setviCe between Boston .. and St.. Louis that would serve the corridor. Ohio would finance a fleet of rail cars to carry. lime-sensitive freight shipments, whose revenues would cover Amtrak's Gost of p'roviding p,!-ssenger rail service at competitive prices. Service would begin in late 2002. . . '

• Ohio embraces more highways: The Onio Department of Trans.ponation (ODOT), in co'operation with the Indiana Department'ofTransportatiqn 'ano the Federal Highway AdJIlinislration (FHW A); is cpnsidering the construct.ion of the US 24 bypass - .an· SO-mile: inter'state-grade highway . between Toledo and F:ort Wayne, Indiana. Thousands of acres of farmland and habitat would be paved ' under the proposal. Activists with the .' West~rn Lake Erie Group .of the Sierra Club are instead asking the agencies to enhan~e.the safety and traffic efficiency features of the existing two­

. lane highway.FHW A and ODOT are accepting public comments through November 12, 2000; For more information, contact Shannon Harps of ihe Sierra Club Ohio Chapter at [email protected] or 614-461-0734.

Ra.ck & Roll T(a"nsit .agencies for Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati pledged this summer to join more than 200 agencies in 40 'states ~hat offer .bike racks on buses. In northeast Ohio, Lorain Cpunty Transit began pffering the nicks on nin'e buses in August, Greater Cleveland RTA has.

,successfully 'completed a road test with one bus, and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is coordinating the purchase of 265. t:acks for all six transit:

. agencies in 'its five-county territory. .

. GCRTA has committed to offering the new service next spring' on n~arly ~ quarter of its buses, but the agency has yet to desig"nate an official" project manager. Activists from Alt­T~ans Cleveland are calling for GCRT A. to follow,indu stry leaders by appointing an. agency­wide ~ike & Ride · coordin~tor. The coordinator would oversee implementation of the Rack & Roll program, explo~e a bikes-on-rail pilot project, and otherwise enhance the integration of t~ansit and bicycle services.;

(:level and planning for liyability The Cleveland City Planning ColllITljssion ·kicked off efforts to update the city's Civic Vision Citywide Pia!'. wjth several October public meetings. The plan, whose theme is "improving the quality of life in Cleveland's neighborhoods," · will help guide ne"ighborhood development an<;l revitalization in the' city for the next te~ years: TPe need to connect neighborhoods with safe

' bicycle infrastructui'e seems to be a strong theme among city staff. NOACA's volunteer' Bicycle 'Advis'ory Subcommittee continues to revjew all"road projects

for ways to make them safer for ·bicycling. Though the once-per.,.monlh meetings have made a ppsitive contribution, the region needs ?t least one full-time engineer in a public agency to design safe bike and pedestrian improv~ments . .

Is sprawl making us. sick? The American Medical Association is calling obesity "an epidemic," no~ing that more than half

. of ~dult Americans are overweight or obese. In an editorial in its journal, the AMA hoted that car trips have replaced trips that used to be mad"e on foot or by bicycle, and it says' helping people get back to walking or bicycling should be a' first larget.in· combating the obesity epidemic .. But it also noted, "Reliance on physical activity as an alternative to car use is less likely to 'occur in many cities and towns unless 'they are designed or retro~fitted to pennit walking or bicycling." . .

The Cente'rs for Disease C'ontrol and Prevention (CDC) has concurrently launched an initiati~e 'in support of Active Community Environmc;nts (ACEs). "Most communities are designed to favor one mode of travel- the automobile - and usually do not 'have many sidewalks or bicycle trails. Building roads, school s, shopping centers, and other places of interes't only for the convenient use of cars ofren 'keeps people from being able to 'safely walk around town, ride bicycles, or play outdoors. This is one important reason why, people in the United States are not as active as they used to be." .

Fo~ more infonnation, go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/ace·.htni.

EcoCil)' .C1EVEIANd () September/October 2000 5

Page 4: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

CHANGING VALUES

Americans are reali~ing that walkable.stre.ets and tr:ansportation choices can improve quality of life.

Americans want smarter growth Fed up with traffic congestion and haphazard growth, Americans favor "smart growth" to reduce traffic congestion, .preserve exis ting communities 'and protect the ~nviron'Tlent and open space, according to a new national poll.

Commissioned by Smart .Growth America, a new nationwide coalition of over 60 public interest groups, the poll shows that 78 percent of Americans support policies to curb -sprawl, the uncontrolled and wasteful development that is damaging the environment and draining resources from established communit ies. Over 80 percent of respondents think government should give priority to maintaining services and infrastructure in estab lished communities before 'subsidizing new sprawl. Over 80 ' percent also favors 'l1lore c~QPeration on growth management among local governmen,ts, creatjng zones for green space and fmmland, and tax incentives to renovate older houses and revital ize economically depressed neighbo'rhoods. "_

The study also cites other evidence that Americans' attitudes towards growtli are changing: rapid increase in the use of public transportation, strong voter support for smart growth ballot mea~ures, and increased demand for housing in citi es and close-in suburbs.

In addi'tion, the poll shows Americans support the policies that can cmb sprawl: 66 percent of respondents said they suppo ~·t requiring. all n~w residential developments to have at least 15 pc;rcent affordable homes. And 60 percent of respondents favor investing more in public transit even if it reduces funding ava ilable for higbway construction, Se.venty-seven percent support making neighborhoods more pedestrian-fti.endly instead of building new highways.

"We've definitely touched a nerve," said Don Chen, the Washington, DC-based coalit.ion' s director. "People beue.ve ,that sprawl and traffic are out of control , and the vast maj ority want more open space, -reliable publjc transit and neighborhood reinves tment. All the ev~dence . shows Lh aL Americans support smarter growth, and our elec~ed officials had better start paying attention." .

For a copy of the report and the,poll results, go to www. . smartgrowthamerica.com or call202-974-5 132. Other informative Web sites include the Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse at www.sprawlwatch.org a~d the Smart Growth Network at www.smartgrowth.org,

6

What is smart growth? Smart growth can be defined by 'its outcomes--outcomes that wrror the basic vah,les of most Americans. Smart ~owth is development that helps to achieve these six goals:

1. Neighborhood.livab.ility: The central goal of any smart growth plan is the quality of the neighborhoods where we live. They s.hould be safe, convenient, attrac~ve and affordable. Sprawl development too often forces trade­offs between these goals. Some neighborhoods are safe but not convenient. Others are convenient bu t not affordable. Too many affordable neighborhoods ar~ not safe. Careful plann.ing can help .bring all these elements together.

, 2. Better access, less traffic: One of the major 'downfalls of sprawl is traff.ic . By putting jobs, homes and other destinations far apart and requiring a car for every trip·, sprawl makes everyday tasks a chore. Smart growth's emphasis on mixing land uses, clustering development, and providing mUltiple transportation choices helps us manage congestion , pollute less and save energy. Those who want to drive can, but people who would rather not drive everywhere or: don't own a car have other choices.

3. Thriving cities, suburbs and towns: Smart "growth puts the needs of existing conununities first. By guiding development to already built-up areas, money for investments in transportation, schools, libraries and oth~r public services can go to the cOI.nmunities where people Jive tOday. This is especially importaot for neighborhoods "that have inadequate public services an~ low levels of . private investme'nt. It is also critical for preserving what _ " makes so many places special- attractive buildings, . historic districts and cultural landmarks,

4, Shared benefits: Sprawi leaves too many people behind. Divisions by income and race have allowed some areas to prosper while others lan'guish. As basic needs, such as jobs, education ·and health care, become 'less' plentiful in some comm.unities , residents· have diminishing

. opportunities to participate in their regional economy. · Smart growth enables, al1 residents to be beneficiaries of prosperity.

5. Lower costs, lower taxes: Sprawl costs money. · Opening up green. sp'ace to new developm~nt means that !he cost of new schools, roads, sewer lines, and watef"~upplies will be borne by residents throughout metro areas. Sprawl also means fainilies have to own more cars and drive them further. This has made transportation the second highest category o{household speuding, just behind shelter. -Smart growth helps on both fronts. Taki ng advantage of existing

· infrastructure kee'ps taxes dQWll. And where convenient transportation choices enable families to rely less on driving: there's more money left oyer· for other things, like Duying a home or saving for college. "

6. Keeping open space open: By focusing development in already t.milt-llp areas, smart growth preserves rapidly vanishing natural treasures, From forests and farms to wetlands and wildlife, smart growth lets us pass on to our children the landscapes we love. Communities are dernanding more parks that are conveniently located and bring recreation within reach of more people. People ru:-e also beginning to realize that protecting natural resources wi ll provide healthier air and cleaner drinking water.

EeoCiTY ClEVElANd () September/October 2000

r

MelpingDoariBrook Ideas for citizens and homeowners

who care'about water quality and urban streams. in their community

Doan Brook watershed in Cleveland, Cleve·land·Heights and Shaker Heights

Presented by EcoCity Cleveland

and the Center for Watershed Protection with the support of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer Di.strict .

EcoCiTy CLEVElANd

Page 5: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

~~---:-'---

Insert 2

. About this insert This insert summarizes recommendations made at a workshop organized by EcoCity Cleveland in ~fay 2000. The workshop presented ways that homeowners and citizens can help improve water quality.·and ecological health in ·urban watersheds. Although the workshop focused on the Doan Brook Watershed in the Cleveland area, the techniques Presented c~n be helpful in any wat~rshed with urban· land or development pressures.

Sponsor EcoCity Cleveland is a nonprofit organization that promotes a vision of ecological 'cities existing in balance with their surrounding counu-yside. Through its publications and projects, EcoCity Cleveland presents innovative ideas for regional· land use plaiming, transportation systems, watershed restoration, ·ecological redevelopment and other issues. For more.information , call 216-932-3007 or see www. ecocleveland.org . .

Presenter This inform.ation was' developed by the Center for Watershed Protection, a nonprofit SOl (c)3 corporation dedicaied to finding new, cooperative ways of protecting and.restoring watersheds . ·Tts pr.incipal functions are conducting independent research ·and providing technic'" support to local govemrrients and · . watershed management professionals around the country to develop more effective urban stormwater and watershed protection programs. Since its in·ception; the· Center has pi'ovided iecbnical assistance to local governments in 30 states . and the District of Columbia. Past ·and present projects include the .ctev.elopment of stormwater 'design and guidance manuals for the ~tates of Maryland; New York; Massachusetts, Texas, and Georgia as well as the District of Columbia . . In addition, the Center has conducted more than 300 stormwater training workshops, and hris conducted stormwater retrofit inventories throughout the ciiuntry. The Cent~r bas a staffof 13 professionals' and support personnel and is located in Ellicott City, Maryland. For more information, call 41O-461-832Tor see www.cwp.org.

Supporter · Funding to support the development of this insert was provided by the Northeast atiio Regional Sewer Distl1ct as part of its DoanBrook Watershed Study.

EcoCily Cleveland

What is ·a watershed? A watershed can-be defined as the land"area that'contributes stormwater runoff to a particular point along a waterway. Watersheds yary in size - they .can b~ as smalL as your 'own backyard. 'Evetyon~ lives in 'a watershed!

What is my watershed? · If you live in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, ur Cleveland, you may live 'in in;; Doan'Brook watershed. The Doan Brook ·begi.ns in Shaker Heights and Beachwood, just easfof Warrensville Center Road and flows west~ard ' through Shaker Heights and

· Clev~land Heights through the. · Shaker Lakes. Just pastthe · Shak~r Lakes, ' it continues

flowing northwest through· a gorge into Cleveland ~here it soon enters a culvert and flows' und~rground for about a mile. It .resurfaces. just north of the" Cleveland Museum of Art; and ·

· flows along Martin Luther · King 80ulevard until it enters Lake Erie.

The Doan Br.ook watershed is _a.bout 12 square miles .. Of this, aboul 7.5 square miles, or 2/3 of the watershed, are in resideo.tial

, land use.

How are we all connected in a water~hed?

· Even if you don't Jive-next to the Doan Brook, what you do in your yard can still have a

_ direct impact ~n your nearby water resources.

As the Doan Brook watersheq has developed over the last 200 years, the natural water balance has been altered: Natural' forest cover ' -and wetlands have been

E(oCity Cleveland

replaced wi!h roads, driveways, parking lots, imd buildings. These hard surfacys, or impervious surfaces, increase the amount of rainfall that flows over land and reduce the amount of rainfall that percolates into the

, sqil or is consumed by plants and trees., Incr~asing the amount of rainfall that runs off

. tbe land leads to flooding. ' As water flows over the~e

paved surfaces; it collects soil, pet w.ash;:s, salt, fertiliz~rs, oils, and othei' pollutants. It doesn't matter if your house is not on a stream or river - the rainwater flows down the street ioto a catch.basin', Stqrm sewers CaI.Ty this runoff from your ~dgbborbood . directly to the nearest body. of water, taking dirt ami pollutants along with it.

Wl)at are SOme of our ' ' concerns "in the Doan BI:ook watershed? .

, One concern is floo.ding -increased impervious surfaces

,.in the watershed have: meant that more rainfall flows directly to the s6'eam and less . percolates into the ground. Anoth~r concern ,is pollution, especially bacteria and nutrients.

A significant so~rce of ' bacteria'in urban watersheds

'coinesJrQm 'our own pets. A single gram.ofdog feces conlairis 23 million fecal coliform b~cteda. Nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorus, and oneof the .. primary sources of these in an urban watershed is the fertilizer we use on our lawns and ,g~r~ens.

.

Helping Doan Brook

. .

Easy steps to help Doan Brook and 'other urban streams. . ~ Clean walks and deck~ with a broon:t rather

than a stre?m of water. This will save litera1Jy , hundreds of gallons of w'!ter every·.time you

.cJean: And it \\Iill keep the pollutants that have 'accurmllated on these surfaces from washing into' the catch basin. ,.

' . , ' Don't pour oit 'engil'\e fluicJs, 'cleaneJ;sl or 'hQusehol,d cheinicaJs down catch basins 01:

sink? Rec-ycle motor oil and household 'chemicals at approved faCilities, '

• Repair automobile leaks jmmediately. ' . ~ . Dse law'J1 'and g!1rden ch'e~cals sparingly and'

, wisely. 'Your garden may not eVeli need to be ' fertilized, so do a soifte:;t-first. Organic. ' fertiiizers, 'such as mulch, composted manure, cottonseed meal, and blood meal c'an be applied .if necessary. If you-must use 'chemicals. or fertUizer, check the weather: forecast for rain so' they don ' t wash ~~ay, Keep fertilizers and pesticides off sidewaIJ:-s and driveway,s.

• Select nontoxic, alternative pest cOJ.1trol , measures, Ira I?estici(je is needed, apply it at

tlie correct time and rate. . • Co~ect .and compo~t yard waste, or simply

leave grass.clJppings on the lawn. . , • Select the t:lUest'acceptable mowing height on

your mower. Tail(!r lawns ~iil shade weeds and retain soil moisture. '

. • Select landscape plams that are well adapted to the locai climate and have low maintenanc(!, chelnicai and w.ater requirements

• Apply onlY'enough irrigation wat~r to satisfy ' . plant needs. Never Qver' water: after' pestiCide or fertiliz€r applications. -

• :AdjuSt sprinklers.'to flvoid wat~ring p.aved areas.

• Pick up after ,your' p~ts! • 'Don't feed the' ducks'and geese, Duc~s aDd

geese can contribute significant loadings of bacteria 'to streams ~nd lakes. Feeding' . encourages them to stay around.

• Wash your car en y,?ur grass instead of in 'yoUr driveway and use non-:p~osphate soaps, Or take it to' a car wa$hing faCility.

• Neve~ use a catch basin to dispose of used water, cleaning solutions or anything. else because the c'atch basins in the street take

. water, UNTREATED, directly to Doan Brook

. Insert 3

Page 6: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

------~--~--------------------------------------------------------------~----------------------------------------------~--------------------~~----------~---- -----

Helping Doan Brook

Reducing impervious surfaces . .

What are impervious s'urfaces'? Impervious surfaces include. driveways, sidewalks, patios, and rooftops - any surface that doesn't, allow rainwater to percolate into the; g~ound.

Wb,y ~houid I reduce impervious surfaces? Impervious surfaces <.lIter the natural water balance in a

. watershed. As you' replace forests and ~etlands with roads , driveways,' parking lots, and buildings, 'you increase the. amount of rainfall that flows over"land and reduce the atuount of rainfall that percolates in the."soil ods consumed by plants-and trees. 'rTIcreasing'the ~mount of rainfall tbat runs off the land l~ads to floDding. .

. As water flows over ti}ese pave.d surfaces; it collects 'soil, pet wastes, salt, fertilizers, qils, and other pollutants. It doesn't

· ma·tier.if your house is not on a stream or river - the nl.inwater flow s down the street into.a catch'. basin. Stor.m .s~~ers carry

· this 'runoff from your neighborhood dir~ctly 'to the: nearest .. body of water, taking di~ and pollutants along with.it. .This ~noff is the. greatest source of pollution 'in J;Ilany s!reairis.

'Ho'w d~' I reduce ~tormwat~~ runoff from my yard? One way you can help' to reduce storinwater runofr"is to m:inirriize the amount of impervious surfaces ori your property. As yo~ add or rebuild patIos and garderi pathways, consider

' altern'ativ~ techniques to the traditional concrete or asphalt; For instance, paving blocks, peI111eable pavem.ents,. w.ood decks, wood chips, and crushed ro.ck allow rainwater to soak through -and help to reduce stonnwater run9ff.

Paving blocks:· ·J'he.re are many types of grid or lattice . . paving blocks that have holes

in the concrete blocks.- These ' holes-can he,filled with soil and planted with grass, or they can be filled with· graveL A

. s.mall fraction of stormwater runoff is trapped in the shallow depressions in the paving blocks, ang some may actuany- i~fi~trate into the soiL .Not oilly do paving bh?cks help to reduce runoff, but also they. offen serve ~s a very attractive alternative to' pavement. They typically come in different colQrs, shapes,. and patterns. Paving blocks can be found 'at most ~ajor h.orne centers: ' A1so, . traditional bricks can.be used. As you lay them ou.t, leave .

· space in between !he bricks. You can f~n ~s space with ~arid o'r moss anp the c;:ffect will be the same as usin'g paving .blocks. Just don't cement the bricks together! .

· Permeable pavemerit: Permeable pavement' OJ cOlJ.crete . -is simllar to traditional payement. and concrete 'l!sed nn our side~alks arid roads; except.that the 'grayel u'sed 'in t~e mix is larger; which results .in larger pore spaces in the pavement itself: The rainwater 'can ¢en percolate through these pore spaces-. Most pavement contractors ~hould be able to provide you with more.infoqnation ·about" ·this .option:· ..

Wood decks: Wood decks allow rainfall to flo\¥ between' the boards and percolate into the soil.underneath:· However, you shouid be careful -in your selection of lumber for your dec~ .:... a 101 of.wood is treated with chemic.al preservatives-and

Insert 4

can contain toxics such as arst:?nii;, 'which can leach into groundwater.

A F'ew t.hings to ~onSider . Before you replace d'riveways or' · sidewalks' wi'th gr~d pavers or

.- .- (. . permeable pavements, check with the ' b~ilding department ofyou'r

community. Mos"tcities have regulations regarding the types of paving materials ·that may be used for driveways .and sidewalks. • If you live in CI~yeland Heights , co~tact the· Division of

l;luilding at 291-4900 . . ; . . .If you live in Shaker H~ights, con~a~t the B.uilding .

·Departmeni at 491-1460. • [f you live in Cleveland, conra.ct the .Divi~irin of B~i1ding

and· Housing at 664-2790, In Cleveland, no permit is needed to construct or-alter a residenti'al driveway, but it

. must be paved 'with-concrete or asphalt. 'For information. . on drivew<:\y'aprons, contac;:t the Division of Streets at

664-215'8. For infortnation oh sidewalk construction or repair, contact the Bureau .of Sidewalks-at 664-2474. '

': As· you-"are laying out your new patio or pathway, grade the surface so that- it slopes to natural areas, such as garden heds. You don't want rainwat~r flowing off _~f this s~rface . to head towards .the street or die foundation of your house! .

. When it comes times to· clean your pl.ltio,- deck, sidewalk-cir driveway, use a brQom rathe~ than' a.strea:m 9f water .. Th~' wilI prevent 'the pollutants that have accuilll!lated on the surface from· entering the catch basin. Also; this will save literally hundr~ds of gallo~s of water every· time.

• .. :2:5%deep ~ ' : iflnll101lOrr ~

.• ~

35%-evopOtrompirotion -,..

15%deop 1 ¥': Ir'lIiltlotiOo .

38% evopohcrupi;cHCtl ,,~.

20%

"""

RlJnoff.vanability with increased i~pervlous surfaces.

EcoCity Cleveland .

J §

Ra.in barrels What is a rain ba,rrel? A rain ·barrel or cistern is an automatic rainwater coJIection syste~ that stores rooftop r.unoff to be ·.­used later for a~tivities 'such as lawn and garden watering, car washing, and-window cleaning.

Wby use a. rain bar~el? . Residential irrigation-can account for. 40% of d.omistic ·water copsumptibn in a given area. This can be a problem par.ticularly in' summer, when

~ the. majority of outdoor .water use-Qccurs, and also the ~~e·_ when. there is likely to be a water shortage. Collecting rainwD;t~r from your roof duririg storms by using a rain barrel can not only lower your water ·bills , but alsoIielp to decrease w.ater de.mand during the hot suriuner mont~s. Rai'nwater colle.ction arid reuse is 'beneficial to the environment because the stated water would oth~rwise run off into the storm sewei's, brInging pol1uta~fs such as oil and greas~, bacteria, and

· nutrients with it. .o1J.ce water ge~S" into a storm .. sewer;-it eventually ends up -in our" strea~s and

, rivers. Also, the more rainwater that is reused, the hiss need there is for chlorinated or ~hemically 'treated tap water.- '. ..

Where can I get one? You can purchase a rain bartel' at mo~t -majQr :

' lawn and. garden 'ceQters,-Call your local center to se~ if they carry them qr i.f they can order. one for . you . . Or,,ifyou are feeling especially ¢r.eative, you can m~ke your own rain barrel using <l: large trasl;1can, agricultural supply container, Or other . large cbntainer and a li'ttle ingenuity. Listed . below are some links-to rain bl!riel sour~es online .. Barrel sizes range frQm 50 to 250 gallons, and · . prices range from $99 to $325 plus shipping charge&.- ' ._

• Watertanks:com at www.watertat;lks.c·om! rainwatertank,htmL ' .

• The Garden Watersavc;:r at www.garde·nwatersaver.com.-

• The' Spruce. Creek Rainsav~.r at www.sprucecreekralnsaver.com.

.• ' Plastina at www.rfo:co·rri!-plastmo/ · gardnh2o' htinL . .

.: . The Urban Rain Barrel a( www.greenculture.comips/pp_ws.html: ·

· How do I install it? Most rain ban~ls are easy to .install; ho~ever; . actual installation methods may vary d~pending 'on ·the_ individual br.a:nd of rain barreI. Install~tion

.

EcoCity Cleveland .

Helping Doan Brook

of a typical barrel will involve di,sc0I?-necting- your' downspout, cutting · off a portion of the downspout and redirecting it int~,- the top of the barrel (see . d!~gram). Mo~t rain barrels have an overflow pipe that · . redirects the rainwater bac'k 'into the downspout Of. onto yoUr lawn or Qth~r' surface ·in the event the barrel becomes full. If you live in an area where soils have a high'day content, such ' as Cleveland, it is essential to use a rain barrel with a feature that redirec:.ts any overflow back into the. original downspout drain: .This will avoid soggy lawns and wet.- basements. Other features . may include safety featur~s, spigots: c.onnector · barrels , mosquito proofing, and eveJi water filters. Always be· sure to empty your barrel before. winter comes .so you don't ~nd up with a barrel .' full of ice! ..

Cisterns , A cist~m i.s similar to a rain barrel.: bu~ has much ' greater st6~age capacity an'~ requires -a fittle more engineering. _· "(ou can ' lise a cistern to collect

· rainWater from your roof, filt~r the water, store it, and reUse it for your lawn and' garden, or in your hous!' fortoilet flushing, dothes washing, etc. A cistern is considerably m'ore'expens{vethan a rain

· barrel, but will provide for much of.your wa.ter · needs, ·and may pay for itself in the long run.

Spreaders .. . . A spreader is a small slab that can be placed underneath your downspoufto direct rainw'ater away from y~ur h·ouse. This re~uces ~9il ~i:"osi6n because it slows down the rooftop runoff, and it helpskeep your basement dry by directing . .

· rainwaier to another area of your· lawn or garden. You c'an purch~se a' spreader at YQur local home and garde~ center.

Catuio;1.: Before -installing rain barrel~ or spreaders, cOlitact your· city about regulations conceming

· downspout cOlmeCtions.

.

.' L --->--

i'

Insert 5 .

Page 7: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

---------,----_ .- ---

Helping DoanBrook

Pet·waste management ·

Do you.:.pick up after your pets? . . You sho.uld! .... .Animal excreta add both phosphorus and harmful bacteria to local waterways. According to recent research, non-human' waste represents a significant source of bacterial ' contamination in .urban· waiersheds. These bacteria can .pose healih risks to humans and other animals, and result in the spread of disease. Pet waste ~ay also be a factor in eutrophication of lakes. The release of nutrients from the decay of pet waste promotes weed and algae growth. limiting light penetration and the growth of aquatic vegetation: This in turn can reduce oxygen" levels in the water,

"affecting fi sh and other aquatic organisf!1s ..

Easy ways to pick up • When going for dogwaJks, take plastic bags

(recycled Plain Dealer bags ·work well). When your dog poops, turn a bag inside out . over you~ hand and use-it as a glove -to pick ' up the waste.· When you get home, flush the waste (not the bag!) down the toilet. .

• . Another disposal strategy is to dig a smaLl trench where your pets t~nd to defecate ana toss the feces in the trench, cover with a lay~r of leaves, grass clippings, and dirt,

• Train 'your cat to use a cat box ~ven if it is an . "outdoor" cat.

Insert 6 .

Car washing no you ... wash your car? Yo~ shouldn't! . Well , it's okay to wash if once in a while. But when you wash your qar tn ,your ,driveway, the dirty water runs down the driveway into t~e street and eventually into a, catch basin. Storm sewers deliver this water, quite efficiently, directly to the nearest stream or lake. The wash water from tbe

, car may contain many pollutants, such as oils ·and grease, which'wi ll be delivered tq the streaI)1 as

. well: And, the soap may contain phosphates, . .. wh ich promote weed and algae growth, limiting

light penetration and the gro~th of aquatic vegetation. This in_ turn· can re~uce oxygen.levels in the water.

What should you do? . • Never use a catch basin-to dispose-of used

waier, cleaning solutions' or anything else 'because catch basins take the water; . UNTREATED, directly to. Doan Brook.

• Wash your car on ' grass rather than on driveway~ or hard surfac·es .

• Wash your car at a co.mmercial facility that .treats its water.

• Use non-phosphate soap. Phosphates are nutrients that ca~ cause ' en~irorimentaJ problems if washed into streams or ponds ...

. EcoCitY Cleveland

I.

I .

Naturescaping What is lawn ~onvers!on? . . Many homeowners today are choosi"ng to convert the ir lawns or it section of the ir lawns to a more natural state ..

· This includes planting hardy native plant species of grasses, shrubs, wildflowers andlO!: trees, which

· require' less maintenance than the conventional bright green Jawn. This is a smart choice, given that the

· estimated 25 to 30 million acres of . residential lawns across the county make for a lot of mowing!

· Why convert your lawn? The use of native plants' can be a very

· aestheticall y pleasing landscaping · choice, while preserving native· ' species and biodiversity and creating habitat for wildl ife. Native plants tend 'to be better adapted to local environmental conditions and ,theref~re requiF~ less maintenance than typical lawns. In the long run, this can save you-precious time,. money, and energy, not to. mention the added benefit to local water bodies of requiring little .or 'no fertilizer ~r pesticides. Native. plants may. eve~ be used to. solve landscaping problems such as shady or wet areas.

How do 1 convert my lawn? Befor~ convertin'g a section of your lawn to more natural conditions, it is important to first assess the conditions of the site in ·order to c~oose plan'ts that are well suited to those

- , co·nditions. K~ep in mind that soil' in urban art?3s tends to be very infertile;

. EcoCity Cleveland

compacted,-and not.well suited for , vegetative growth, so it may:require .

some ini.tial worJ< before planting. Some other fa.ctors to consider are sun exposure, soil texture, pH, fertility, moistur~ conditions, pes~ problems, and hi·story of use. If yoursoil is Very acidic or compacted, soil ~mendments may be required. Since the type.of phints needed will vary with lawn conditions, irmay be useful to talk with 'a local extension agent or lawn and garden center about what species to plant and how to test your soil. In general, native prairie or meadow plants work well in sunny open areas or areas with poor drai~age: . Woodland plants are genenilly well suited for fertile, moist areas with high organic content. ,Provided below is a list of plants riatiYe to northeastel:n ' Ohio. Since soils in the Cleveland area tend to have high clay content,

. those plants with 'a tolerance for clay . have been staned (*). . .

Grasses and sedges Andropogen gerardii (Big Bluestern) 'Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-oats grama~ grass) Carex grayi (Grais sedge) Carex muskingumensis (Palm sedge) Carex plantaginea (Wide leafsedge) Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye) * Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple love grass) luncus effusus (Soft rush) . Milium effusum (Golden wood: millet) Panicum vit:gatum (Switchgrass) Sorghastrum nuti ns (lndian grass) Spa~ina pectinata (prairie cord-grass)

Vines and groundcovers Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper) Clematis virginiana (Virgin 's bower) Gaultheria procumb~ns (Checkerberry or creeping wintergreen) Lonic~ra sempervirens (Trumpet honeysuckle) Parthenocissus q'uinquefolia (Virginia

. creeper)

Herbaceous vines and creepers Adlumia fungosa (Climbing furni tory)

. Mitchella repens (Partridge·herry) Phlox stolonifera (Creeping phlox) Phlox sub~lat.a (Moss phlox) Potentilla simple~ (Common ci.nquefoil) Waldensteinia fragariodes (Barren strawberry)

Helping Doan Brook

Medium height plants I' ' .. Allium cem-uum (Nodding pink. onion) ., Asclepias incarnata

. (Swamp milkweed) Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed) Aster azureus (Sky blue aster) Aster ericQides (White heath aster) Chelone glabra (Turtlehead) Heuchera americana (Aluwoot) Luplnis perenni.s (Wild lupine) Rudbeclcia. hirta'(Black-eyed Susan) Solidago nemoralis (Grey goldenr"od)*

Tall plants Ast~r novae-angliae (New England aster) Cassia hebecarpa (Wild senna)* Helianthus giganteus (Giant sunflower) Helianthus strumo,sus (Woodland sunflower) Heliarnhus tuberosus. (Jerusalem artichoke) .

,Silphium perfoliatum. (Cup-plant)

Conifer's . Juniperus communis (Common juniper) Juniperus virginiana (Ea~tern red cedar)

, Lafix laricina (Eastern ·larch) Pinus strobus (White. pine) Taxus canadensis (Cana~ian yew)

Small treesJlarge shrubs Acer spicatum-(Mountain maple)

. Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny serviceberry) Asimina tril6ba (Common p'3wpaw) Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam) Comus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) 'Cornus florida ~F1Qwerifig dogwood) Crataegus pu.octata (Thick.et hawth<?m) Hamamelis virginiana(Common witchhazel) 'Prunus vi rginiana (Com.mon chokecherry)

.. Salix discolor (Pussy willow) Sambucus canadensis (Common elder)

Large trees Acer nigrum (Black maple) Acer rubrum (Red Ijlaple) Betula lutea (Yellow birch) Cary~ cordiformis '(Bittemut hickory) Celtis occident~lis (Common hackberry) .Fagus grandjfolia (American beech) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red or green ash) lliglans nigra (Black walnut) Populus grahdideritata (Bigtooth aspen)

, Quercus coccinea (Scarlet oak) Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak) Quercus' palustris (pin oak)* Quercus veJuti.na (Black oak)·

Insert 7 I

Page 8: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

Helping Doan Brook ·

Integrated pest management Whai is integrated pest managemerit?

· Integraied· Pest Management (rPM) is a holistic Traps: ·Varydepending on the type of pests it

will be used for, but some use pheromones; and . sticky substances to attract and trap ' pests. Do 'not apprqach to pe$t control t~at uses a combination of

· cult.ural, mechanical, biological, sanitary, and place ·traps directly in your garden. . · chemical COl)trols. The goal of !PM is to manage pests to an accept·able level with as. little impact io the envirom~ent as pos~ible..

Why should l use integrated pest management? Because IPM uses chemical controls only as a 13:st resort, and even tht:n uses the least toxi'c forms of

· cheriricals, there is minim~l impact on water quality. !PM is a good alternative to simply applying pesticides: ~~ich contaminate stormwater . runoff and directly impact lhe health of aquatic organisms: The greatest source o~ pesti ~id~s !o prban streams is home applications of insecticides and herbicides in the lawn and garden. Pesticides in stormwater runoff c·an also . affe~t hu'.""an health by Contaminating drinking water supplies.

Removal of pests by nand or a vacuum · · Spi·ayers:.SpJaying your plants with a hose will dislodge and· kill many pests . .

Weeding, inulching and hoeing for. weed removal.

Fences,. netting and tree-trunk guards: These methods can be used to limit damage from small mammals and birds.

- Diatomaceous earth~ Diatomaceous earth works ~s ~ na.tu;'al repell~nt, or, as a homerriad~ . . alternative, you can blend a~d ~train on~ head of garlic, ten red chili peppers, and four cups of water ·. and spray on infested piaitts. . . .

Sanitary controls Removal of overr~pe produce ~nd

diseased plants: This prevents the diseases How.does integrated pest management workT The.basic principle of !PM is the acceptance of a.

· from spreading to he.althy.plants.

· certairi number of pests and a certain level of BioJogfcal controls . damag~ to your plants. Preveritative measures such -Insect control: Use naturally occurring as mec~ani~~l l cultural, ~iologic~; ·arid sanitary b~n.eficial insects to control p_ests·. Examples controls are used to· keep pesi levels below a certain include using ladybugs to control aphids, and critical level . Once the .number of pests reaches a . ~sing t~e praying mantis for nios.t types of certain tlu-eshold, a rescue treatment may be n.eeded pests. .. . .. . . .. . whlch can include chemical controls. There are Plant"flowers such as dill and angelica to attract different thresholds.for different pests, and these beneficial insects. may also vary for different plants·. Listed below are

· specific eco-frien.dly .actions for ~Qntr~lling pests.

Cultural controls . Crop rotation: Plant a: crop i .~ an area of the

garden where it has not been planted .for a least a year.. This prevents build-up. of diseases in the soil · ~nd dis.cQurages insect infestation ..

Chemical controls should be used only as a last · n;sort, and then .only in ~he l~ast toxJc ·forms. Less toxic ·chemical controls include soaps and horticultural oils, inorgan'ic pesticides such ·as liine sulfur and copper, botanical pesticides, and · . microbial pesticides.

. Because thresholds vary .with the pest and type . Selection of disease-resistant plants .. .

· Tr~p crop: A trap c;op cail be planted just · · of plant, each individual garden may require a

· different ·rPM approach. Contact your locallawlt · outside your garden as a· decoy to attraet pes~s.

This w ill help keep. the pests away ·from your . garden, 'lnd Y9u c.an remove the insects from the trap crop if yOU like:

·Mechanical controls . . Row covers: Allow for the penetration of

sunlight, air, and moisture, but not insects. Collars: ·PI.ce. paper plates, aluminum pans, and

· tin cans around the bases of individual plants to · protect them from insects.

Insert 8 .

· and gru-den center o~ ·extension agent for more . iriformatiol1.

E(oCity ·Cleveland

ECOCITY DIGEST

Open space on the November· ballot

Ohio conservation bond issue State Issue I on the November ballot ·will give Ohio voters an opportunity to . ·approve up to $400 million in bonds for

. conservation ·and revitalization projects. As proposed, $200 million will ·be . allocated for cleanup of brownfield sites and other urban revitalization initiatixes. The other $200 million will be used to · pres'erve greenspace. and farmla~d, to . protect rivers an~ streams, and to expand Ohio's system of recreational trails and green ways.

The issue has strong, bipartisan backing (Gov. Bob Taft and fonner Senator John Glenn are co-chairs of the campaign). And i~ is endorsed by most conservation groups, Who .hope that the fllOds will begin to· improve the state's poor record of land protection. Currently, Ohio ranks 47 th

among siates in the' amount of public recreational land per capita.

Sever3..I environmental groups, however, have ~ithheld support bec·ause of coilcems that the brownfields funding would provide money for the cleanup of contaminated si tes under Ohio's voluntary cleanup program, which the groups believe allow~. unsafe cleanup standards and lets polluters off the hook. Some also are concerned that the legislature wi ll write implementation lan·guage that will allo)" the funds to be misspent for pork barrel development prC?jects. .

For more information, see www. cleanohio.com.

Portage Parks Will Portage County decide it's time for a real park district? On Nov.ember 7, . .res idents will vote on a·I-mill property tax levy for the Portage Park District to support the creation and operation of a system of parks and trails. Unlike other park districts in the region; the Portage district has no dedicated ·funding. Two previous levy attempts have fa!led. ·

"This is a pivotal time for Portage County," says park director Christine Craycroft. "We are growing rapidly, and land prices are ri sing . .Yet there is -virtually no funding available for conservation. Growing communities treasure rural character, clean air and clean waier, but we nee.d to balance growth and conserve those resources pow before opportunities are lost

forever." For more infonnation about the levy,

call 330-678-44 1 I.

Geauga Parks Geauga County voters will decide on a I-niillievy to increase funding for the Geauga Park District. The funds will allow the park district to preserve more land and increase park services and nature education opportunities.

"The face of Geauga County is changing," says park director Tom Curtin .. "Forests, wetlands, farmlands and watersheds· are being increas.ing) y fragmented into residential and commercial lors. In the past 25 years nearly 57,000 acres of Geauga Cohnty's natural

) areas have been developed (see maps on back page): Compare

this with the 4,878 acres the Geauga Park District has been able to preserve in the past 40 years. We must act now if we are to preserve the natural areas of Geauga COUr;tty.':

Edison Woods . Erie County voters will determiQe the· fat~ of one of the largest remaining forests on the Ohio Lake Plain - the 1,400-acre Edison Woods. A small, 0.4-mill tax levy is on the ballot so th·at the Erie Metroparks can purchase the . property from FirstEnergy, which had assembled the land years ago for a nuclear power plant. The State bas already committed $750,000 toward the $4.5 million purchase price'. If the tax levy fails, FirstEnergy will likely sell the ecologically .significant land to developers. For more information, call

· Friends of Edison Woods at 419-625- . 7136.

W est Creek · On November 7 Parma voters will

decide on a $3 million bond issue for purchase of 100 acres of woodlands in the West"Creek Area. The land at Broadview and Ridgewood roads is now owned by Gannett Communications. The grassroots West Creek Preservation Committee has been working hard to preserve land 'in the lon g- negl~cted West Creek va'lley. It also has raised funds for the Cuyahoga County Planning

· Conunissiori to conduct a watershed master plan for park and trail development. .

EcoCiT)' C1EVEiA~d () September/October 2000·

Win ners • The American Public Transit Association

recently named Laketr:an, the public transit agency for Lake.County, the best transit system of its size in the country. The award recognizes sys tems for ~e.r:no n strated achievements in efficiency and effect i ven~ss, Laketran bas increased ridership 73 percent over the past five years.

• It looks like Mill Creek won't have to be . destroyed in order to be s"ved.-The Ohio EPA 11Iled recently that the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District can't dump shale from a sewer tunneling project on a floodplain forest along the creek.in Cuyahoga Heights. EPA staff recognized· that it was ludicrous to improve water qua.lity.with the sewer project and then harm water quality and stream habitat with the dumping. The dumping also would have" affected plans for a recreational trail connecting the Mill Creek waterfall with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

• The Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area celebrated its 25 th anniversary this summer, and now it has a new name to celebrate - the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Although the new fcder~.I d~sigm1tion ·won ' t c.;hange the park's managemef)t or fu nding, it will increase the park' s prestige and eliminate confusion about what· the beck is a national recreali~n area .

• The Cascade Locks Bikeway, an important tink in the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, received a big boost recently. with a $500,000

. grant for design· and construction from the Knight Foundation. The 2.5-mile section of trail is challenging because it rises several hundred feet in elevation to the summit of the canal in . downtown Akron. Other trail and greenway planning also is pl:ogressing in Summit County. For more inform~tion , see the Web site of the Metro Parks Serving Summit County at www. neo.rr.com/MetroParkslgreenwaylindex.html.

• The Ohio Chapter of the American lnstitute of Landscape Architects has given an awar~ of merit ·for stream restoratjon work on Furnace Run. The project involved the Metro Parks Serving Summit Count)' and Environ.mental Design Group Inc. of Akron.

• Bald eagles continue to make a comebac~ in Northern Ohio, a signal that the birds' reproduction is being· affeCted less by toxic chemicals. A record .62 active nests produced 89 eaglets. this year, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Most nests are in the marshlands of the western Lake Erie area, but thi s year's count also included two eaglets near Lake Rockwell ·in Portage County, one along Tinkers Creek in Summit County, and two in Killbuck Marsh State Wildlife Area in Wayne C.ounty.

1

Page 9: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

GROWTH PRESSURES

Saturated with stores Mode~ retailing is a cutthroat game of real estate speculation amongonational chains. Typically the winner is the chain that-moyes quickest to .monopolize prime locations and fl ood the market with its stores, And the rules of the game are set by national marketing plans and the short-term demands of Wan Street for rapid growth,

Where does this leave local communities? In many cases, it leaves them out of control. They are buffeted by changing retail trends that ·have little to do with long-term quality of life - trends that may impose long-term costs that outweigh the tax· benefits of new development.

[0 an effort to understand"how haphazard retail development is shaping Northeast . Ohio~ local planning agencies recently completed a regional retail study tbat documents impacts on land,use, transportation, tax base and the envjronment. Th~ study area included C uyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Portage counties, as well as the northern portion of Summit Co~nty.

Here are some of the disturbing findings.

Land use • New types of retail enterprises have ,

significantly accelerated the pace _of change in retail patterns. These· new tyPes require larger stores with more diverse merchandise· lines, includ.ing "category killers," 'warehouse clubs I.lnd supercenters. These retailing forms require larger tracts of land for both store'structures and parking.

• The seven-courity region already has more than ·37 square feet of conven.ience and shopping floor space per capita, which is more than the typical 20-30 square feet range in oth'er metropolitan areas, It 's estimated that the amount of space devoted to convenience and shopping goods and services in th'e region exceeds the demand

For more information The Northeast Ohio Regional Retail Analysis was prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning COrnnUssion for .the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, The study is avrulable on' th,e Web si tes of the planning commission (http:// planning.co.cuyahoga.oh,llsD or NOACA (www,noaca.org). For more information, call the planning commiss ion at 216-443-3700, ' L-~ ____________ ~

8

Big boxes: New retail chains have greatly expanded the amount of land q:ms.umed by , cOl)UDercial uses in Northeast Ohio.

by .more then 6 million square. feet. • While there are more than 10 million

square feet of vacan t retail space in Northeast Ohio (a vacancy r~te of 7.4 percent), a t<?tal of 10.1 million square feet has been recently constructed or proposed for the region. '

• There is an overwhelming amount of undeveloped land - 77 square miles, or an area the size of the City of Cleveland -~oned for more retai l in the region, If all of

. this were developed, more than three times the amount of existing retail space could be . built in an already saturated market. Rural cou~ties, such as Medina, Geauga and Portage, could experience increases of 860 percent to 1.500 percent.

• LOcations with large amounts of commerci~ny zoned land at ·the edges of the· region's urbanized area include State Routes 8, 82 and 14 in northern Summit County; Routes 18; 42 and 94 in northern Medina County; Route 43 in Geauga and Portage County; and Routes 10, 254 and U,S. 20 in eastern Lorain County. Loca~ons with commercial land in more rural areas include Route 83· in Eaton and Gr"afton Townshipsoin Lorain County and. Rout~s '83 and 162 in Chatham Township in Medina County. Much of Route 20 in eastern Lake County and Route l4 in southeastern

. Portage County are also zoned f~r retail use.

Competition within the region

• There is a' spatial mismatch between the· location of proposed development and· areas that are underserved. Many of the underserved are,as have traffic access, infrastructure and population densities to support additional retail ·but are bypassed in . favor of more eas ily developable locations.

• Currently, Lake County and the -, Chagrin-Southeast portion of Cuyahoga . County have the largest surpluses ·of retai l

space reiati v'e to ·their populations, while the City of C leveland has the largest ·deficit.

, Lorain County and· the Westshore and, 'Southwest portions of Cuyahoga County have the next largest surpluses, while Geauga County and {he Heights area of Cuyahoga County have the next largest deficits. Medina and Portage counties have the best balance of retail space relative to their populations, ·

• Overbuilding results in new retail space ·that competes with existing commercial distri cts in the region, often leading to lower rents, more marginal businesses, increased vacancies in 'o lder retail areas, and reduced tax revenues for school districts and communities-.

• There is sales leakage from central . 'cities· and older suburbs, as consumers

EcoCiTy CIEVEU;Nd ,0 September/October 2000

"

, travel out to new areas to shop. • The proliferation of national retailers

threatens locally owned businesses thai provide uniqu~ness and spec~al character.to retail dis~ricts,

Taxes and, costs Ii Most of the proposed, large-scale retail

projects are planned in outlying communities of

• Excess parking capacity, common throughout many areas of Northeast Ohio, unnecessarily increases the amount of stormwater ·

' that washes directly into· urban streams. This runoff carries wi th it sign if icant levels of petroleum, nitrogen, heavy metals, and sedimemt, . which contributes to the degradation of streams, rivers, and l a~es. "

Cuyahoga County or jn "" ____________ ..,

sun'ounding counties, Considerable ,public sUbsipies in the fonn of transportation enhancements, infrastructure improvements and city services wiU likely be required, Funding for these public improvements is often limited and competes with other prioriqes.

• Land area developed for retail use in the study are~ increases storm water surface runoff by 874 mi llion cubic feet annually, If all vacant land in the 'region·currently zoned for retail use was developed, s·urface runoff could increase by an additional 3 billion. cubic' feet per year. This would have ·

'serious impacts on ~he remaining high quality streams

There is an

• Community tax revenue , that is generated by new retail development is often offset by .

overwhelming " amount of

undeveloped land -77 square mil~s -

zoned for more retail in the region.

the local government costs of providing additional infrastructure and public safety services, the softening o f the revenue from existing businesses, and the co~ts .of environmental mitigat ion. '

Environmental impacts • Retail land use is the source of a number of

. impacts on the environment. These include­·airborne pollutants from vehicular trips for . shopping pu'rposes, stoITT\water runoff quality and quantity, as well as noise, light pollution and degradation of community aestheti cs. These imp·acts often extend well beyond the local jurisdiction in which ·they are located:

Polluting patlting lots: Huge parking lots are seldom full of cars" but they pollute s treams' with stormwate.r runoff .

EcoCil)' ClEVEiANd 0 September/October 20QO

in' the region .. • Retail establishments are significan.t

generators of traffic. Traffic associated w~th a typical large super-regional shopping cent~r (such as each of the eight largest shopping ce,nters in the study area) generates quantities of air emissions causing the centers to rank aIJ?ong the top sources of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbqns wi thin the seven-county study area. In all , vehicular shopping trips in the region armually g~nerate 19,100 tons of hydrocarbons, 10,250 to'ns of nitrogen ox ides, 153,000 tons of carbon monoxide, and 2,691',500 tons of carbon monoxide.

Land use management • Under Ohio law, proposed retail proj~cts are

subject only to local land use management authority, even though they may have regional implications with regard to traffic generation, environmental consequences, region~l tax inequities and impact on other retail, areas.

• Because many local gov.emment zoning codes do not provide for mixed uses and flexible .. .zoning techniques; the developryle·nt of continuous strIps of .shopping areas has occurred in many parts. of the region, . ,

• Large tracts of privately owned land in developed areas, including golf courses and environmentally sensitive areas, have been' targeted fQr retail development. .

The study concludes that communities in Northeast Ohio - and the region as a whole - need to pay more attention to the long-te.rril implications of r~tail development. And ~t offers recommendations for adapting to ever-changing retail trends and creating shopping distri.cts that will enhance quality of life in the long run.

, In our next issue we will cover some o f these recommendations, as well as efforts by older suburbs in Cuyahoga County to· make their a'ging retail di$tricts more competitive in today's marketplace, 0 ,

The importance of retail The retail sector is a major

· focal point of any

community. First, it is the

1110st visible land use, and it s

· physic;al configuration and

condition are critical in

projecting a city's image.

Second, the· economic healt!J

of a city is often associated

with the ability'of its

business districts to thrive

and remain prosperous,

FinaUy, retail stores provide

an important part of

maintaining the social

character of a comrmmity by

creating a sense of place ,

~here resid6nts can satisfy

their consumer needs and

encounter other ·

neighb~rhood residents" This

"marketplace" functio~ is

critically ilJ1portant to

community vitality.

The changing nature of the

retail industry is having

·profound implications on the

land use patterns of

Northeast Ohio, Older

communities are

experien~ing under-

· utilization and. vacancies in

slorefrol).ts along 'major retail

corridors, resulting in lo'ss of

local retail·services,

.decreasing tax. revenue~ and

urban blight. At the saine

time, newer suburban and

outlying areas continue to

encounter retail development ·

which has often led to

substantial traffic congestion,

the need for costl y

infrastructure improvements,

· and degradation of land, ai r

and water quality.

- Norlileas/ Ohio Regional

Retail Analysis, 2000

9

Page 10: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

BIOREGIONAL CALENDAR

Northeast Ohio Regional Issues Summit Faith-Based Organi?-ing for Northeast Ohio (including the groups Uniled WE-CAN!, BOLD and SCCOPE) will sponsor a regional issues summit 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., November 16, at . the Cleveland Stare U ni versity Convocation Center. The summit will feature a presentatton by metropolitan planning and policy expert Myron

. Orrield about a new study ~r .socioeconomic disparities and wasteful land u~e patterns in Northeast Ohio. For registration information, call ·216-881-23M.

• Cuyahoga River watershed workshops Groups.that helped wi n federal. designat ion for the Cuyahoga River as a National Heritage River'will be holding the following communi ty. workshops 'to gather ideas for improving water quality, river access, open space, recreational opportu'nities and community revitalization:

• November 8 at the Geauga Historical Society, 14653 E. Park Sl.· in Burtol). . .• November 9 at the C leveland

M elroparks CanalWay Vis itor Center, 4524 E. 49'" SI. in Cuyahoga Heights.

• November 14 at the Sand Run Metro Park Mingo Pavilion ," Sand Run Parkway in· Akron.

All meetings are at 7 p.m. For more infonnation, call the Cuyahoga Ri"ver Remedial Action Plan at 2 16~ 241-2414, ext. 253.

Vote environment The Ohio League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is encburaging Ohio voters 10 visit tbe Web Site www.VoteEnvironrnent. org/OH.hlml to learn how e~virolJmenta1 issues can be a factor, in upcbming elections. Citizens can also sign lip to receive periodic e v

mai l alerts abollt decisions affectjng the environment. The LCV Education Fund is working in a nonpartisan way with other environmental groups in

. Ohio, including EcoCity Cleveland, to strengthen the constituency for the environment.

10

November 4 Hike Canal Way Ohio th,rough the Mill Creek neighborhood and tour olle of the 1110st popular Towpa(h connection trails and Cleveland's highest waterfa ll. Begins a[ 9 a.m. at the Garfield Park Nature Ccnter.

November 4 Fall meeting in Dayton of the Ohio A~sociation of Railroad

. I'asscngcrs. featuring a 3~C Corridor Suirunit on plans for passenger rail serv ice between Cleveland. Columbus and Cincinnati . For reg istration information. caU 614-410~0334.

November 4~5 Old paint arid pesticide collection for Cuyahoga County residents, 9 a.m. to 4 p. m. at the County Fai rgrounds in Bcrea. For more informatjon, call 216-443-3749.

November 5 The Red FlanncJ Metric Centu ry bicycle tour in Oberlin along routes of 62 or 32 miles. For more information

. cal l 440~235-011 7 or see www. eriecoasLcom/ - Iorainwheelmen.

November 7 Monthly meeti ng of (he Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society with Jim McCormac of the Ohio Division of Natural

. Areas and P;·esc·rves talking about the gl·as·sl~nd breeding bird project, 7:30 p.m. at the Clcveland Metroparks Rocky River Natu l:e Center. Call 440-734-6660.

November 8 .1nstrumental Evening for the ~arth to benefit the Earth Day Coalition, 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in . Lakewood with the Cleveland Orchestra and acclai med arti s'ts. For ticket informat ion call 2 16~

28 1-6468.

November 9 Workshop on changing regulations for wetlands and riparian protection sponsored by tile Sun1f!1.it Soil & Water Conservation· Distri ct. Call 330~ 929~2871 for registrat ion information.

Nove·mber 10 Lunchtime lee;ture on·safe street design for public spaces. For more infomlation, ca ll the Cleveland Neighborhood Development Corporation ai 216-928-8100.

.No·vember 10 Presentation of 2QOO Design Awards by the Cleveland Chapter of the American

. Institute of Architects and lecture by Ro~ert Ivy, editor of Architectural Record, 6 p.m. at · the Allen Theater in Playhouse Square. Call 2 16-77 1-1 240 for reservat ions.

Noveinber LO~ 1 J

Workshop·on "Globalization: Moving from Greed to Need" First Congregational Church in Akron. For :more infofITlal"ion or 10 registerca11 330-535-2787.

November 11 Birdwatching hike to observe seasonli l (ransitions, 8 a.m. at Horsesboe Pond of the Cuyahoga Valley ·Nat ional Park, Major Road west of Riverview Road.

November 11 Hike CanalWay Ohio through the Tremont neighborhood and learn of its interesting ..

. hi story . Begins at 9 ·a.m. from (·be Lincoln Park Gazebo at I ~ 71 and W. 14th Streets.

Nover:nber 11 . Monthly potluck and discussion of the Small Farm Research and Education Center, 6 p.m. at Silver Creek Farm near Hiram, For morc information, call 330·569-3487.

NQvember 14 The Cleveland Green Building Coalition is sponsOling a professional workshop on building commissioning with instructor Karl SlUm, 9· a.m. (0

noon. To register. ca1l216 v 732-3385 or se~ www.c1evelandgbc. QIg. '

November 14 Lunch fo rum on Naturai Capitalism at W1RE~Net from 11 :30 to I :30, fee. For more infomlation contact Holly Harlan aI2 16-631-7330.

November 15 The ReDeveloping Cleveland luncheon series at the City Club of Cleveland presents a variety of panelists to discuss "A Ne\.\: Convention Center: II' We Build It, Will They Come?" Lunc;h begins at II :45 fol1ow~d by a panel di scussion an·d questions. For inforn\ation or reservations ca ll 216-621-0082.

November 15 . Workshop· of the reg ion's Commuter Rail Advjsory Committee to make re'commendat ions about the pOlential for commutcr rail service. For details, call the Northeast Ohio Areawide . Coordinating Agency ~t. 2 16-24 1-2414.

November 15 Workshop on·voluntary simplicity, 9:30 a.m, to 1:30 p. m. at Common Gr.ound, 14240 Baird Rd. , Oberlin. For registration informalion call 440-965-5551.

November 16 . The Cleveland· Green Building Coali tion presents the ::,econd speaker in year two of the Redesigning Clevela·nd for the 21st Century, Gunter Pal!li. founder of the Switzerland­based Zero Emiss ions R,esearch and Initiativcs (ZERI) will speak on susta inable industry at

. the Cleveland Public Library, Louis Stokes Wing, at 5:30 p.m.

November 18 'Hike through remote woodland of the Cleveland Metroparks Bedford Reservation, 10 a.m. at the reservation 's Girl Scout Cabin off Bulton Road.

. November 18 Annual membership meeting of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Associ!'-tion, 10 ·a.m. a[ the Stratford Ecologica l Center in Delaware. For detail s. call 614-42 1-2022.

November 19 HikiOg along the Buckeye Trail. 2 p.m. from the Indian Mound Trailhead in the Cllyahoga Valley National Park, Rive rview Road south of Bath Road.

EcoCiry ClEVElANd 0 September/October 2000

I ,.

BIOREGIONAL CALENDAR

November 20 Hike to explore old canal · s tructui'es along the Otiio & Erie Carial Towpath Trail. 7 p·.m. at the Lock 29 Trailhead in Peninsula.

November 21 Cleveland Restoration Society

· annual community luncheon wi lh keynote address by PD architecture critic Steven Lilt . Call 216-426-1000 for reservations.

November 25 Hike to see Lake Erie shore birds, 9 a.m. at Cleveland

· Metroparks Huntington ·Reserv.at ion beach parking lo t in Bay Village.

November 26 · Birdwatching for swans and loons at the Geauga Park Distri ct's Burton Wetlands, 9 a.m. Call 440-285-2222, eXI: 5420 for .more infor-Ination.

November 26 . Hike to s~e the big trees of the . Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservatio ll 1 I p.m. at the

· S"trawberry Picnic Area.

November 26 Join a· park rangeT to examine sacred sites of Native Al11eric·ans ir the national parks. 2 p.m. at (he Cuyahoga Valley Nat ional Park Happy.bays Visitor Center on SR 303 . .For more information call 800-257-9477..

December ~~6 Partners for Sma .. t Growth Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information contact (he Urban Land Institute at 800~32 1 -

5011 or see ww.w.uli .org.

December 8 Workshop on The Natural Step process for sustainability sponsored by Imago in Cincirnati. For registration inform;;ttion ,.ca ll 5 13-92 1-5 124.

December 13 The ReDevelopi ng Cleveland lunch· series at the Ci ty Club of . Cleveland presents a variety of panelists (0 discuss "The Hopkins Airport Expansion: Win It Fly?"'. Lunch begins at II :45 followed by a panel di scuss ion and questions. For infonnalion or reservations call 2 1 6·621. ~OO82.

WHAT WE LOVE ... AND WHAT WE DON'T: j l

IMAGES OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ; -~--~""-~- ....... =~.----...~",,,,", """~, j

A public educat ion project by EcoCity Cleveland to give citizens the language and principles · ihey n·eed to be more sophisticated advocates of good design and smart growth -

for great buildings; streets, ",;ighborhoods, and· rural landscapes in Northeast Ohio. ·

EcoCity Cleveland, the no nprofit environmenta l planning organization for No·rtheast Ohio, invites you to two exciti ng evenis that will bui ld awareness of what people love about the built and natura l environme nts of the region - and how the places we love are threatened. Using photographs of the region's buildings, streets·, neighborhoods and landscapes, ·we wil l · develop design principles for a more desirable and sustainable future. These events are for everyone who c.ares .about the quality of development in our cities and towns.

• Visual preference workshop

9 a.m. to noon, Saturqay, November 11 Visiting Nurse Association Community Room, 2500 f. 22nd St.

(just south of St. ·Vincent Charity Hospi tal). Intensive workshop in which participants will conduct a Built Environ·ment Rating and score

visual Images from the region in order to develop planning and design principles appropriate for ~uiding the area's future growth .. Sp'~ce is ,limited; call 216·932-3007 to register.

• Pubiic show and lecture

5:30 p.m., Tuesday,. November 14 (please hote that the time is 5:30 p.m. and ·not "l p.m. as was announced in our last issue)

. ·Waetjen Auditorium, · .

Cleveland State University Music and Communications Building, 2001 ·Eudid Ave. (between the CSU Law School ·and E .. 21 st). .

Interactive show featuring fascinating photographs of the region: Audience members will vote on what they like about the region, as well a5 develop a deeper understanding of why they like certain p laces. CSU is .well served by RTA buses; meter parking on streets is available aro.uod CSU; some parkin.g spaces for thi s event wil l be available in the CSU visitor lot A on Euclid Avenue nexrto the Inne rbelt (not in lot"PF a? previously announced),

• Both events a re free and should be a lot of fun.

For more information, ca ll 216-932-3007.

Funding provi~ed by The George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation. Co-&ponsored by American In.stitute of Archi lects Cleveland· Chapter, Build· Up Greater Cleveland, Center for Neighborhood· Devefopmenl at Cleveland State University, Chagrin River Land Conservancy, Cleveland Neighbo·rhood Development Corpo·ration, Cleveland Resloration Society, Cleveland Green Building . Coalition, Cuyahoga County League of Wpmen Voters, Earth Day Coalition, Land Use Task Force of the Clevelan~ Catholic Diocese, Levi n College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State·University, Nortl1east Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, Northeast Ohio Regional Alliance, Ohio Canal Corridor, ·Ohio & Erie Canal Corridor Coalition, Seventh Generation , Smart Growth Educalion Foundation, Sustainable Communities Symposium 2000 j Urban· Design Center of Northeast Ohio:

EcoCiry· ClEVElANd 0 September/October 2000 11

Page 11: EcoCity Cleveland September-October 2000

MAP OF THE MONTH

Development in Geauga County Geauga County's forests, wetlands, farmlands and river systems. are being increasingly fragmented into . residential and commercial1ots. From

. 1975 to 1996, nearly ' 54,000 acres were developed - about 21 percent of the county land area:

Source:" Geauga People for Parks

1975 developed land

. ,,+. ,

~- - "- - - -- -- --- ---, "lndispensable reading for those who want to

know what's really going on in the region or what the headlines may be a 'decade from now. " . -David Orr, Oberlin College Environmental Studies Prograrr:

Subscribe now! Each m.onth, EcoCity Cleveland will bring · you the ideas and information you need to create a more sustainable bioregion. Name __________________________________ _

Address ________________________ __

City _________ State __ ._ Zip ___ _

Bioregion (be creative) __________________ ~ ____ _

Telephone _____________ -'--_

E.mail _' ____ ~ ______ _:_-----------

D New or D. renewal regular one· year subscription •• $20, . D Supporting subscription .. $35 or more,

DLimited income subscription '·· $15 (or whatever you can afford), D Send me ___ copies of The Greater Cteveland Environment

Book·· $19 each (includes tax and snipping),

I, I I I I I I

1996 developed land

EcoCity Cleveland 284 I Scarborough Road Cleveland Heights, O'H 44 I 18 Cuyahoga Bioregion 1216) 932·3007

ADDRESS SERVICE REOUESTED

DATED MATERIAL •• DO' NO'T DELAY

* 100% Post-consumer waste

NO'N·PRO'FIT O'RG, U,S, PO'STAGE

Pf'JD CLEVElAND, O'HIO' ,PERMIT NO'. 592

Please make checks payable to Ecopty Cleveland and mail to 2841 Scarborough Road, Cleveland Heights"OH 44118

Satisfaction guar9~leed

10-- ------------ _JI~, ____ T_im_e~to-re-n-e-W~y-o-u-r-S-Ub-S-C-r-iP-ti_o_n_?_~_~