Regional PlanningRegional Planning

Reasons for Regional Reasons for Regional PlanningPlanning

The nature of urban growth; natural systems and political boundaries are not coexistent.

Small scale units cannot solve larger scale problems.

The Problems of Regional The Problems of Regional

PlanningPlanning What is a region? Is is an economic region? A school district? A

metropolitan area? A social construct? The area from which a major sports activity draws a crowd?

It involves the coordination of many local governments, some who do not want to participate in regional planning.

Often, the most attention is given to the largest entity and or to the problem du jour.

Hard to formulate policy that satisfies every entity.

And even harder to implement that policy.

The Theory of Regional Planning

Plans, policies and programs for a common geographic area that transcends the boundaries of governmental units within that area.

Shares a common social, economic, political, cultural and natural resources, and transportation characteristics.

The Practice of Regional Planning:The Practice of Regional Planning:Historical Regional Planning Historical Regional Planning

AgenciesAgencies

Anti-Railroad Propaganda Poster

The Growth of American Regionalism, 1800-1860

Tennessee Valley AuthorityTennessee Valley Authority

“Corporation clothed with the power of the government, but possessed of the flexibility and

initiative of a private enterprise”

TVA continued…TVA continued…

Est. 1933 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal.

America’s largest power provider.

Gives power to 7 states: AL, GA, KY, MI, NC, TN, VA.

158 locally owned distributors provide power to 8M residents in 170 counties.

Consists of: 11 fossil plants, 29 hydro-electric dams, 3 nuclear plants, 4 combustion-turbine plants.

Council of Governments Council of Governments (COGs)(COGs)

Established in 1966 by most states at the urging of the federal government.

COGs are councils of governments. The council consists of delegates of representatives of the local government members.

Membership is optional. Some state legislation mandates regional planning

agencies. Variety of functions. Some say: “That which there is federal

money for.”

COGs can serve as….COGs can serve as….

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) Air quality and water quality planning. Open space and land preservation issues. Cooperative purchasing. Area on Aging Agency.

Triangle J COG is one of 18 regional councils in North Carolina. It Triangle J COG is one of 18 regional councils in North Carolina. It serves 30 local governments in six counties.serves 30 local governments in six counties.

Regional Plan AssociationRegional Plan Association

RPA Continued…RPA Continued…History:

Is the nation’s oldest regional planning association.

Developed in 1922 to create long-term comprehensive plans that cross the political boundaries of the 31-county NY-NJ-CT metropolitan area.

Goals: to redirect much of the region’s growth to urban centers through good urban design, efficient transportation and government, open space, and workforce and the economy.

Plans:

First Plan 1929: to restore crippled mass transit, preserve threatened natural resources, and revitalize urban centers.

Second Plan 1968: to plan for a new competitive environment through increasing mobility, protecting open space, and re-investing into the inner-suburbs.

Third Plan 1996: blueprint for transportation and open space.

Regional Metropolitan Area:Regional Metropolitan Area:Twin CitiesTwin Cities

1967 created the “empowered” Metropolitan Council. Serves 7 counties and 186 cities and townships. Established a metropolitan urban service area (MUSA)

that restricts the extension of urban infrastructure, therefore, increasing density.

As a result, 93% of the development in the region between ’80-’90 took places in areas it was planned to go.

1971 implemented tax-base sharing to reduce regional competition and fiscal disparity between communities.

“Rather than accepting regional governance as an end to itself, the Twin Cities has built limited regional government around

consensus on certain concrete issues.”

Regional Metropolitan Area:Regional Metropolitan Area:PortlandPortland

Metro is an elected regional government, representing 24 cities, 3 counties, and more than 130 special service and school districts.

2 SW WA counties are partners in growth management issues, such as transportation and air quality.

Metro oversees issues that transcends traditional city and county boundaries.

Adopted Regional Framework Plan in 1991. Cities and counties in the region must comply with

plan, which includes: management of UGB, protection of lands outside of UGB, transportation and mass transit system, urban design and pattern settlement.

Portland’s UGB, Est. 1979 Contains 369 sq. miles. 1.3M residents reside within

UGB. Separates urban and

urbanizable land from rural land.

Must contain a 20-year land supply.

Growth is expected to occur within UGB.

Considerable debate exists as to whether it controls sprawl or just causes land and housing inflation.

UGB has been moved 3 dozen times since ’79.

Regional Environmental Regional Environmental Planning AgenciesPlanning Agencies

Adirondack Park AgencyAdirondack Park Agency Agency created in 1971, park established in 1892. Independent, bipartisan state agency responsible

for developing long-range Park policy with both statewide and local concerns and interests in mind.

2.5 M acres of public land in the Park, with an additional 3.5M acres of privately owned land regulated by the Agency.

Agency also administers State’s Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System Act and the Freshwater Wetlands Act.

Agency board composed of 11 members, 8 appointed by the Governor, 5 of which must live within the Park’s boundaries.

Adirondack Park AgencyAdirondack Park Agency

Pinelands, New Jersey Country’s first

National Reserve. 1979, NJ formed a

partnership with federal government to preserve, protect and enhance the Pinelands.

Ecological regional of 1.1M acres; 22% of NJ’s land.

Largest body of open space along the seaboard between Virginia and Boston.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency(TRPA)

Ratified in 1969 to protect area against resort development.

First bi-state (CA-NV) regional planning agency in the country.

1980, acquired authority to adopt environmental thresholds and enforce ordinances to achieve these thresholds.

Results from a comprehensive monitoring program are evaluated every 5 years and adjusted if necessary.

TRPA Thresholds Include…

Air Quality Water Quality Soil Conservation Wildlife Habitat Fish Habitat Vegetation Noise Recreation Scenic Resources

VT ACT 250VT ACT 250 VT ACT 250 is Vermont’s land use development

control law. It is legislation used to protect and conserve the lands

and environment against uses that are detrimental to the public welfare.

VT ACT 250 is administered by the Environmental Board, appointed by the Governor.

Nine district commissions, comprised of volunteer members with a paid staff, review applications and issue decisions on land use permits.

Development requests must be approved before construction begins.

VT ACT 250 VT ACT 250 Considers a Development’s Considers a Development’s

Effect on:Effect on: Towns and regional plans Necessary wildlife habitat Town and regional growth Primary agricultural soils Historic and archeological sites Energy and water conservation Air and water quality Streams and shorelines Educational facilities Public investments Endangered species Soil Erosion Utilities Wetlands / Floodways Transportation, etc…

Coastal Area Management Coastal Area Management ActAct

(CAMA)(CAMA) North Carolina Coastal Area

Management Act was adopted by the General Assembly in 1972.

The Division of Coastal Management administers the NC Coastal Management Program.

Coastal Management Program includes: the designation of areas of environmental concern and establishing standards for them; land use planning; public access to the beaches; Coastal Reserves; and mitigating the impacts of natural hazards.

Data is collected and analyzed for: water quality; erosion rates; wetlands; etc.

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Chesapeake Bay ProgramChesapeake Bay Program

Formed in 1983 by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

Initial goals: to reduce the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Bay by 40% by 2000 and restore living resources, such as finfish, shellfish, bay grasses and other aquatic life.

Chesapeake Continued…Chesapeake Continued… Partners include: NY,

MD, PA, VA, DC, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, the EPA, and citizen advisory groups.

1995 Local Government Partnership Initiative engaged 1650 local governments in watershed in the restoration effort.

Chesapeake 2000 agreement will assess progress and identify new and emerging challenges.

Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas“Any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal or local laws or regulations to provide last protection for part of all of the natural and cultural resources therein.”

Channel Islands, CA

Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas Established by an Executive

Order in 1972.

Types of MPAs: national marine sanctuaries, fishery management zones, national seashores, national parks, national monuments, critical habitats, national wildlife refugees, states reserves, etc.

Provide different levels of protection and use (closed to public access to restricted use to unlimited use).

Can include both marine and land components.

Biscayne National Park

National Marine Sanctuary National Marine Sanctuary ProgramProgram

Created by NOAA in 1972. 13 national marine

sanctuaries protect approx. 18,000 sq. miles of ocean and coasts.

Located in in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans around the U.S. and off the coast of American Samoa.

Research, educational and outreach activities are major components of the program.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary