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DRAFTComprehensive Plan
15-1
 Adopted Day Month 2009
 
Sustainability
“Sustainability takes forever and that’s the point.”
~William McDonough, Architect 
Sustainability has been defined most commonly as, "meeting the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"(Brundtland Commission, 1987). The goal of this chapter is to “make certain thatprinciples of sustainability in the Eau Claire area are followed to improve our quality of life by meeting present environmental, economic, and social needs without compromisingthe ability of future generations to do the same”. This concept of sustainability not onlyspeaks to meeting these needs locally but how our actions also affect the greater world. Itis not difficult today to see how individual actions that are held collectively are affectingthe earth in different ways. Take for instance the developing world; as more nationsundergo urbanization, industrialization and improvements in infrastructure, these highlyenergy intensive phases emit tremendous amounts of green house gases. In combinationwith the emissions already produced from developed nations, the planet’s averagetemperature continues to warm gradually. The effects of this global warming can beexperienced at varying places in forms of biome alteration, loss of glaciers, drought, heatwaves, wild fires, floods or dangerous storms.Human civilization is at crossroads and Climate Change is only one converging factordriving the sustainability movement. This chapter will address sustainability factors asthey relate to how Eau Claire sees its responsibility in protecting the environment,improving the human condition and continuing to enhance economic prosperity. It willadvance local awareness of the interdependence between humans and nature and willserve us better to help end heedless behaviors that undermine Eau Claire reaching itsgoal.In 2008 the City Council determined a supplement chapter on sustainability should beadded to the 2005
Comprehensive Plan
. Notification of the amendment was provided tomedia outlets and to various interest groups including all City commissions. A series of public workshops were held which drove the community input process. The PlanCommission reviewed this chapter as it was being developed and held public hearingsonce the workshops concluded. The City Council adopted the chapter on ______, 2009.The information contained herein builds upon and coincides with State Smart GrowthPlanning legislation, the
Plan’s
overall Future Growth Strategy (Page 1-6) and othersustainable development approaches listed in earlier chapters of this
Plan
. Objectivesand policies were developed from the major issues identified by the public participationprocess and form the greater part of this chapter. At the end of the chapter, a PlanImplementation Work Program, similar to the 2005
Plan,
is provided in order to guidethe ongoing realization of sustainability in Eau Claire for the next five years.
 
Sustainability
 Adopted Day Month 2009
15-2
DRAFT
 
Comprehensive Plan
 
Key Issues
 
1.
 
Energy:
What should the City do to foster improved local energy production,efficiency, conservation, and diversification by using more alternative fuels?
2.
 
Local Food:
What should the City do to promote area food production andconsumption while reducing the amount of waste the food industry creates?
3.
 
Environmental Conservation:
What should the City do to safeguard our eco-systems, trees, soil, and water resources?
4.
 
Atmosphere:
What should the City do to reduce our contribution to globalwarming and minimize air pollution?
5.
 
Managing Waste:
What should the City do to promote consumer productawareness, increase recycling rates, and reduce the amount of substances enteringinto landfills?
6.
 
Strong and Healthy Community:
How should the City continue to protect itscitizens from disease, promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and ethnicdiversity, while partnering with others to provide these activities?
7.
 
Sustainable Development:
How should the City guide and promote developmentso that buildings and neighborhoods incorporate sustainable features?
8.
 
Balanced Transportation:
How can the City increase mobility choices byenhancing other forms of transportation besides that for automobiles? How cantransportation infrastructure be designed efficiently, safely, with the environment inmind, and connect to other local and regional networks?
9.
 
Greener Economy:
How can the City bolster the local economy by attractingGreen-collar jobs and support business to become more sustainable?
10.
 
Sustainable Government:
What should the City do to provide good government,cost-effective services, cooperation with other governments, and meet the needs of our citizens while not compromising the needs of future generations?
Goal and Objectives
 
Goal: Make certain that principles of sustainability in the Eau Claire areaare followed to improve our quality of life by meeting presentenvironmental, economic, and social needs without compromising theability of future generations to do the same.
 
 
Sustainability
DRAFTComprehensive Plan
15-3
 Adopted Day Month 2009
 
Objective 1 – Energy:
Foster improved local energy production, efficiency,conservation, and diversification by using more alternative fuels.
Objective 2 – Local Food:
Promote area food production and consumption whilereducing the amount of waste the food industry creates.
Objective 3 – Environmental Conservation:
Safeguard our eco-systems, trees, soil,and water resources.
Objective 4 – Atmosphere:
Reduce our contribution to global warming and minimizeair pollution.
Objective 5 – Managing Waste:
Promote consumer product awareness, increaserecycling rates, and reduce the amount of substances entering into landfills.
Objective 6 – Strong and Healthy Community:
Continue to protect citizens fromdisease, promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and ethnic diversity, whilepartnering with others to provide these activities.
Objective 7 – Sustainable Development:
Guide and promote development so thatbuildings and neighborhoods incorporate sustainable features.
Objective 8 – Balanced Transportation:
Increase mobility choices by enhancing otherforms of transportation besides that for automobiles. Design transportation infrastructureefficiently, safely, with the environment in mind, and connect it to other local andregional networks.
Objective 9 – Greener Economy:
Bolster the local economy by attracting Green-collar jobs and support business to become more sustainable.
Objective 10 – Sustainable Government:
Provide good government, cost-effectiveservices, cooperation with other governments, and meet the needs of our citizens whilenot compromising the needs of future generations.
At the confluence, Phoenix Park is a model for sustainable siteredevelopment. Situated on once polluted industrial land, it now providesa pleasing place to gather, buy local food and co-exist with nature
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shawntisdell@gmail.com

TBARR1265 is right. I will try to pass this on to Eau Claire.

reply03 / 29 / 2009
tbarr1265

the photo on p. 15-5 shows two solar thermal panels, not photovoltaic panels as described.

reply03 / 18 / 2009
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