12 Features of Sustainable Community Development: Social, Economic and Environmental Benefits and Two Case Studies

Steven ec!, ec! " #ssociates " $uy Dauncey, Sustainable Communities Consultancy This article contains a description of a framework of twelve major features of sustainable community development. It provides examples of the quantitative and qualitative social, economic and environmental benefits of implementing these features and provides questions that can be used to help determine to what extent they are being incorporated in development plans. Increasingly, the manner in which we develop and redevelop land is being viewed as a key determinant in the social and environmental health and economic well being of Canadians. The framework is used to describe two case studies, one from avis, California and one from the newly planned !outheast "alse Creek, #ancouver, $ritish Columbia. The twelve features of sustainable community development were used during research for an upcoming Canada %ortgage and &ousing report, entitled, '!ustainable Community evelopment in Canada ( Internationally) Charting a *ole for the "ederal +overnment in the ,-st Century.' T%ere is no universally acceptable definition of sustainable community development in lar&e measure because eac% development site %as its own c%aracteristics t%at result in uni'ue opportunities and constraints( For e)ample, a 2,*** %ectare &reenfield site situated beside a la!e clearly presents different opportunities t%an a +** acre brownfield redevelopment in t%e industrial port land area of city( ,i!ewise, an eco-villa&e located fifty miles from an urban centre offers different opportunities for sustainable development t%an a ma.or condominium development in t%e core of a city( T%ere are undoubtedly more approac%es to sustainable community development t%an t%ere are terms used to describe it in t%e literature, and t%ere are many terms( Sustainable community development is often referred to as /&reen development0, /&reen real estate development0, /&reen communities0, or /sustainable built environments0, /sustainable communities0, /sustainable real estate development0 and /%ealt%y communities0( # researc% pro.ect on barriers to sustainable community development and t%e potential role of t%e fedeal &overnment in overcomin& t%em was prepared for Canada 1ort&a&e and 2ousin& Corporation 3C12C4( T%e core researc% team consisted of 5ay Tomalty, %(D(, #nna 2erc6, %(D(, $uy Dauncey and myself( 7e divided t%e many distinct c%aracteristics of sustainable community development into a framewor! of twelve ma.or features( 8ur review of t%e literature and interviews wit% e)perts from across Canada also %elped us

identify t%ree ma.or scales, or levels, at w%ic% actions in support of sustainable community development and barriers to implementation ta!e place: T%e buildin& level, w%ere important features include urban desi&n, t%e use of renewables, improvin& ener&y efficiency, facilitatin& t%e +5s, and usin& /&reen0 materials( T%ere is a considerable amount of wor! bein& underta!en in t%is area, t%e focus of si&nificant &overnment pro&rammin& domestically and internationally since t%e 19:*0s( T%e development site level w%ere important features include t%e inte&ration of ecolo&ical protection, use of alternative sewa&e and storm water mana&ement, and encoura&in& alternatives to auto use( T%is level and t%e subse'uent level %ave only more recently, in t%e last decade, become t%e focus on efforts to develop &overnment pro&rams t%at support sustainable community development( T%e plannin& and infrastructure level w%ic% includes features suc% as promotin& %i&%er density, supportin& affordability, supportin& livable communities wit% vibrant local economies and ade'uate community services, and implementin& re&ional &rowt% mana&ement and protection of waters%eds and ot%er si&nificant ecolo&ical resources( Successful %olistic sustainable community development incorporates multiple features, described below, to ac%ieve t%e ma)imum social, economic and environmental benefit( T%e manner in w%ic% we develop and redevelop our communities can %ave si&nificant and lon& ran&in& impacts our economic competitiveness, social and environmental %ealt%(

Table 1 lists t%e ma.or features of sustainable community development, eac% of w%ic% is described in more detail below, alon& wit% e)amples of benefits and 'uestions t%at can %elp in t%e plannin& and implementation of sustainable communities( Table ;: 1a.or Features of Sustainable Communtiy Development 1( Ecolo&ical rotection :( #ffordable 2ousin& 2( Density " <rban Desi&n A( ,ivable Community +( <rban ;nfill 9( Sewa&e " Stormwater =( >illa&e Centres 1*(( 7ater ?( ,ocal Economy 11(( Ener&y @( Sustainable Transport 12(( T%e + B5Bs 7%ile all of t%e features may not be relevant to every development site, t%ey do form a %olistic and inte&rated framewor! t%at can %elp us to understand t%e potential for sustainable communities and w%at needs to be considered in development and redevelopment to implement t%em( 1. ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION ;f t%e current pattern of development continues, one t%ird of 8ntarioBs remainin& farmland will be paved over by t%e year 2*2*( ;t is not only loss of farmland w%ic% worries people - it is also loss of %abitat, forest cover and recreational &reen space w%ic% can be used for par!s, nature reserves or trails( ;n C%arleston, Carolina, a study s%owed t%at dependin& on t%e way it was desi&ned, for t%e same number of %ouses a proposed development could

provide eit%er +* acres or =** acres of &reen space( 7%en &reen space is protected, studies s%ow t%at nearby property values can increase from ?C ?*C, as %omeowners place value on t%e amenity( Questions for Sustainable Development Proposals Ecological Protection 2as an ecolo&ical and %abitat inventory of t%e site been conductedD #re plans in place t%at provide ecolo&ical protection for cree!s, swamps, nestin& sites and &roves of trees, on t%e siteD Do t%e plans propose conservation covenants or ot%er protective measures for ecolo&ically sensitive areasD ;s t%ere a monitorin& and enforcement strate&y in place for covenantsD ;s t%ere a waters%ed mana&ement plan or re&ional &reen space protection planD

2. DENSITY & URBAN DESIGN T%e typical post-war subdivision %as =-: units of %ousin& per acre, consumin& lar&e areas of land, ma!in& it %ard for t%e residents to &et around on foot, and economically unviable to run a transit service to t%e %ouses 3because of t%e distances involved4( ;n lar&e part because of t%e desi&n of suburban sprawl, t%e avera&e %ouse%old trip in Eort% #merican increased from :(9 to 9 miles between 19A+ and 199*, w%ile t%e avera&e %ouse%old car trips per day rose by 29C(1 ,ow density development ma!es it difficult for small businesses to operate successfully wit%in residential areas, re'uirin& instead t%at t%ey locate on ma.or roadways or in malls to obtain sufficient access to customers to remain viable( T%e resultin& se&re&ation of land uses reinforces t%e need for and use of cars F wit%out one, access to even local services is severely constrained( ;t is t%is sprawlin&, low density style of development w%ic% is c%iefly responsible for t%e loss of farmland, t%e wea!enin& of t%e sense of community, and risin& C*2emissions from local travel( ;n response to t%ese problems, a new approac% %as been developed !nown as Bt%e new urbanismB, or Btraditional nei&%bour%ood developmentB 3TED4( TED features a &rid pattern of narrower streets, sidewal!s, smaller set-bac!s, front porc%es, t%e clusterin& of %omes 3reducin& t%e need for e)pensive infrastructure4, &reater protection of &reen space, t%e use of urban desi&n codes, town s'uares and villa&e centres planned as attractive &at%erin& places, and steps to encoura&e pedestrian and bicycle travel, in addition to cars( ;n Eew Gersey, a study w%ic% loo!ed at t%e years 199* - 2*1* comparin& lowdensity BsprawlB development to planned &reen development s%owed t%at t%e &reen development model would save ta)payers H9(+ billion in avoided capital costs, w%ile savin& 1:?,*** acres of farmland(2 # recent review of Eort%

#merican studies on infrastructure costs and urban form found t%at on avera&e, publicly borne capital costs for roads is reduced by 2?C and 1?C for waterIsewer infrastructure in compact development compared to current development patterns(+ Sustainable community developments not only impose far less demands on public finance for infrastructure capitali6ation and maintenance but also %elp to ensure 'uality of life by preservin& &reen spaces and reducin& pollution( 1etropolitan development patterns are increasin&ly bein& reco&ni6ed as !ey variables in understandin& and controllin& pollution( Some researc% %as su&&ested t%at t%e indirect environmental impacts associated wit% t%e spatial arran&ements of businesses and related transportation impacts outwei&% t%e impacts of direct emissions associated wit% industrial processes and operations( Turnin& farmland into %ousin& is also an e)pensive option for local ta)-payers, because of suburban sprawlBs %i&% development costs( # study in >ir&inia s%owed t%at an acre of farmland &enerated H1 in ta)es for every H*(21 t%at it cost in municipal services, w%ile rural low density %ousin& cost H1(2* for every H1 t%at it &enerated in ta)es(= #t t%e current rate of urban &rowt% in 8ntario, it is estimated t%at wit%in 2? years, 2*C of t%e remainin& arable farmland in t%e province will be lost to low density urban developments( ? T%is de&ree of loss in farmland raises concerns re&ardin& lon& term food security in 8ntario, w%ic% must increasin&ly rely on imported food as local production diminis%es( ;n t%e <(S(, from 199@ -:, at t%e local and county level, more t%an 1** &overnments sou&%t voter approval for ta) increases or bond referendums to curb suburban sprawl by buyin& undeveloped land(@ 3. URBAN INFILL $reenfield developments always re'uire new land, w%ereas urban infill initiatives are in%erently more sustainable, because t%ey re-use land t%at %as already been urbani6ed( #t its best, urban infill is a celebration of city life, brin&in& new %ousin&, commercial life and nei&%bour%ood activity to a ne&lected or abandoned area( <rban infill can ma!e use of e)istin& infrastructure and %elp to financially support e)istin& public transit systems and commercial activities( Eei&%bour%ood desi&n c%arrettes are increasin&ly bein& used to involve many players in &at%erin& redesi&n ideas, and buildin& t%e !ind of partners%ips necessary to overcome outmoded 6onin& patterns or t%e resistance of local landowners( # study conducted for t%e $olden Tas! Force on t%e Future of t%e $reater Toronto #rea, found t%at savin&s of between 22-+2C, dependin& on t%e amount of infill and compact development ac%ieved, could be reali6ed for %ard services 3roads, sewers, water and transit4( T%is would represent savin&s of H:** to H1 billion annually for t%e $T#(: 4. VILLAGE CENTRES T%e standard modern subdivision is built wit%out any t%ou&%t of includin& a small commercial centre wit%in wal!in& distance of most of t%e %omes( T%is lac! of a social &at%erin& place %as a subtle ne&ative effect on nei&%bour%ood life, since people %ave less occasion to meet eac% ot%er and build up t%e networ! of

relations%ips t%at creates a true community( T%e lac! of a close-by commercial centre is anot%er encoura&ement to own and use cars: residents must drive somew%ere else to buy a paper or a bottle of mil!( 5. LOCAL ECONOMY Conventional suburban development F especially in Jbedroom communitiesJ -pays little attention to t%e need for JcompleteJ communities, i(e(, a balance amon& residential and employment development( 7it%out a local economy, t%e residents of a new development are obli&ed to drive to wor! somew%ere else, leavin& t%e nei&%bour%ood empty of life in t%e daytime, w%ile fillin& up t%e roads and releasin& more carbon dio)ide emissions( Questions for Sustainable Development Proposals Do t%e plans include a practical strate&y for local economic developmentD #re local economic plans in sync wit% land use and transportation plannin&D 2as land been 6oned for commercial or industrial usesD Do t%ey encoura&e %ome based businessesD Do t%ey include 6onin& for live-wor! unitsD Do t%ey encoura&e eco-industrial networ!in& and s%ared resource use between facilitiesD 6. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT ;n a 199@ <S national %ome-buyers survey, almost t%ree-'uarters of t%e respondents indicated t%at t%ey would li!e to live in a community Jw%ere ; can wal! or bicycle everyw%ere(JA ;n 199?, a ,ouis 2arris poll found t%at 21 million #mericans would be willin& to ride a bicycle to wor! Jat least occasionallyJ if t%ey could do so on a safe bicycle lane or off-road pat%, and 1+C of all #mericans said t%at t%ey would be willin& to ride a bicycle to wor! on Ja re&ular basisJ if t%ey %ad t%e facilities to do so(9 #nd yet in todayBs real estate mar!et, t%is option is very rarely available( # mi)ture of desi&n strate&ies includin& t%e provision of &reenways, traffic calmin& and attractive pedestrian connections can encoura&e residents to wal! or cycle around, increasin& t%eir %ealt% and en.oyment, w%ile reducin& C*2 emissions( Earrower roads reduce t%e paved surface area and lower construction costs, and by enablin& a family to live wit% one car instead of two 3or wit%out a car4, a lar&er percenta&e of t%eir income can &o towards a %ome mort&a&e( Questions for Sustainable Development Proposals ;s t%e development served by public transit andIor li&%t rail transitD Does it %ave narrower, interconnectin& streets wit% sidewal!s, as opposed to t%e typical wider suburban streetsD Does it %ave traffic calmin& at pedestrian crossin& " nei&%bour%ood centresD

 Does it %ave pedestrian trails and cut-t%rou&%s, to encoura&e wal!in&D Does it %ave cycle-lanes on t%e busier roadsD Does it %ave local &reenways connectionsD Does it %ave any car-free residential areas, w%ere you par! your car and wal!D Do t%e plans include an overall Transport Demand Strate&y, to reduce overall trips and par!in& re'uirementsD 7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING # sustainable community involves %uman diversity and variety - but t%e %i&% cost of %ousin& in many modern subdivisions effectively e)cludes people of different income levels( 1ore sustainable communities encoura&e a mi) of %ousin& types and income levels by adoptin& %ousin& policies suc% as density bonusin&, inclusionary 6onin& or by creatin& land trusts and encoura&in& nonprofit %ousin&( Questions for Sustainable Development Proposals Does it include a ran&e of %ousin& types and pricesD Does it include 2*C or more of its units for sale at a price t%at is affordable to people on lower incomesD #re secondary suites encoura&edD #re &ranny suites, &ara&e conversions and live-above &ara&es encoura&edD 2ave units been set aside for /sweat e'uity0 construction by non-profit %ousin& &roups suc% as 2abitat for 2umanityD ;f t%ere are no affordable units, %as a development cost c%ar&e been paid to finance t%e construction of affordable units elsew%ereD Does it blend affordable units in wit% t%e community as a w%oleD 8. LIVABLE COMMUNITIES # sustainable community is one t%at provides ample opportunity for sociability, personal development, and community participation( T%e Eew <rbanism ma!es a conscious effort to desi&n for community as a w%ole, includin& t%e community facilities t%at ma!e a place more t%an a set of roads flan!ed by %ouses( >illa&e 2omes 3Davis, C#, see below4 is an e)cellent e)ample of t%e way in w%ic% somet%in& as small and ine)pensive as a community barbecue pit on common land can brin& people to&et%er, and add livability( Eew <rbanism differs from conventional development in a wide variety of ways 3at least in principle F in practice, many new urbanist developments are not so different from conventional developments( Ellis 3199A, p( =@4 %as identified fortyone different desi&n features, &rouped into four different cate&ories: aest%etics, connection, %ousin& cost, and utility 3see t%e table below4(
I. AESTHETICS II. CONNECTION

A. Architecture/Urban Design A. Better transit #rc%itectural codeIcontrols Better landscaped front lawns 15. ;ncorporatedIincreased mass Canals transit Desi&ned town centre 3e(&( B1ain StreetB4 B. Design of par s ?( 2erita&e features preserved, e(&( %ouses, trees 16. ;nterconnected par! @( 8lder, formal par layouts systemIwal!waysIbi!e trails :( avin& stonesIot%er desi&ned street furniture A( <ni'ue street pattern t%at &ives a !. Design of streets Bsense of placeB B. Technical 1:(#lternative culs-de-sac 1A(1any streets connect strai&%t to 9( Dimmer street li&%ts town centre 1*($ara&es at bac! or 19(EarrowIone-way streets wit% ti&%t recessedIrear lanes corner radii 11( 2iddenIs%run!en commercial 2*(Eo curbIno sidewal!s par!in& lots 21( lantin& strip between sidewal! 12(2ollywoodIlimited-si6e front and road driveways 22(Traffic calmin& measures 1+(;ncreased street treesItree D. "ntegrate# !ommerce canopyItree BpodsB 1=(Eo sin&le %ome builder 2+(Gobs close to residences 1( 2( +( =( 2=(,ocal commercial functions III. HOUSING COST IV. UTILITY A. Amenit$

25. Borad mi) of density and

%ousin& types

+2(E)tra amenities in public spaces ++( edestrian-poc!etsIpassive A. Densit$ par!sItot lots B. Efficienc$ 2@(Densely pac!ed %ousesIreduced lot si6eIfronta&e +=(Conservation areas 2:($ranny-flatsI&arden suites +?(Ecolo&ical ener&yIwater 2A(5esidential uses above useIwaste systems commercial ones +@(Efficiently desi&ned playin& fields 29(S%ared par!in& +:(8n-street par!in& lanes courtsIdrivewaysI&ara&es +A(5educed infrastructure +*(S%orter or 6ero-lot-line setbac!s +9(7ired 2ouses, e(&( wti% fiberB. %i& of 'ousing T$pes optic cable !. Safet$ +1(Eew %ousin& concepts =*( orc%es on allImost %ouses =1(Special emer&ency ve%icle access desi&ns

Table =(1 3Ellis, 199A, p( =@4 Eew urbanism be&an in t%e <S( T%e first pro.ect identified as new urbanist was Seaside, a new community built on a +2 %ectare piece of beac%front alon& t%e Florida an%andle in 19A2( T%e

second pro.ect was in Kentlands, a +?2 acre community located outside of 7as%in&ton, D(C(, From t%ere, new urbanist desi&ns spread to many ot%er locations in t%e <S and in Canada, w%ere over =* suc% pro.ects %ave been or are bein& built( Questions for Sustainable Development Proposals Do t%e plans include par!s, tot-lots and open &reen space, beyond t%e minimum ?C t%at is sometimes re'uiredD Do t%ey include community allotment &ardensD Do t%ey include a community %allD Do t%ey include space for a c%urc%, or place of wors%ipD Do t%ey include t%e necessary sc%oolsD Do t%ey include a seniors centreD Do t%ey include facilities for teensD Do t%e desi&ns and construction include t%e artsD ;s t%ere a strate&y in place to finance and build t%e community facilitiesD . SE!AGE AND STORM!ATER T%e normal approac%es %ere are 3a4 to pipe t%e sewa&e to w%atever treatment plant e)ists locally or to plan an individual septic field for every %ouse, and 3b4 to collect t%e stormwater run-off in an en&ineered under&round system and pipe it to t%e nearest river or ocean( From an en&ineerin& perspective, t%is seems efficient( From natureBs perspective, %owever, t%in&s loo! a little different( T%at sewa&e may only receive primary or secondary treatment, allowin& all sorts of nutrients to be wasted, and all sorts of c%emical pollutants to be enterin& t%e ecosystem( T%ose septic fields ta!e up a lot of space, and ma!e it %ard to cluster %ouses to&et%er in order to protect &reen space( #nd t%ose under&round stormwater drains carry away t%e rainwater t%at used to permeate &radually into soil, allowin& t%e root systems of trees and s%rubs to feed( 7it%out t%e moisture, t%ey become stressed, and may die( T%e &reater t%e paved area wit%in a development, t%e more stormwater is collected, and t%e less is returned to t%e &round( 7%en a traditional nei&%bour%ood development 3TED4 was compared to a typical low density suburban subdivision, a study found t%at t%e volume of runoff from t%e subdivision was =+C %i&%er t%an from t%e TED, because less land %ad been %ard-topped( ;n addition, t%e nitro&en and p%osp%orus loadin&s and t%e c%emical o)y&en demand were all %i&%er in t%e subdivision( 1* T%e sustainable approac% to sewa&e loo!s in two directions, towards 3a4 individual compostin& toilets coupled wit% miniature constructed wetlands, for &reywater treatment, and 3b4 tertiary sewa&e treatment systems wit% source control pro&rammes, or lar&e-scale constructed wetlands to control stormwater run-off( T%ese tec%ni'ues often brin& ancillary benefits( For instance, a 199? E # report found t%at aest%etically landscaped run-off controls suc% as ponds and wetlands can increase property values by as muc% as ?*C by appealin& to

buyers w%o are interested in %i!in& around wetlands and la!es, or bird watc%in&(11 1*( 7#TE5 7ater mana&ement cuts across many features of sustainable community development( Because of t%eir more compact nature, sustainable developments can use up to +?C less water for lawns t%an a typical low density subdivision,12 and up to t%ree times less %erbicides and pesticides( T%ere are numerous opportunities to improve water use and mana&ement usin& &reen roof tec%nolo&y in buildin&s, and desi&nin& par!in& lots and roadways in a manner t%at allows for t%e &round to absorb water rat%er t%an removin& it( T%e reestablis%ment of wetlands in de&raded rivers and streams is anot%er approac% to improvin& water 'uality and 'uantity mana&ement w%ile also providin& opportunities for %abitat and amenity space( 11( EEE5$L ;t %as recently become accepted by leadin& scientists t%at &lobal climate c%an&e is probably t%e most serious &lobal environmental problem facin& t%e world( T%e primary cause is t%e burnin& of fossil fuels in our %omes, cars and factories, releasin& carbon dio)ide into t%e atmosp%ere, w%ic% traps t%e sunBs %eat( T%e conse'uences of continued climate c%an&e will impact cities, re&ions and ecosystems all over t%e world, mostly in a ne&ative manner, w%et%er t%rou&% t%e deat% of t%e worldBs coral reef systems, t%e warmin& of t%e oceans w%ic% is causin& t%e nort%ward movement of t%e salmon, or t%e increased fre'uency and intensity of floods, drou&%ts and %urricanes( Canada %as made a commitment under t%e Kyoto Treaty to reduce its C*2 emissions by @C below t%e 199* level by 2*1*( ;n reality, t%at means a 2?C reduction in t%e level t%at emissions will rise to under our current patterns of ener&y use( T%e avera&e Canadian %ouse%old produces = - ? tonnes of C*2 emissions from t%eir %ome ener&y use, and a furt%er + - ? tonnes from burnin& fossil fuels w%ile drivin&( By desi&nin& a community wit% ener&y efficient %omes, w%ere t%e residents can wal! or cycle to local s%ops and .obs, t%is can be reduced by up to =?C1+, a c%allen&e w%ic% t%e ;nternational Council for ,ocal Environmental ;nitiatives 3;C,E;4 and t%e Federation of Canadian 1unicipalities 3FC14 are encoura&in& municipalities around t%e world to embrace( 8verall, buildin&s produce +?C of t%e carbon dio)ide emissions in t%e <S( ;n re&ions t%at e)perience %ot summers, w%ere asp%alt and concrete surfaces absorb %eat, tree-plantin& turns out to be one of t%e most cost-effective ways of reducin& ener&y use and emissions( # C%ica&o study found t%at in one day, 12* acres of canopy cover could absorb up to ?(? lbs( of carbon mono)ide, 12: lbs( of sulfur dio)ide, 2= lbs( of nitro&en dio)ide and 1:* lbs( of particulates( 1= Questions for Sustainable Development roposals Do t%e plans encoura&e or re'uire passive or active solar desi&nD

 Do t%ey re'uire a minimum level of ener&y efficiencyD Do t%ey include district %eatin& " coolin& or a &round source %eat systemD 12( T2E + B5Bs T%e environmental impact of buildin&s and related systems cannot be easily overstated, nor can t%e contribution t%at more sustainable desi&n, construction and reconstruction( #ccordin& to t%e #t%ena ;nstitute t%e construction and operation of buildin&s account for appro)imately =*C of t%e total &lobal ener&y and resource use on eart%( For sustainable community desi&n, t%e + B5Bs include construction wastes recyclin&, t%e use of environmentally sound buildin& materials, and t%e provision of in-%ouse recyclin& areas( Buildin&s ta!e up si&nificant amounts of land, modify natural %ydrolo&ical cycle, affect biodiversity, %ave ma.or impacts on water and air 'uality and are t%e final restin& place of over 9* per cent of all e)tracted materials from t%e eart%( 1? # typical 1:** s'( ft( %ouse re'uires t%e e'uivalent of an acre of clear-cut forest, and produces + : tons of construction wastes( Eew %ome construction consumes 2I?t%s of all t%e lumber and plywood used in t%e <(S( 1@ ;n Te)as, t%e City of #ustin %as developed a very successful $reen Builder ro&ramme w%ic% encoura&es builders to construct and %omeowners to buy JFour StarJ %omes, w%ic% %ave been rated for factors ran&in& from non-to)icity to ener&y efficiency and recyclability( 1: 7%en &reen desi&n approac%es were used in a Eew Lor! City office retrofit, t%e client paid 2: per cent less t%an t%e H?2 per s'( ft normally incurred by t%e city( 1A Few communities %ave all of t%ese features fully implemented( 1ost pro.ects in Canada %ave only on or two of t%ese features in place, and %ave not yet been able to reali6e t%e multiple and reinforcin& benefits t%at numerous features can provide, suc% as %i&%er densities w%ic% support active transportation w%ic% supports t%e competitiveness of local economies( For one pro.ect, t%e most visible /&reen0 feature mi&%t be ener&y performanceM for anot%er, restoration of prairie ecosystemsM for yet anot%er, t%e fosterin& of community co%esion and reduced dependence on t%e automobile( T%e followin& two case studies demonstrate %ow t%e twelve features of sustainable communities can be reali6ed and provide insi&%t into some of t%e many c%allen&es related to implementation(

Case Study: V"##$%& H'(&)* D$+")* C$#",'-."$

7%en >illa&e 2omes was built in t%e 19:*s, t%e local realtors refused to s%ow anyone round t%e :* acre, 2=* %ome development because t%ey didn0t t%in! anyone would want to live t%ere( T%ere were no front roads, no storm drains, and t%e %ouses all faced t%e same way - for solar &ain( Today, it is one of t%e most sou&%t-after subdivisions in Davis, and Coldwell Ban!er 5esidential identified >illa&e 2omes as JDavis0s most desirable subdivisionJ( T%e crime rate is 1*t% t%at of Davis as w%ole, and in 199? t%e %omes sold for 1+C more t%an

t%e e'uivalent-si6ed %omes in a traditional post 77;; subdivision located across t%e road( Desi&n Features

EC8,8$;C#, 58TECT;8E: 12 acres of &reenbelt " open spaceM 12 acres of common a&ricultural land( DEES;TL " <5B#E DES;$E: # w%ole-systems approac% to desi&n( T%e %ouses are clustered into &roups of A and are surrounded by common space( T%e early residents were responsible for t%e landscapin& and desi&n of t%e &reen space in front of t%eir %ousin& clusters( 2?C of t%e acrea&e is open space 3a&ricultural and recreational4( ,8C#, EC8E81L: =*** s'uare feet of commercial office space( T%an!s to t%e a&ricultural space, by 19A9, muc% of t%e >illa&e 2omes residents0 food was bein& &rown in t%e nei&%bour%ood( T%e a&ricultural areas include commercial fruit and nut orc%ards, a commercial or&anic produce farm, %ome-scale &arden plots and edible landscapin& alon& pat%ways and roads( T5#ES 85T#T;8E: >e%icle access is by t%e bac! lanes only, wit% pedestrian lanes for wal!in& and cyclin&( T%e Jfront streetsJ are desi&ned by t%e residents as &rassy areas, &ardens wit% s%rubs, etc( edestrian pat%s and traffic calmin& desi&ns wit% narrow streets encoura&e a stron& sense of community and %i&% property values( T%e compact desi&n encoura&es residents to wal! rat%er t%an drive for t%eir daily needs( T%e &rocery store is 1*0 wal! away, and t%e lar&est employer - t%e university is nearby( #FF85D#B,E 28<S;E$: # /sweat e'uity0 pro&ramme allowed several low-income construction wor!ers to buy %omes, and some apartment units are part of t%e development pro.ect as well( ,;>#B,E C811<E;T;ES: T%e local 2omeowners #ssociation owns and mana&es t%e %ouse%old commons, &reenbelt commons, a&ricultural lands and t%e community center, and %andles t%e revenues from office space and some rental units( T%ere are fre'uent community events, and A*C of t%e residents participate in community activities( Community barbecue pits encoura&e spontaneous evenin& &at%erin&s( T%e turnover rate is very low, wit% most residents preferrin& to remodel and add on, rat%er t%an move to a lar&er %ome( SE7#$E " ST8517#TE5: T%e narrower streets produce less stormwater run-off, w%ic% is %andled by simple infiltration swales and onsite detention basins instead of storm drains, savin& nearly H2**,*** 319A* dollars4( T%ese savin&s were invested into public par!s, wal!ways, &ardens and ot%er amenities( EEE5$L: #ll t%e %ouses are passive solar desi&ned, wit% natural coolin& and solar %ot water( T%e overall desi&n, wit% reduced pavement and more space for trees, lowers ambient air temperature and reduces t%e need for air-conditionin&( #nnual %ouse%old bills are 1I2 to 1I+rd less t%an t%ose of surroundin& nei&%bour%oods, because of t%e locally &rown food and t%e ener&y savin&s(