Smart Growth in Arizona

1
Smart Growth in Arizona
2

• As Ive traveled Arizona, I have heard from
  thousands of you expressing the same message
  the way we grow has to change. You live, work,
  and educate your children in communities that are
  growing so rapidly they do not have the necessary
  infrastructure to create the quality of life that
  you demand and that you expected when you made
  Arizona your home.
• Governor Janet Napolitano
• 2007 State of the State Address

3
Arizona Growth

• One of the fastest growing states in the nation
• Requires comprehensive approach to grow in a
  sustainable way
• Need to craft connections between housing,
  transportation and jobs in ways that value open
  space, protect wildlife and other natural
  resources

4
Population Density 2000
Map courtesy of Maricopa Association of
Governments
5
Population Density 2050
Arizona has ranked as one of the top five
fastest-growing states in each of the last six
decades.
Map courtesy of Maricopa Association of
Governments
6
Smart Growth in Arizona

• Urban Environmental Management Act (1974)
• Growing Smarter (1998)
• Growth, Open Space, Cost of Development
  Environmental Planning
• Public involvement
• Growing Smarter Plus (2000)
• Water resource planning
• Voter approval
• Growing Smarter Guiding Principles (2006)
• Responsibility Accountability
• Preservation of Community Character
• Stewardship of Natural Resources
• Opportunity for Broad Choices
• Essential Service Infrastructure
• Economic Development

7
Smart Growth Principles

• Encourage regional, community, and
• stakeholder collaboration
• Mix land uses
• Adopt compact building patterns and efficient
  infrastructure design
• Create range of housing opportunities and choices
• Create walkable neighborhoods
• Foster distinctive and attractive communities
  with a strong sense of place

8
Smart Growth Principles

• Create range of housing opportunities and choices
• Create walkable neighborhoods
• Foster distinctive and attractive communities
  with a strong sense of place
• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and
  critical environmental areas
• Direct development towards existing communities

9
Smart Growth Principles

• Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and
  critical environmental areas
• Direct development towards existing communities
• Provide a variety of transportation choices
• Make development decisions predictable, fair and
  cost effective

Smart Growth Network www.smartgrowth.org Smart
Growth Toolbox www.smartgrowthtoolkit.net
10
Smart GrowthTempe, AZ
An illustrated vision for future private
development.
Existing conditions transit corridor under
construction
11
Smart GrowthTempe, AZ
Completed public improvements new light rail
service, wider sidewalks, bike lane, crosswalks
12
Smart GrowthTempe, AZ
Street trees
13
Smart GrowthTempe, AZ
New mixed-use buildings accessible from transit
stop
14
Smart GrowthTempe, AZ
Further infill, increased street life
15
Best Practices
Open Space Preservation

• Pima County

• Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
• Long term vision
• Guides open space conservation funding

• Transfer of Development Rights Ordinance
• Resource protection
• Economic benefit
• Density transfer

www.pimaxpress.com
16
Best Practices

• City of Flagstaff

• Traditional Neighborhood Design

www.flagstaff.az.gov

• City of Phoenix
• Form Based Codes

www.phoenix.gov/urbanformproject/fbcode.html
17
Best Practices
Transit-Oriented Design (TOD) Phoenix, Tempe,
Mesa
www.phoenix.gov/planning
18
PROMOTING SMARTER GROWTHEXECUTIVE ORDER 2007-05

• Smart Growth Development Implementation Plan
• integrate land use planning and development with
  vital infrastructure planning and development
• Direct future state discretionary funding
• communities and counties participating in smart
  growth

19
Governors Growth Cabinet

• Arizona Department of Transportation
• Game and Fish Department
• Department of Housing
• Department of Environmental Quality
• Department of Economic Security
• Department of Health Services
• Department of Water Resources
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Real Estate
• Department of Agriculture
• State Land Department
• State Parks Department
• School Facilities Board
• Office of Tourism
• Governors Office on Aging
• Growth Cabinet Advisory Board (revamped GSOC)

20
Smart Growth Scorecard What is it?

• Community assessment for growth preparedness
• Keep score to stay on track
• Encourage best local and regional planning
  practices
• An incentive-based tool

21
Smart Growth Scorecard What is it?

• Additional consideration in state grant programs
• Different models for small, medium and large
• Assistance offered to communities transitioning
  toward smarter growth
• Founded on Growing Smarter / Growing Smarter
  Guiding Principles

22
Smart Growth Scorecard Other States

• Massachusetts
• Vermont
• New Jersey
• Colorado
• Maryland
• www.epa.gov/smartgrowth

23
Population Thresholds
Growing Smarter Statutes current state
population estimates
Counties Small Apache, Gila, La Paz Medium
Cochise, Coconino Large Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai
Cities and Towns Small Gila Bend, Holbrook,
Benson Medium Prescott, Sahuarita Large
Tucson, Yuma, Avondale Tribes Small Tribes
and Tribal Political Subdivisions
24
(No Transcript)
25
Scorecard Foundational Concepts

• Responsibility Accountability
• Having a current plan that is tied to
  implementation
• Public participation
• Regional planning
• Every level plays a role - cooperation
• Preservation of Community Character
• Community vision
• Historic preservation
• Arts and culture
• Community design
• Smart growth planning tools and techniques
• Aesthetics
• Sense of place
•  

26
Scorecard Foundational Concepts

• Stewardship of Natural Resources
• Clean air
• Water quality quantity
• Open space preservation
• Ecosystem protection
• Wildlife protection
• Forest health wildfire defense
• Green building
• Energy conservation
•  
• Opportunity for Broad Choices
• Housing and affordability
• Education
• Essential services
• Employment
• Transportation 

27
Scorecard Foundational Concepts

• Essential Service Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Communications
• Public facilities utilities
• Growth near existing facilities
• Healthcare social services
• Economic Development
• Economic development plan
• Business diversity
• Business attraction expansion
• Regional economies
• Jobs housing balance
• Global economy
• Workforce development
• Attracting quality jobs 

28
(No Transcript)
29
Arizona Smart Growth Scorecard

• Applicants
• Cities, Towns, Counties, Tribes
• Private, NGOs, Non-profits
• Discretionary Funds
• Growth Cabinet Agency Programs
• Scorecard is application requirement
• Does not replace existing criteria
• Incentives Assistance

30
Arizona Smart Growth Scorecard

• Scoring
• Smart Growth 80 100
• In Transition 60 79
• Needs attention 0 59
• Verification
• Public transparency
• Random checks

31
Arizona Smart Growth Scorecard

• Submittal
• www.azcommerce.com easy safe interface
• All Community Scorecards online
• State granting agencies private submittals will
  reference Scorecards online
• Ability to provide supporting comments
  documentation
• Due when applying for grants / funding

32
Arizona Smart Growth Scorecard

• Finalized indicators
• Communication public awareness
• Regional local educational workshops
• Agency discretionary funding inventory release
• Begin Scorecard submittal early December
• Commerce website www.azcommerce.com
• Technical assistance
• January 2009 Roll out

33
Additional Information Assistance
Arizona Department of Commerce

Deb Sydenham, AICPAssistant Deputy
Director602.771.1127 602.771.1210
faxdebs_at_azcommerce.com
Erika Green Senior Planner Office of Smart
Growth 602.771.1129erikag_at_azcommerce.com
Kristen Keener Busby, AICPDirectorOffice of
Smart Growth 602.771.1132kristenk_at_azcommerce.com
The draft Scorecard is online at www.azcommerce.c
om