Implementation Strategies

Policy Theme 2

Encouraging Smart, Efficient, and Ecological Urban Development

Strategy 1: Achieve Compact, High-Density, and Transit Oriented Development

Strategy 2: Incorporate Renewable Energy Implementation Strategies in Land-use Plans and Zoning Districts

Strategy 3: Increase non-motorized transportation Options

Strategy 4: Preserve Natural Resources and Increase Lively and Viable Activities around it

Strategy 5: Aquifer Recharge through wetlands

Low-carbon city planning should develop an efficient community layout that places schools, shops, and other services close to homes and businesses, making it easy to get to places without driving and offering attractive bicycle and walking paths. This can greatly reduce vehicle miles traveled and thus offers significant energy savings. Following guidelines will provide effective and efficient urban design.

Achieve Compact, High-Density, Mixed-use, and Transit-Oriented Development 

Work with key urban decision-makers and other stakeholders to develop a cohesive vision and plan for the city that encourages compact, high-density, mixed-use, and transit-oriented development. As a part of this plan, integrate land-use planning to reduce transportation and energy consumption in the city. Locate residential projects within half a kilometer of at least two, or within one kilometer of at least four community and retail facilities. Further, residential developments must be planned in a way to encourage the use of public transportation. For this, residential and commercial development must be located in close proximity to a transit stop.

Incorporate Renewable Energy Implementation Strategies in Land-use Plans, Zoning Districts

Develop a land-use plan incorporating renewable energy preferential areas and siting options, based on a realistic picture of available potentials. Integrating a renewable energy plan into broader local or regional planning efforts affirms a community’s commitment to renewable energy, promotes strategic long-term thinking, and can help secure resources and political will to accomplish low-carbon energy goals. Renewable energy is a reliable energy option, that can help urban planners manage increasing energy demand. Renewable energy technologies generate clean energy, extend the life of a community’s conventional energy supplies, create jobs, and support economic development. Renewable energy can also help a community reach its economic, environmental, and sustainability goals.  By incorporating renewables into a community master plan, as well as into these complementary planning endeavors, planners can coordinate the community’s efforts and reach common goals more easily. Because large infrastructure projects and land use changes can take years to develop and implement, it's important to begin considering now how such efforts might take advantage of renewable energy as it becomes increasingly cost-competitive over the next several years. Integrating the renewable energy plan into broader local and regional planning efforts firmly establishes renewable as a viable energy option and supports a growing market in the community.

Increase Non-motorized Transportation Options

Encouraging non-motorized transportation can play a big role in making the transportation sector of a city clean as well as reducing fuel usage. To increase non-motorized transport, the city must provide effective networks of sidewalks and bike lanes linking residential and commercial developments to public spaces, open spaces, adjacent developments, and public transit.

Preserve Natural Resources and Increase Lively and Viable Activities around it 

An environmental impact assessment must be conducted to evaluate that land use planning does not negatively affect natural habitats, endangered species, coastal wetlands, and other environmentally sensitive areas. Do not locate new developments within 30 meters of wetlands, critical slope areas, land identified as habitat for a threatened or endangered species; or with elevation at or below the 100-year floodplain. Assess the tree coverage of the city and make a detailed plan for 30% reforestation in five years and 50% reforestation in ten years.

Aquifer Recharge through Wetlands

This is an important process to ensure sustainable access to water. The city should develop a plan and targets for groundwater recharge. The city must develop plans to develop and restore wetlands. Wetlands can help maintain the level of the water table as they retain water and provide time for infiltration to occur. During periods of low stream flow (or low lake water levels), the slow discharge of groundwater often helps maintain minimum water levels19. Further, wetlands have been shown to have an increased ability to sequester carbon as well as methane. Thus, the city must take measures to restore wetlands.