env- Sustainable Urban Devt

• Urban sprawl

  The spreading (often unplanned/uncontrolled) of low-density urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a city
• Urban sprawl

  • Physical spread of development is faster than rate of population growth
  • Suburban or exurban migration
  • The antithesis of sustainable urban development
• Characteristics of urban sprawl

  • Conversion of agricultural land to urban use
  • Car oriented
  • Low-density
  • Housing subdivisions, detached
  • Lawns
  • Single-use development
  • Job sprawl and spatial mismatch
  • Commercial characteristics – strip malls, 'smart centers'
• Origins of urban sprawl

  • Post–WW II economic boom
  • Boom in housing demand
  • Limited planning, dysfunctional zoning
  • Highways built + public transit destroyed
  • 'North American dream' Suburbs and exurbs continue to boom today
• Transportation and climate change

  Transportation = 23% of Canada's GHG emissions + one of the fastest growing sources of emissions
• Emissions of different vehicles

  • Honda Civic - 149.6 grams of C02/km
  • Toyota Highlander Hybrid- 185.7 grams of CO2/km
  • Ford F-150 pickup 269.3 grams of CO2/km
• Impacts of urban sprawl on quality of life

  • Increase in vehicle ownership and driving mileage
  • More fatal accidents
  • Decrease in walking and mass-transit use
  • Congestion delays
  • Air pollution (SO2 , NOx, O3 ) + GHGs
  • Costs for municipal services ($ not available for other services)
  • Social isolation
• 5% increase in 'walkability'

  • 32.1% increase in time spent in physical activity
  • 0.23 point reduction in average BMI
  • 6.5% fewer miles travelled
  • 5.6% decrease in nitrogen oxide emission
• Smart growth

  Development that supports economic growth, strong communities and environmental health
• Ten Principles of Smart Growth

  • Mixed land uses
  • Compact building design
  • Range of housing opportunities and choices
  • Walkable neighborhoods
  • Preservation of open spaces
  • Development of existing communities
  • Variety of transportation choices
  • Predictable development decisions
  • Community collaboration in development decisions
• Identified benefits of congestion charges

  • Air quality improved significantly
  • Congestion reduced, parking improved
  • Revenue generated (for public transit) – improved service
  • Revenue neutral for businesses
  • Pedestrian and bike safety improvements
• Measures to encourage sustainable cities

  • Reduce or eliminate cars and parking on main boulevards
  • Increase parking fees, reduce parking options
  • Introduce 'true cost' driving (tolls, increased gas taxes to account for road repair, air pollution, etc.)
  • Invest in public transit, bike infrastructure, walkability
• Other aspects of urban sustainability

  • Housing and homelessness
  • Affordable housing
  • Employment, youth employment, living wages
  • Green industry
• Successes in Ontario and Ottawa

  • Toronto greenbelt (Oak Ridges Moraine)
  • Vision 2020 (now 2030) initiatives in many cities
  • Dedicated gas tax to cities for public transit
  • Expanding light rail and subways (but playing catch-up)
  • Pedestrian bridges, 'Complete Street' developments
  • Expansion of bike and pedestrian path systems
• Failings in Ontario and Ottawa

  • Few incentives for 'smart growth'
  • Expanded urban boundary
  • Zoning rules that encourage low density dev't, parking etc.
  • Underpricing automobile use – roads, parking, environmental impacts