a regional sustainability initiative jon parsons, p.e. executive director
TRANSCRIPT
A Regional Sustainability InitiativeJon Parsons, P.E.
Executive Director
Charlotte
Triad(Greensboro)
Triangle(Raleigh)Mountains
Coast
The “Eco-Crescent”
Finance
Tourism
Creative & Knowledge-based
• Furniture
• Agriculture
• Textiles
But 1 “industry” remains strong….
The 3 traditional business sectors in the Sandhills are under stress.
Fort Bragg’s Impact on the Sandhills
Active Duty – 53,000
Reserve Components – 9,500
Temp Duty Students – 3,100
Mobilized Soldiers Assigned – 2,700
Civilian Employees – 8,800
Contractors – 3,500
Active Duty Family – 63,000
Retirees & Family – 98,500
TOTAL Population = 242,100 OR
35% of the Sandhills TOTAL
Threats to Fort Bragg’s Mission:
• Endangered species – the Red Cockaded Woodpecker
• Incompatible development
Private Lands Initiative
Joint Land Use Study(Regional Land Use Advisory
Commission – RLUAC)
AmmoDump!
Sandhills AreaLand Trust
Urban Growth Pattern
1930s1950s1970s1990s2000
Regional Land Use AdvisoryCommission (RLUAC)
Purpose- Promote a regional perspective on land use
- Provide forum for noise/accident potential problems and mitigations
- Foster compatible land uses
- Foster increased economic development related to military
Joint Land Use Study - Completed in 2003, it addressed parcels in a 1 mile buffer zone
surrounding the Installation
- Identified “critical” and “important” civilian parcels for conservation to ensure compatible land use in the 1 mile buffer zone
Threats to Fort Bragg’s Mission:
• Endangered species (RCW)
• Incompatible development
Population growth, resource scarcity & degradation
Private Lands Initiative
Joint Land Use Study – RLUAC
Fort Bragg BRAC Regional Task Force
Montgomery(27,153)(33,211)(+22%)
Moore(79,342)
(111,856)(+41%)
Lee(50,146)(66,238)(+32%)
Harnett(99,628)
(163,176)(+64%)
Cumberland(310,850)(371,446)(+19%)
Hoke(38,626)(73,854)(+91%)
Scotland(36,864)(39,976)(+8%)
Richmond(46,452)(46,938)(+1%)
Estimated Population2005 – 690,0002030 – 940,000
250,000 new residents
County Name(2004 population)(2030 estimate)
(% growth)
BRAC 2005: Add another 40,000-50,000!
BRAC Regional Task Force
PurposeTo coordinate the community planning effort for the shortfalls and requirements in the counties and municipalities affected by BRAC actions at Fort Bragg & Pope AFB
ScopeServe as the liaison between the military; the affected communities; the local & state government agencies impacted; and the federal agencies providing economic assistance to the region.
BRAC RTF Planning CommitteesHousing Workforce DevelopmentSchools Business & Defense ContractorsTransportation Infrastructure: Public Works/Safety/RecreationMedical Compatible DevelopmentArts & Culture Meeting & Convention Facilities
Sustainable SandhillsPurpose and Structure
PurposePromote and implement
sustainable practices and projects in the Sandhills.
Sustainable Sandhills Teams
1. Water Quality and Quantity2. Materials Use & Waste3. Energy Use4. Air Quality5. Sustainable Land Use
Sustainable Fort Bragg Goal Teams
1. Water Use2. Water Quality3. Waste Reduction4. Green Purchasing5. Green Building6. Energy Conservation7. Air Quality - Commuting8. Air Quality – Alt Fuels9. Land - Compatible Use10. Land – Training
5 Community Resource Teams
WATER
MATERIALS USE
ENERGY USE
AIR
Sustainable LAND USE
Sustainable Land Use Team
USEPA Grant award 3 years (7/05 – 7/08)
$265,000
Develop a GIS-basedSustainable Land Use Toolkit for the REGION
“Painless” public workshops!
Sustainable Land Use
What is it?
?
Break the Problem Down!
Concentrate on 5 distinct Land UsesDevelopment – Industrial, Commercial, ResidentialConservation – Working Lands, Natural Lands
Suitability MapsAssets & Constraints
Development ASSETS
ASSET LIST • In or near city limit• Near public water• Near public sewer• Appropriate parcel size• Near primary roads• Near active rail service• Influence of Fort Bragg• Near schools
Mount Gilead, Industrial Park
38 Acres
Town of Troy, Business Center - 55 Acres
AmmoDump!
Development Constraints
CONSTRAINT LIST
• Too near Ft. Bragg
• Steep slope
• Wet soils (hydric)
• Flood zones
• Wetlands
• Septic suitability
1 of 5 “Suitability Maps”
Red - most suitableOrange - suitableYellow - less suitableGreens - least suitable
Commercial Development
Add the primary roads
Commercial Development
Red - most suitableOrange - suitableYellow - less suitableGreens - least suitable
1 of 5 “Suitability Maps”
What’s next?
• Overlay 5 maps into ONE
• Add special places –
historic, cultural, recreation
• Add statistics/reporting tools
• Highlight opportunities for
sustainable land use
What’s next?
Alternative Futures
3 development scenarios 1. Business as usual
2. Incremental change
3. “Deep” change
Variable impacts on• Air quality• Water quality & quantity• Traffic, health, income….
Collaborative Planning EffortA THREE-WAY STREET!!
BRAC RTF: Comprehensive Growth Management Plan
- Major socio-economic study to identify requirements caused by BRAC growth in 11 county region (OEA)
RLUAC: Joint Land Use Study UPDATE
- Expand area of study from 1 mile to 5 mile zone (OEA)
Sustainable Sandhills: Expand Scope of EPA grant
- Add “alternative futures” module (EPA request)
- Expand region from 8 to 11 counties (OEA)
- Incorporate new socio-economic data from BRAC-RTF study into the EPA’s GIS-based project (OEA)
Sustainable Land Use
Think of the region like a quiltWe’re simply organizing the pieces
So what’ll it be???
A crazy quilt?
Or sustainable future?
A Regional Sustainability InitiativeJon Parsons, P.E.
Executive Directorwww.sustainablesandhills.org
[email protected] 910-484-9098