Sustainable Urbanization in Practice

Frank V. Zerunyan, J.D. Professor of the Practice of Governance

United Nations Committee of Experts on

Public Administration New York 2014

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Agenda

Transportation and Land Use Environmentalism

Urbanization

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Urbanization Paper and Literature

Social and Environmental Sustainable Urbanization: Guidelines for Meaningful Progress

M. Caroline Stevens, Candidate for Master in Public Policy Frank V. Zerunyan, J.D., Professor of the Practice of Governance

University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy

Presented to:

Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations Public Administration Programme

Division for Public Administration and Development Management

13th Session on The Committee of Experts on Public Administration

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Urbanization

Need for Urbanization

United Nations (UN) Definition: Movement of people from rural to urban areas Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) experience: Movement of people from the suburbs back to urban areas

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Urbanization

Need for Urbanization

Urban Setting: 51% of the world’s population in 2014 Expected to be 70% by 2030

Implementing Urbanization as strategy: 1. Economic Development 2. Balancing between rural and urban (open space) 3. Quality of life 4. Jobs 5. Education 6. Environmental sustainability 7. Transportation efficiency 8. Social justice and participatory governance 9. Social interaction and community building 10.Residential stability (decent housing with amenities)

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Urbanization

Need for Urbanization

Change from unsustainable forms is a challenge Nevertheless URBANIZATION proceeds at alarming rates Most effective Sustainable Development Plans at CITY or LOCAL

(Literature and practice)

Not ONE SIZE FITS ALL Bottom up approach Civic engagement Ensuring buy in Socio-economic equity Local culture Local investment Local collaborations and Collaborative governance Possibility of incremental progress (small wins)

People Businesses &

Organizations

Places

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Urbanization

Need for Urbanization

Worldwide Examples: Melbourne City Plan 2010, The HK2030 Study, Iskandar Development Plan, Sustainable Barcelona, Plan Verde Mexico City, Taipei’s Urban Sustainability, Singapore Green Plan, City Development Plan of Chandigarh and City Development Plan of Pune

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RE-Urbanization

Need for Urbanization

Implementing RE-Urbanization as strategy: SCAG Region Effect of Sprawl Intended and Unintended Consequences Transportation Infrastructures (roads bridges etc.) Air Quality Water Waste Energy Economy (jobs to housing imbalance) Open Space and Habitat Security and Emergency Preparedness Land Use

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USA’s Largest Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 38,000 Square Miles 15 Sub Regions Nation’s Global Gateway

for Goods

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1 Transportation

2 Goods Movement

3 Housing & Land Use

4 Air Quality

5 Economic Development

6 Sustainability

SCAG Approach: Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS)

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In April 2012, SCAG unanimously adopted the its first RTP that includes a SCS that: Was developed through a bottoms-up local input

process with unprecedented public outreach and stakeholder involvement

Invests nearly $525 billion over the next 25 years to upgrade the region’s transportation system

Reduces per capita GHG emissions 9% by 2020 and 16% by 2035

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Mobility Location Efficiency

Economy Cost

Effectiveness

How do we

accommodate growth while protecting our natural resources,

maintaining or improving mobility, our economic prosperity and

quality of life ?

?

Sustainability

Mobility Prosperity Distributes regional

employment & housing

growth following 4

guiding principles

Focuses growth along

existing & planned

transportation corridors

and in existing and

emerging centers; TOD

Practical Greening of our

Cities and Region

2% Strategy for SCAG

region

Livability

Re-urbanization

Provides better access to jobs and

improved jobs/housing balance

Jobs Housing

Conserves open space Renovates urban cores, creating wealth through

increased property values

Typical Main Street- Urban Core

Opportunities to reinvent Main Street with Mixed Uses

Promote Walkability and Accessibility

Promote “People-Scaled” Pedestrian Spaces

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Transportation and Land Use

Transit Oriented Development encourages:

Mixed-use

High Density

Creation of transit nodes as "points of interest”

Quality transit and pedestrian amenities

Collaboration between sectors

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a popular planning concept that focuses on transit nodes for living, working, and shopping for all types of people and a variety of transportation modes.

Economic Vitality Jobs Affordable Living Opportunity for alternative modes

Increase Ridership Increase Social Interactions

Low public infrastructure costs

Less dependence on Cars

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TOD: Major Transit Stations

“Central do Brazil” by Bustler

Stuttgart Station, Germany Helix Pedestrian Bridge, Seattle

• Opportunities

Increase connections for rail, metro, bus and other transit modes

Encourage economic development Collaboration between sectors

Moderate to High Density Residential

Commercial/ Residential/ Office

Retail Commercial

Encourage mixed compatible land uses in a unified building block.

Mixed Land Uses

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Renewables: •Sustainable building practices, Water efficiency and Solar power

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Average Annual Rainfall (inches)

• Portland: 36.0

• Rio de Janeiro: 46.2

• Vancouver: 47.2-62.5

• New York City: 49.9

Buildings and Landscape

Water Efficiency

Sustainable Building Practices Bioswales • Prevents rain run-off • Reduces unsanitary pooled water and

concrete heat • Encourages oxygen producing

vegetation

Buildings and Landscape

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Pedestrian Access

Planning for Pedestrians Safety Recommendations

Tying It All Together-Key Dimensions of Policy Land Use & Housing

Open Space & Habitat

Water

Air Quality

Solid Waste Energy

Transportation

Security & Emergency Preparedness

Economy

Sustainability-Based Decisions Integrating

Social Economic

Environmental Cultural

Thank you! Merci!

Frank V. Zerunyan, J.D. Professor of the Practice of Governance

Director, Executive Education University of Southern California Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall 200 Los Angeles, California 90089

213-740-0036 frank.zerunyan@usc.edu