By COLETTE MORSE
With California’s recent efforts to convince the federal government to allow the state to set tougher emission standards for cars and trucks sold in California, it is clear that attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change challenges will be important issues for the foreseeable future.
The state’s efforts are examples of the steps being taken to reach a statewide goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The ambitious goal was established under landmark legislation, the Global Warming Solutions Act, adopted in late 2006.
Government Effort
Achieving the goals of the act will require more than setting tougher emission standards for cars and trucks. It will require an integrated effort from state and local governments that looks beyond the obvious steps and considers how community and land planning policy decisions can help.
The American Planning Association’s California chapter has published its recommended policy principles to help guide state, regional and local government agencies make planning-related decisions that respond to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As the agencies responsible for creating local community land planning policy, cities and county governments are uniquely positioned to help California achieve these goals by developing planning-related policies that address climate-change and lead to sustainable communities.
As a professional planner who follows these issues, I can say that Orange County represents a fascinating case study of how local planning decisions can help achieve reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Older cities in North Orange County are using infill development projects, where new land uses are created on sites previously used for another purpose such as manufacturing, to incorporate higher densities near public transit. These projects are changing the stereotype for Southern California living and giving residents the option of walking and using public transit for their regular work- or school-related commutes. By doing so, that creates less reliance on automobiles and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
In Fullerton, the infill project SoCo Walk features lofts, live/work units and townhomes in a high-density, transit-oriented community that sits directly across the street from the Fullerton train station. The neighborhood is a short walk from the restaurants and shopping in downtown Fullerton, as well as a brief walk and train ride to nearby job centers in Anaheim and Irvine.
Just a few train stops away in Santa Ana is the Santiago Street Lofts infill project. Also located across the street from a train station, the project serves as a gateway to the nearby Artists Village and the restaurants in downtown Santa Ana.
On a much larger scale, Tustin Legacy, the redevelopment of the former Marine base, represents another infill project that employs smart planning principles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When complete, Tustin Legacy will include a variety of uses including homes, shops, offices and entertainment that will give residents the option to live where they work and play.
Central, South County
In Central and South Orange County, masterplanned communities are incorporating green building principles and designing neighborhoods that maximize open space, put less reliance on the automobile and encourage walking and biking with parks, greenbelts and hiking trails.
Incorporating a variety of green building principles, the Village of Terramor in Ladera Ranch represents a powerful model for how green building can be successfully applied across a large-scale housing development. Among other green features, Terramor homes meet California Energy Star requirements that help reduce energy consumption, another strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In Irvine, the village of Woodbury has received one of the nation’s highest honors for planning, the National Association of Homebuilders Best Master-Planned Community of the Year designation for its community planning and design. Woodbury was designed to encourage residents to walk to nearby dining and shopping thereby minimizing vehicle use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Revising General Plans
Looking to the future, several cities in Orange County, including Garden Grove, Stanton and Orange, are in the process of revising their general plans, which serve as blueprints for guiding future growth and development. The discussions in these new general plans have included increased focus on incorporating mixed land uses, infill, higher density, and transit-oriented development. Ultimately, these general plan updates will help these cities pursue planning options that address climate change issues.
It is easy to think that land use planning efforts are insignificant when faced with a challenge as daunting as climate change, but every step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important one.
Morse is a board member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, former president of the American Planning Association California Chapter and a senior associate/senior project manager at Irvine’s RBF Consulting.
