The document discusses sustainable development and its significance, emphasizing the balance between current and future needs amid climate change and infrastructure challenges. It highlights the moral and regulatory imperatives for sustainability, the negative impact of unsustainable land use, and shifting demographics affecting community structures. The key to successful communities lies in building a vision based on local assets, promoting community character, and embracing inclusive leadership and partnerships.

1. Sustainability & Place
Community Matters Conference
Denver, Colorado
© Ed McMahon

2. What is Sustainable
Development and
why is it vital?
-- Brent
Toderian, Planning Director,
Vancouver, B.C

3. development is development
that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own
Source: United Nations, Bruntland
Commission Report

4. It is about our children

5. harmony between man and
-Aldo Leopold

6. Sustainability Goals
Healthy Environment
Vigorous Economy
Vibrant Community

7. Why Sustainability Now ?
Climate Change
Energy Issues
Infrastructure
Deficit
Unsustainable
Land use
Population Growth
Makes Business
Sense

8. Global Warming
unequivocal, and
human activity is the
main driver, very
likely causing most of
the rise in
temperatures since
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change Feb. 2007

9. Moral Imperative?

10. Climate Chaos
hottest summer, in
the hottest year, in
the hottest decade
Source: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration 2010

11. Regulatory Imperative?
33 states representing 70% of US
population are developing climate
action plans.
21 states have set carbon reduction
targets.
1060 US Mayors, representing over
100 million people have adopted the
Kyoto Protocol.
President Obama endorsed and the
US House of Representatives passed
legislation to cap & trade carbon
emissions.
US EPA is now regulating carbon
Sources: Newsweek, US Conference of Mayors,

12. High Energy Prices?
In 1970 the US imported
24% of its oil from foreign
providers
In 1990 the US imported
42% of its oil
In 2008 the US imported
70% of its oil
The cost of imported oil
reached over $600 billion
per year in 2008

13. Do you think the
long term trend
for energy prices
is to go up or
down?

14. Unsustainable Land Use in USA
Large Lot Subdivisions Strip Commercial

15. Taking Up More Space
Household vs. Lot Size
Lot
Size
Family
Size
Even though the number of people per household has
decreased from 3.57 to 2.62 over the last 50 years, the
amount of land that each individual home consumes
has increased by nearly 60 percent.

16. Growth Trends Reinforce Driving

17. Infrastructure Deficit
US needs $220 billion per
year for needed repairs to
roads, bridges & other
infrastructure
Fed. state & local
government spend less than
half this amount
raised since 1993
global competitors
I-35 Bridge Collapse Minneapolis

18. Train Service in Europe & Japan
FAST
Frequent
Goes
Everywhere

19. Train Service in US
Slow
Infrequent, or
Non-Existent

20. Population Growth
100 Million New
Residents by 2050
44 Million New Housing
units
1.1 Million Units per year
Demographic shifts and
Immigration
Decline of Traditional
Households

21. Demographic Shifts
Baby Boomers and Retirees 80 million
Immigrants 40 million
Millennials (18 to 30 year olds) 80 million
Women (single-parent households) - 30
million
75 % of American households do not have
school age children

22. Sustainability in Action

23. Sustainability - More Than Technology
The top issues:
Energy
Water
Land use
Transportation
Waste
Carbon
Community Character
It is about quality of life
Affordability
Walkability
Placemaking
Community Building
23

24. not beautiful, it will not be loved, if it is
Doug Kelbaugh, Dean, University of
Michigan, School of Architecture

29. National Automobile Slum

30.
Venice, Italy -­‐ Venice, California

31. Sense of Place That which
makes are physical surroundings
worth caring about

32. The Distinctive
Community
place may be the only truly
defensible source of
competitive advantage for
Joe Cortwright, City Vitals

33. Secrets of Successful Communities
Develop a vision for the future
Inventory local assets and resources
Build plans around the enhancement of assets
Use education, incentives, partnerships and
voluntary initiatives not just regulation
Pick and choose among development proposals
Cooperate with neighbors for mutual benefit
Protect community character as well as ecology and
economics
Have strong leaders & committed citizens

34. Most Polluted City

35. Model for Sustainable Development

39. Key Lesson Learned
How much something costs is not
the most important question.

42. Key Lesson Learned
Why would anybody invest in a

43. Inventory Assets
Natural Resources
Cultural Resources
Human Resources
Economic Resources
Educational Resources

44. Sometimes the Assets are Obvious

46. Sometimes They Are Not Obvious

48. Explore Beyond Regulation
Education
Incentives
Partnerships
Voluntary Initiatives

49. Why Do We Educate?

50. Why Should We Use Incentives?

53. Community Character Matters

54. take stock of a man. The clothes
or appearance are the externals
- Mark Twain

55. Community Character
Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York

56. Deteriorates One Project at a Time
Grand Union Grocery Store, Saratoga Springs, New York

57. And it Can Get Better One Project at
a Time
Grand Union Plaza & Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York

58. SUCCESSFUL
COMMUNITIES PICK
AND CHOOSE AMONG
DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSALS

59. Would you rather shop here?

60. Or here?

61. spend more money
and come back more
often to places that
attract their
Source: Urban Design and
the Bottom Line, ULI, 2009

62. Hometown Hero's!
Never doubt that a small group of
committed individuals can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
- Margaret Mead

63. It Is Not Always Easy

64. Leadership is Important
But often Unappreciated

65. Vision counts
but
implementation
is priceless!

70. Thank You!
Ed McMahon, Urban Land Institute
emcmahon@uli.org

71. First Road Trip
Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall K. Crocker & Bud
Source: www.pbs.org