The document discusses Northampton, MA's efforts towards sustainability leadership through municipal planning and policy. It outlines Northampton's goals and achievements in various areas such as developing a mixed-use compact built environment, increasing affordable housing and transit access, adopting complete streets and sustainable transportation policies, reducing city energy use through programs and zoning, preparing a climate adaptation framework, prioritizing the local economy and jobs, supporting education, arts, and community, emphasizing environmental justice and equity, focusing on health and safety, protecting natural systems through conservation and recreation, and managing water resources in a sustainable manner. The presentation encourages questions and discussion around Northampton's approach to sustainability.

1. Municipal Leadership and Sustainability:
“Planning & Policy for Sustainability”
Sustainability on Campus & Main Street
April 16, 2016
Sarah LaValley
Conservation, Preservation & Land Use Planner
Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability

2. Northampton Sustainability
Leadership

3. Northampton=5-STAR Community

4. • Aspirational
• Ambitious
• Achievable
• Accountable

5. Community Conversation
1st US LEED Gold KFC/Taco Bell
Is this as good as it gets?

6. Built Environment
• Mixed use compact development
• No downtown parking requirements
• Density, infill, brownfields
• Urban design standards

7. Current
1800 1850 1900
1950
Population Density

9. Other Side of the Story
Unstainable Development Patterns

10. Source: habeas corpus, Anna Schuleit
Village
Hill
Jail

11. Development in the RIGHT places

13. Housing Affordability
• 12% of residential units affordable
• Focus on downtown & transit affordable units
• Infill with a mix of housing: some <1,250 ft

14. Transportation
• Vision Zero approach
• Multiuse trail network
• Complete Streets policy
• Zipcar
• Transit
• 50% of area park & ride lots
• 23% of area bike paths

17. Climate and Energy
• 20% reduction city energy
• Energy concierge program
• Micro-grid
• Energy & Sustainability Commission
• At all scales: Mandated street trees
• Zoning incentives and requirements
• Average home <50 HERs rating

18. Climate Adaptation

19. Climate Adaptation Framework
Hazard mitigation, health & disease,
food & vegetation, land use

20. Economy and Jobs
• Focused Economic Development Coordinator
• James House Adult Education
• Quality of life

21. Education, Arts & Community
• Arts & Culture focus
• Academy of Music
• Historic preservation
• Celebrate diversity

22. Equity and Empowerment
• 12% affordable housing- CITY commitment
• Environmental justice
• Youth Commission

23. Health and Safety
• Active living– bike paths, recreation, exercise
• Community collaborations
• Healthy food- agriculture, community gardens
• Focus on environmental justice
• No-build in 500 year floodplain
• Micro-grid for storm survival

24. Natural Systems
• Parks and recreation for all neighborhoods
• 0.5%/city year as conservation
• Working lands
• Wetlands regulations
• Endow conservation

25. Water
Flora & Fauna Environmental Justice
Planning Goals
Assembling Open Space: Case
Studies Wayne Feiden,

26. Conservation
-Goal: 25% of city pristine
-Goal: walkable to neighborhoods
Working lands
-farmland & farmers
-community gardens
Recreation
-expand and develop

27. Multiuse Trails- serve 75% of city
Pavement to Parks
Heritage Landscapes

28. Municipal Leadership and Sustainability:
Planning & Policy for Sustainability
Sustainability on Campus & Main Street
April 16, 2016
Sarah LaValley
Conservation, Preservation & Land Use Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
Questions?
Discussion?