Supporting Environmental Stewardship Through Regionally Based Development Planning
Over the past century, development activities have dramatically altered the natural landscape of California. As our population has grown, the state has realized shrinkage and isolation of natural habitats, altered flows in streams and rivers, and introduced non-native plants and animals and pollution of the air, land and water. While California has enacted more environmental protection laws and regulations than many states, we also have more growth planned.
The California Council on Science and Technology recently predicted that a storm surge off the Northern California coast combined with heavy rainfall could swamp the aging levee system in the Sacramento Delta, directly affecting the 6 million Californians who live nearby and threatening the water supply for much of Southern California. This type of concern has led to such responses as Gov. Schwarzenegger's actions on greenhouse gases. However, as most developers and the consultants that assist them have experienced firsthand, a lack of data makes it difficult to plan appropriate responses. Some scientists believe that in this century, California winters will become warmer and wetter. Because most of California's rain occurs in winter, predicted changes to weather patterns will eventually lead to less snow and more rain, increasing winter runoff and decreasing summer stream flow, thus intensifying the level of statewide water demand. This will clearly affect all types of development from infrastructure to new residential building.
The weather we experience here in the northern part of the state is vastly different from what our neighbors to the south encounter; therefore, a one-size-fits-all goal makes little sense. In his presentation, "A Regional Climate Change Concept," former director of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Charles Kennel stated that regional climate studies focusing on small-scale, localized networks, coupled with economic and social information such as infrastructure costs and risks, are the most reasonable solution to addressing regional need.
Indeed, we see the success of this approach in local development when it is approached in a manner cognizant and respectful of natural resources. The city of San Ramon's City Center project is an excellent example of combining development needs with respect for the environment. The 2.1-million-square-foot mixed-use infill project aims to capitalize on its adjacency to regional transportation facilities, major employment centers, commercial retail centers, a central park and a community center to reduce vehicle miles traveled and to promote public transit and bicycle and pedestrian modes of transportation. In concert with the city's 2020 general plan, City Center is projected to result in approximately 11,100 new residents; however, the design allowed that at least 50% of the total project landscaping would consist of drought-tolerant trees with low ozone-forming potential, thus significantly reducing its potential carbon footprint. The project is local in design, but the concept is highly generalizable … as good planning - and good environmental stewardship - often is.
June 2008 Builder Architect Edition Issue
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