Poll: Where do you live?

2 Comments

  • Tom Lane - 9 years ago

    Jenny wrote:

    "I'm interested in getting more of your thoughts on how to "best", as you put, "encourage good urban design, preserving native plants and natural areas at the same time."

    Tom Lane responds:

    I did not know your comment was on this questionnaire. I have not yet discussed planning tools for how to combine good urban design along with native plants and open space. At first, this web site was mostly a reactionary, sarcastic, anti-smart growth web site. However, I intend to expand the coverage to introduce examples of planning tools for preserving open space, and improving walkability and bikability. For example-

    1. Wide streets with wide bike lanes and wide sidewalks, shaded by tall trees. This is not found in smart growth communities, who have narrow streets running through areas that have been clearcut of native trees. It is, however, found in markets such as Thousand Oaks, California, which was the last stop on the 2014 AMGEN bike race.

    2. Designate large areas inside a city for open space. Smart growth communities such as Boulder do not do this. Instead, they develop as many open spaces into towering condos. Why not spread the town out a little bit, so there can be parks with native trees inside the city limits? Again, cities such as Thousand Oaks, California have large parks within the city limits. 20% of the city limits of T-Oaks is open space.

    Scottsdale, Arizona also has lots of open space. The voters also voted overwhelmingly to raise sales taxes to create a series of desert preserves. Otherwise, these areas would have been developed into more housing.

    Durango, Colorado - the city limits consist of 50% open space with a huge trail network. Flagstaff also has an urban trail system under the tall Ponderosa Pines.

    Dallas, Texas is 17% open space, although I haven't been there in about 15 years. But I do recall a fairly extensive tree canopy and large park with hundreds of walkers and runners, somewhere in the city.

    Also, it is important to make lots large enough so they support native plants. In Cave Creek, Arizona, lots are a minimum of half an acre. If I recall correctly, Sedona is a minimum of a quarter acre. Cave Creek requires that a minimum percentage of the lot be covered with native desert plants. Exotic non-native plants are prohibited.

    I will post more later, on the web site.

  • Jenny - 11 years ago

    As a planner (engaged with smart growth principles in daily work) I find your site fascinating, and refreshing. I originally went into urban design and planning to try to find ways in which to better expand green neighborhood design, technologies and infrastructure - after 6 years in the business side of the renewable energy industry.

    I'm interested in getting more of your thoughts on how to "best", as you put, "encourage good urban design, preserving native plants and natural areas at the same time."

    If, I may ask, what is your profession?

    Kind Regards,
    Jenny

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