Planner Alex Aylett discusses the challenges municipalities face when trying to create a successful sustainability plan, and how to overcome them with a new toolkit that takes cues from New York City's PlaNYC.
More cities and counties are eager to create sustainability plans that bring together their environmental, economic, and social initiatives under one holistic vision. But the process can be daunting and complex, especially for cash-strapped jurisdictions with small staffs.
Fortunately, big cities like New York, with its renowned PlaNYC sustainability plan, have blazed the trail by developing a winning process for creating a plan that sets ambitious but achievable goals that are measured and reported over time. The best practices pioneered by New York have been studied and distilled in a Sustainability Planning Toolkit from ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA.
Alex Aylett at Worldchanging reviews the toolkit and delves into the biggest challenges local government staff face as they begin to develop their sustainability plans: how to create and sustain political will, hire a sustainability coordinator, build a planning team, engage diverse stakeholders in the planning process (from city hall departments to community leaders, academics, and ordinary citizens), and manage a sprawling process centrally.
Thanks to Don Knapp
FULL STORY: Toolkit for Change: ICLEI's new Urban Sustainability Framework
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research