HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/07/2005, C3 - USE OF AHWAHNEE PRINCIPLES AS A RESOURCE TO HELP GUIDE GENERAL PLAN UPDATES Y
council
j acjenda Report C3
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: John Mandeville; Community Development Directo
Prepared By: Michael Draze; Deputy Director of Co unity Development
SUBJECT: USE OF AHWAHNEE PRINCIPLES AS A RESOURCE TO HELP GUIDE
GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution directing staff to include the Ahwahnee Principles and the Ahwahnee Water
Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use, as a resource to help guide future development of
General Plan and General Plan Element updates and to share those Principles with the public and
advisory groups involved in these updates.
DISCUSSION
On April 5, 2005, Councilperson Mulholland reported on the Local Government Commission's
(LGC) conference on Building Livable, Sustainable Communities. In the Council
Communication memo, Councilperson Mulholland included both the 1991 Ahwahnee Principles
and the recently adopted Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use. The
Council requested that staff return for action at a future meeting with the stated intent that the
principles be use for consideration when General Plan elements are brought forward to the
Council in the future.
At the March LGC conference, the delegates adopted the Ahwahnee Water Principles for
Resource Efficient Land Use. These principles build on the concepts included in the 1991
Ahwahnee Principles and focus on the long term preservation of both quantity and quality of our
water resources to insure the vitality and prosperity of our communities.
Many of the concepts in the Ahwahnee Principles and the Ahwahnee Water Principles for
Resource Efficient Land Use are already addressed in the City's General Plan because of our
community's long held interest in sustainability principles and because the original Ahwahnee
Principles were available during development of our general plan update in the early 1990's.
While most of the Ahwanhee principles are consistent with the City's General Plan policies,
there are a couple of principles in the new Water Principles that differ from adopted conservation
strategies. Notably, the recommendation for dual plumbing (principles 6 and 7) in all new
development differs from the strategy the City has adopted for the use of reclaimed water. The
City will not be providing reclaimed water to all new development. At the same time, dual
plumbing in all new construction would increase construction costs that would in turn increase
housing costs. In addition, principle 9 on treatment of groundwater may not be appropriate for
San Luis Obispo due to our particular groundwater limitations and problems, and more reliable
availability of reservoir water. However, there should be no problem in considering all of the
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Ahwahnee Principles Page 2
principles during General Plan updates as that process will provide the necessary public
discussion of these issues.
CONCURRENCES
Public Works and Utilities departments have reviewed the Ahwahnee Principles and agree that
they will be useful in helping guide future General Plan updates.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional fiscal impacts are anticipated as the Principles will simply be an additional
reference tool to be used in the City's review of our future plans.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide that the Ahwahnee Principles and the Ahwahnee Water Principles for
Resource Efficient Land Use need not be required references for future General Plan updates.
ATTACHMENT
1) Draft Council Resolution
2) The Ahwahnee Principles —Adopted 1991
3) The Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use—Adopted 2005
L:\GP\CAR Ahwahnee Principles.DOC
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Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. (2005 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DIRECTING
STAFF TO INCLUDE THE AHWAHNEE PRINCIPLES AND THE AHWAHNEE WATER
PRINCIPLES FOR RESOURCE EFFICIENT LAND USE,AS A RESOURCE TO HELP
GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has long held an interest in providing our
decision makers with a General Plan that supports a sustainable community; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo believes the Ahwahnee Principles and the
Ahwahnee.Water Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use will provide a useful resource to
help guide future development of General Plan and General Plan Element updates.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
that the staff is hereby directed to include the Ahwahnee Principles and the Ahwahnee Water
Principles for Resource Efficient Land Use, as a resource to help guide future development of
General Plan and General Plan Element updates and to share those Principles with the public and
advisory groups involved in these updates.
Upon motion of , seconded by
and on the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 7th day of June, 2005.
Mayor David F. Romero
ATTEST:
Audrey Hooper
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jona . Lowell
City Attorney LAGMesolution on Ahwahnee.doc
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- Attachment 2
The Ahwahnee Principles
Preamble:
Existing patterns of urban and suburban development seriously impair our quality of life.
The symptoms are:more congestion and air pollution resulting from our increased dependence
on automobiles,the loss of precious open space,the need for costly improvements to roads and public
services,the inequitable distribution of economic resources,and the loss of a sense of community. By
drawing upon the best from the past and the present,we can plan communities that will more successfully
serve the needs of those who live and work within them. Such planning should adhere to certain
fundamental principles.
community Principles:
1. All planning should be in the form of complete and integrated communities containing housing,
shops,work places,schools,parks and civic facilities essential to the daily life of the residents.
2. Community size should be designed so that housing,jobs,daily needs and other activities are within
easy walking distance of each other.
3. As many activities as possible should be located within easy walking distance of transit strops.
4. A community should contain a diversity of housing types to eaabie citizens from a wide range of
economic levels and age groups to live within its boundaries.
5. Businesses within the community should provide a range of job types for the community's residents.
6. The location and character of the community should be consistent with a larger transit network.
7. The community should have a center focus that combines commercial,civic,cultural and
recreational uses.
8. The community should contain an ample supply of specialized open space in the form of squares,
greens and parks whose frequent use is encouraged through placement and design.
9. Public spaces should be designed to encourage the attention and presence of people at all hours of
the day and night
10. Each community or duster of communities should have a well defined edge,such as agricultural
greenbelts or wildlife corridors,permanently protected from development.
11. Streets,pedestrian paths and bike paths should contribute to a system of fully-connected and
interesting routes to all destinations. Their design should encourage pedestrian and bicycle use by
being small and spatially defined by buildings,trees and lighting;and by discouraging high speed
traffic.
12. Wherever possible,the natural terrain,drainage,and.vegetation of the community should be
preserved with superior examples contained within parks or greenbelts.
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- Attachment 2
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13. The community design should help conserve resources and minimize waste.
14. Communities should provide for the efficient use of water through the use of natural drainage,
drought tolerant landscaping and recycling..
I5. The street orientation,the placement of buildings and the use of shading should contribute to the
energy efficiency of the community.
Regional Principles:
L The regional land use planning structure should be integrated within a larger transportation network
built around transit rather than freeways.
2. Regions should be bounded by and provide a continuous system of greenbelt/Wildlife corridors to be
determined by natural conditions.
3. . Regional institutions and services(government,stadiums,museums,etc.)should be located in the
urban core.
4. Materials and methods of construction should be specific to the region,exhibiting continuity of
history and culture and compatibility with the climate to encourage the development of local
character and community identity.
Implementation Strategy:
L The general plan should be updated to incorporate the above principles.
2 Rather than allowing developer-initiated,piecemeal development, local governments should take
charge of the planning process. General plans should designate where new growth,infill or
redevelopment will be allowed to occur.
3. Prior to any development,a specific plan should be prepared based on the planning principles. With
the adoption of specific plans,complying projects could proceed with minimal delay.
4. Plans should be developed through an open process and participants in the process should be
provided visual models of all planning proposals.
Authors: Peter Calthorpe Editors: Peter Katz
• Michael Corbett Judy Corbett
Andres Duany Steve Weissman
Elizabeth Motile
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk
Stefanos Polyzoides
For more information,contact the LGC Center for Livable Communities: 916448-1198
®Copyright 1991,Local Government Commission,Sacramento,CA
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Attachment 3
The Ahwahnee Water Principles
for Resource Efficient land Use
Preamble
Cities and counties are facing major challenges with water contamination, storm .
water runoff,flood damage liability,and concerns about whether there will be
enough reliable water for current residents as well as for new development...
These issues impact city and county budgets and taxpayers. Fortunately thdre are
a number of stewardship actions that cities and counties can take that reduce costs
and improve the reliability and quality of our water resources.
The Water Principles below complement the Ahwahnee Principles for Resource-
Efficient Communities that were developed in 1991. Many cities and counties are
already using them to improve the vitality and prosperity of their communities.
Community Principles
1. Community design should be compact,mixed use,walkable and transit-oriented
so that automobile-generated urban runoff pollutants are minimized and the open
lands that absorb water are preserved to the maximum extent possible. (See the
Ahwahnee Principles for Resource-Efficient Communities)
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2. Natural resources such as wetlands,flood plains,recharge zones,riparian areas,
open space,and native habitats should be identified,preserved and restored as
valued assets for flood protection,water quality improvement,groundwater
recharge,habitat,and overall long-term water resource sustainability.
3. Water holding area such as creek beds,recessed athletic fields,ponds,cisterns,
and other features that serve to recharge groundwater,reduce runoff;improve
water quality and decrease flooding should be incorporated into the urban
landscape.
4. All aspects of landscaping from the selection of plants to soil preparation and the
installation of irrigation systems should be designed to reduce water demand,
retain runoff,decrease flooding,and recharge groundwater.
5. Permeable surfaces should be used for hardscape. Impervious surfaces such as
driveways,streets,and parking lots should be minimized so that land is available
to absorb storm water,reduce polluted urban runoff,recharge groundwater and
reduce flooding.
b. Dual plumbing that allows grey water from showers,sinks and washers to be
reused for landscape irrigation should be included in the infrastructure of new
development.
Attachment 3
7. Community design should maximize the use of recycled water for appropriate
applications including outdoor irrigation,toilet flushing, and commercial and
industrial processes. Purple pipe should be installed in all new construction and
remodeled buildings in anticipation of the future availability of recycled water.
8. Urban water conservation technologies.such as Iow-flow toilets, efficient clothes
washers,and more efficient water-using industrial equipment should be
incorporated in all new construction and retrofitted in remodeled buildings.
9. Ground water treatment and brackish water desalination should be pursued when
necessary to maximize locally available, drought-proof water supplies.
Implementation Principles
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j 1. Water supply agencies should be consulted early in the land use decision-making
{ process regarding technology, demographics and growth projections.
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2. City and county officials,the'watershed council,LAFCO,special districts and
other stakeholders sharing watersheds should collaborate to take advantage of the
j benefits and synergies of water resource planning at a watershed level.
3. The best, multi-benefit and integrated strategies and projects should be identified
I and implemented before less integrated proposals,unless.urgency demands
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otherwise.
j 4. From start to finish,projects and programs should involve the public,build
I relationships,and increase the sharing of and access to information. The
participatory process should focus on ensuring that all residents have access to
clean,reliable and affordable water for drinking and recreation.
S. Plans,programs,projects and policies should be monitored and evaluated to
determine if the expected results are achieved and to improve future practicm
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r Authors: Celeste Cantu Martha Davis Jennifer Hostesman
t Susan Lien Longville Jonas Minton Mary Nichols
Virginia Porter Al Wanger Kevin Wolfe
Editor: Judy Corbett
For more information,contact the LGC Center for
Livable Communities: 916-448-1198, ext 321.
®Copyright 2005, Local Government Commission, Sacramento CA 95814
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