Share Email Print RSS

Renewable Richmond

The first third of the 20th Century was the golden age of the American city. Many people lived and worked in dense urban places, separate from rural farms. The number of automobiles was not very abundant and people cherished trips into the country.

However, as the 20th Century progressed, populations increased at the same time that plentiful natural resources improved the industrialization of our country. For consumers, the automobile was clearly the biggest achievement from this time period, making the outer reaches of cities easily accessible and developable.

After World War II, politicians and the media demanded federal housing programs for returned veterans (Veterans Emergency Housing Program), and rightly so. The infrastructure of cities was getting old and tired and rural areas were full of cheap, developable real estate. Thus, the federal government administered affordable housing and the expansion of suburbia.

During the latter part of the 20th Century more and more people were moving outside of the city and into the suburbs. This rapid development over large areas (in less than a century) is now a major factor in the environmental problems of today.

Scientists are now realizing that suburbs are contributing to the increased degradation of the land's pristine ecosystems including the pollution of precious aquatic resources. Additionally, according to a 2005 article in "Journal of Community Health," adverse health effects, increased automobile pollution and accidents, sedentary life styles, the rise in obesity and diabetes, increased social isolation and the breakdown of social capital are often cited as partial consequences of urban sprawl.

We can attribute some of these problems to the increased vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and horizontally-spreading cookie-cutter subdivisions. With the 20th Century's rapid trend as an example, it is clear that consumption and production are proportional and the negative side effects are now being taken into serious consideration.

According to a Urban Land Institute study earlier this year, The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration forecasts a 48 percent increase in VMT between 2005 and 2030. The environmental benefits of replacing all SUVs with hybrids may be cancelled out by the amount of polluting emissions from the projected growth in driving and real estate development during this time.

Because of this increase in VMT, land use planning is extremely important. The question is, which future suburban forms will most effectively deliver the greatest environmental protection and give us a sustainability option for future generations?

There are a number of interesting developments that are happening in Richmond's suburbs that can revive a sense of closeness, beauty and at the same time lessen the environmental impacts of travel (i.e. consumption). These are known as new urbanism, smart growth, or compact developments.

New urbanism's goal is to plan mixed-use developments that put housing within close reach of certain key destinations like offices, shops, schools, parks, restaurants and grocery stores.

"People have become discouraged with commuting patterns and realize that living, working and shopping in the same locations saves time and creates a town environment with a social fabric," said Randall Silber, Henrico County director of planning to the Economic Development Authority.

Henrico County began incorporating new urbanism principles, including a vertical mixed-use ordinance, in 2003. There are approximately six proposed developments in Henrico that incorporate new urbanism principles such as Rocketts Landing , Staples Mill Centre (near Willow Lawn ), West Broad Village and Wilton on the James .

I can attest to the growing traffic conditions on West Broad Street; it's getting so crowded that there are daily backups from Short Pump west to Interstate 64. Growing up in this vicinity I remember how Three Chopt Road wound through wooded land, passing a cow farm and the Short Pump Grocery Store at Broad Street.

Today this same location is the setting for West Broad Village. West Broad Village's master plan  will encompass approximately 115 acres of residential, retail, office, hotel, recreation and park space. Though I was sad seeing all the cows go, if a site is going to be developed in this location I'd rather it be a new urbanism proposal such as this.

Like Henrico, Chesterfield County's new 'traditional neighborhood development' component to its zoning ordinance focuses on new urbanism principles. There are four proposed developments that incorporate this, including Roseland, Chester Village Green, Branner Station and Magnolia Green.

The Roseland development will be on over 1,000 acres. The site plan looks like a quaint little town, with separate districts, all within a suburban setting near the Woolridge Road interchange of Route 288.

Roseland developers plan to permit over 1.5 million square feet of office and retail, schools, around 5,000 residential units and an extensive green space proposal; the list goes on. This proposal is currently under review with the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors.

There is potential for residents of new urbanism developments to walk more, drive less, live healthier, make more friends and have a stronger sense of community.

This is the first but not the last time you will hear me talk about new urbanism. For these ideas will be at the forefront of a changing future for our city and beyond.

David Martin is an environmental consultant in Richmond.   He has maintained a devoted study in environmental issues since his early teens, when his sister would kidnap him from home and take him to Blacksburg to appreciate Geology, go hiking and tube the New River.   David recently fled the country of Ghana because he received too many marriage proposals.