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To enjoy and prosper in our communities we need to nurture and protect
the natural environment. Compact urban centers protect the natural
environment by reducing the amount of land taken up by low-density
sprawl development. We can also make our communities more livable
and environmentally-sensitive by reducing our dependence on motor
vehicles, minimizing waste and making efficient use of our water
resources.
The Ahwahnee Principles
- which form the basis for the Local Government Commission's work
on livable, sustainable communities - address the issue of environmental
enhancement in several ways:
- Community size should be designed so that housing, jobs, daily
needs and other activities are within easy walking distance of
each other.
- As many activities as possible should be located within easy
walking distance of transit stops.
- The location and character of the community should be consistent
with a larger transit network.
- 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.
- Each community or cluster of communities should have a well
defined edge, such as agricultural greenbelts or wildlife corridors,
permanently protected from development.
- Wherever possible, the natural terrain, drainage, and vegetation
of the community should be preserved with superior examples contained
within parks or greenbelts.
- The community design should help conserve resources and minimize
waste.
- Communities should provide for the efficient use of water through
the use of natural drainage, drought tolerant landscaping and
recycling.
- The street orientation, the placement of buildings and the
use of shading should contribute to the energy efficiency of the
community.
- The regional land use planning structure should be integrated
within a larger transportation network built around transit rather
than freeways.
- Regions should be bounded by and provide a continuous system
of greenbelt/wildlife corridors to be determined by natural conditions.
For more information, click on one of the following
topics:
Air Quality
Land Conservation
Trees
Water Quality
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