Environment

From Cyburbian TexanOkie: The City of Austin recently updated its regulations on the placement of billboards that allows them to be placed on some roads that were once classified as "scenic" by the City that have since been built up and lost such designation. This has caused several citizens and surrounding municipalities to be up in arms and threatening boycotts of any companies that advertise on new billboards.

My question is this: What’s the big deal with billboards? So long as they’re spaced properly and maintained, they’re not really an eyesore, or at least they don't have to be. They also provide opportunities for local businesses without access or funds to TV, internet, or print advertising a way to get their name out at what is probably a more convenient time and place, anyway. Regardless, relaxed billboard regulations, which in Central Texas means allowing them at all, surely does not merit cries of the apocalypse, does it?

From Cyburbian Michele Zone: I recently embraced car-free living. Making the transition to not owning a car has been an interesting experience. Neither of my sons has ever expressed any interest in learning to drive. They are actually more independent and get out more now that we are car-free. It's on them to do most of the grocery shopping. They are 18 and 20 years old and our favorite grocery store is only about 10 minutes away on foot. It's one of the reasons we chose this apartment. At the time that I moved here, I wanted some place super close to my job, my favorite grocery store, and a few other essentials because I still had seriously limited energy and just going to work was a real challenge at times. Being practically across the street from the grocery store made it possible for me to cope with getting groceries at times when it would have been a real hardship for me to spend more than 15 or 20 minutes on such a task.

From Cyburbian Jess: They claimed they have the world’s tallest tower. Now, they have the future greenest city in the world.

"Launched as a “Sustainability Action Plan” to deliver the world’s greenest city. On 21 January 2008, a model of the Masdar City at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Groundbreaking for the construction of the city is slated in the first quarter of this year, and hopefully will be completed and fully functional in 2015."

From Cyburbian Cardinal: As I was driving across Iowa yesterday a random chain of events got me thinking. We have many hiking trails, like the Appalachian Train, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, that corss our country, or at least a good length of it. At the state and local level we have been pretty good at starting to build rail-trails and other trails for bicycling. Has anyone given any thought to connecting these to create a route that would span the country? What I mean is a dedicated trail connecting important sites (state and national parks, tourist sites, etc.), with the supporting infrastructure (campgrounds, water, etc.) for long bike trips.

From Cyburbian spunky2: I'd hate for this forum to go away since it is my speciality. So I thought I'd ask this of all your environmental planners out there. How often do you run into the situation where people just want to use "protecting an environment" as an excuse to get what they really want? Meaning, how often do you run into people who are jumping up and down about the impacts to the environment when you know they just don't have the nerve to say that they don't want X, Y or Z built near them? Or they think no one will listen if they say the real reason why they oppose the project?

From Cyburbian counter_insurgency: I'm evaluating a permit to demolish two rather large industrial sites that consist of several hundreds of thousands of square feet of buildings, underground and above ground infrastructure including storages tanks, utilities conduits, storm and sewer drain, etc. Our ordinance affords us pretty significant review authority. It basically requires that site be demo'd using best practices and returned to a condition that would allow redevelopment of some sort. I'm not an engineer, and I want to know what to look (out) for. Anyone have any experience with this? Know how RCRA fits into this process?

From Cyburbian jresta: I find it incredibly difficult to talk about planning as usual given all of the latest reports and studies.

For instance, I normally go to our local urban sustainability forum, last month it was about climate change. After a two year study sponsored by local governments and NGOs a report was offered that detailed the likely impacts on various sectors of the environment and economy.

The first map we saw presented a best-case scenario of climate changed and assumed almost immediate reduction in global CO2 and methane output. It showed our climate shifted to Raleigh, NC 27 years from now. If we do nothing, or next to nothing, which is looking more and more likely, we can expect to have the climate of Jacksonville, Florida in 47 years. As all of my grandparents lived past 76, the age I'll be in 2050 (indeed 3 of them are well past that age), I fully expect to witness it.

From Cyburbian JNA: HEADLINE: Astronomy village draws star gazers looking for darkness

HIGHLIGHTS:
The rules at this remote vacation spot are simple: no white light.

Deerlick Astronomy Village .... The 96-acre village in rural Taliaferro County is designed for amateur stargazers looking for total darkness and wide-open spaces to build weekend homes.

... figured the development would be popular. There are only two other similar communities nationwide - one in Florida and one in Arizona - and he said the demand for dark skies is soaring as suburban sprawl produces more light pollution.

From Cyburbian CPSURaf: It is no secret: California is prone to disasters. From earthquakes, to fires, to mudslides, it seems like we have it all. The west in general is prone to fire hazards, especially during the dry season. With sprawling subdivisions encroaching more and more against forests, desserts, and other hot spots that can be disastrous during a long fire season such as the one California, and many other western states are experiencing, the question becomes how do we as planners help prevent or at least aid in the fight to control housing in these fire prone areas, and if we allow to build in these areas, how can our municipalities aid in ensuring construction materials that are contain some sort of flame resistances or at least reduce the effect of embers hoping from one house to another. Can our municipalities enforce greater setback or defensible space? Or do we just simply say the cost is too great to develop in these areas and say the rebuilding process should take place elsewhere. What are your thoughts?

From Cyburbian jkbrown: Anyone have suggestions for good water war/resource/ issues articles books? I have read Cadillac Desert, and am looking for a few newer articles on this issue. Thanks bunches.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

Best known for working to reduce billboard and sign clutter, and other forms of visual pollution such as wireless facilities and overhead utilities, Scenic America (http://www.scenic.org) is a national nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the visual character of the United States' communities and countryside.

From Cyburbian big_g: Wind farms are nothing new to some parts of the United States. In fact, wind projects are in the midst of a huge growth spurt in many parts of the country, driven by government incentives to promote alternatives to fossil fuels. Significant public debate and navigation of a "hodgepodge" of regulations has risen from the increased interest in renewable energy alternatives such as wind power. While public debate over inland and offshore wind power is likely to be centered on environmental and aesthetic issues. Do the critics have a justified position or is it NIMBYism at work?

From Cyburbian jresta: If you've been keeping up on it oil companies have been revising their oil forecasts (downward). Shell is in trouble for fudging the numbers to "protect their shareholders". We're close to the peak. Perhaps closer than originally predicted.

Gas might be cheap in real dollars but just because we're not paying for it at the pump right now doesn't mean it we're not paying for it. It doesn't mean that as an energy source it's not a drain on the economy. It's obvious that the pressure is on to find a replacement.

So when, what and where are these alternative fuel forms going to come from?

From Cyburbian plnrgrl: We, the city, have a dilemma. The city in which I plan is a smallish to mid-sized town, that has for the past few decades been built out. We primarily work with redevelopment, and not greenfield development.

However, we have annexed a large amount of acreage in recent years, of which the property owners are now beginning to come to us for development permits. This area is green and undisturbed.

So, the question is, is it better to force connectivity, while impacting a wetland or stream with oil and fluids that are emitted from cars, or to just build a bunch of cul-du-sacs to prevent wetland crossings altogether? Of course, there will be exceptions in many instances, but if it is a residential subdivision, connecting to another residential subdivision, where does the threshold of impact lie?

Grist (http://www.grist.org) offers news and feature articles about green issues and sustainable living. Urban planning and placemaking are frequently covered topics. In the words of the site: "We exist to tell the untold stories, spotlight trends before they become trendy, and engage the apathetic. We're fiercely independent in our coverage; we throw brickbats when they're needed and bestow kudos when they're warranted."