Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan May 2013
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Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan May 2013 Prepared for Cleaner Greener Consortium of Long Island Town of North Hempstead, Lead Municipality Prepared by AECOM Regional Plan Association In association with Community Development Corporation of Long Island Sustainability Institute at Molloy College Vision Long Island Under a grant from the NYSERDA Cleaner Greener Community Program 2 Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan Final May 2013 Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 5 5 Economic Development & Workforce Introduction ................................. 5 Housing 35 Planning Process ............................. 6 Snapshot of the Region Today.................. 35 Public Engagement ........................... 8 Trends and Issues ........................... 35 Regional Vision .............................. 8 Active Programs ............................. 37 GHG Emissions on Long Island .................. 9 Sustainability Indicators ...................... 38 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Potential ... 10 Goals and Strategies ......................... 40 Summary of Goals and Strategies by Subject Area . 10 6 Energy 51 Adaptation to Climate Change ................. 17 Trends and Issues .......................... 51 How to Use this Report ....................... 19 Existing Initiatives and Plans .................. 52 2 Methodology & Sustainability Indicators ...................... 55 Stakeholder Engagement 21 Goals and Strategies ......................... 56 Planning Process ............................ 21 7 Transportation 75 Cleaner Greener Long Island Organization ........ 22 Trends and Issues .......................... 75 Planning Team and Working Group Process ....... 22 Sustainability Indicators ...................... 77 Municipal and Public Outreach and Engagement... 24 Goals and Strategies ......................... 78 Public Meetings ............................. 24 Conclusion ................................. 25 8 Land Use & Livable Communities 85 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 27 Trends and Issues .......................... 85 2010 GHG Emissions on Long Island ............ 27 Sustainability Indicators ...................... 86 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections ..... 28 Goals and Strategies ......................... 87 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Potential ... 29 Related CGLI Strategies ...................... 93 4 Introduction to Organization 9 Waste Management 95 of Goals & Strategies 33 Trends and Issues .......................... 95 Sustainability Indicators ...................... 96 Goals and Strategies ......................... 97 Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan Final May 2013 3 10 Water Management 105 Appendix (see separate document) Trends and Issues ......................... 105 – Long Island Carbon Footprint Project (Summary of GHG Sustainability Indicators ..................... 106 Inventory) Goals and Strategies ........................ 107 – Review of GHG Inventory and Business As Usual Projections Contents Related CGLI Strategies ..................... 116 – Energy Subject Area Baseline -Compendium of Plans of 11 Governance & Implementation 117 Reviewed Trends and Issues ......................... 117 – Land Use Baseline – Summary and Compendium of Plans Reviewed Sustainability Indicators ..................... 118 – Economic Development and Housing – Compendium Table Goals and Strategies ........................ 118 of Plans Reviewed Related CGLI Strategies ..................... 120 – Sustainability Indicator Memo & Inventory 12 Adaptation to Climate Change 121 – List of Potential Strategies for Future Consideration Projected climate change – Public Participation Summary in Long Island ............................. 121 – List of Stakeholders Anticipated Impacts of Climate Change ........................... 122 Ongoing Adaptation to Impacts of Climate Change .................. 124 CGLI Plan Strategies with Adaptation Benefits .... 125 Sustainability Indicators ..................... 126 Potential Adaptation Strategies for Long Island .. 127 Vulnerable Area Prioritization Tool ............. 130 13 Conclusion 133 References Sustainability Indicators and Targets ........... 134 CGLI Goals and Strategies ................... 140 List of Figures ............................. 145 List of Tables .............................. 146 Acronyms ................................. 147 Acknowledgements ......................... 149 4 Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan Final May 2013 1 Executive Summary Introduction dented weather patterns have brought new focus to ongo- ing discussions about the region’s response to increased frequency, intensity and duration of weather events. They The Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainabil- have heightened public awareness about the need to re- ity Plan (hereinafter CGLI Plan) represents an ambitious duce the climate-affecting carbon emissions for regional undertaking by the Cleaner Greener Consortium of Long sustainability-based planning, and to initiate strategies to Island (hereinafter Consortium) to articulate a community- provide adaptation to the unavoidable effects of climate based vision for a more sustainable future. Comprised of change. municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and the planning consultant team, the Consortium and its part- Long Island is fortunate that there are many resources ners have established goals and strategies for a regional within the communities that can be tapped to address framework through which to pursue the standards of sus- these issues. Municipalities, organizations, and citizens tainability: economic prosperity, social responsibility, and have shown great interest and enthusiasm to pursue sus- environmental health and well-being. tainable approaches and solutions to ensure a more resil- ient future. Their efforts have laid the groundwork for the The challenges that Long Island has faced in the past de- CGLI Plan. cades of growth and development have been well docu- mented (in efforts such as Long Island 2035 Plan).1 High In 2011, Governor Cuomo announced the Cleaner Greener taxpayer burden has made the region an increasingly un- Communities program in his State of the State address, affordable place to live, the attractive but predominantly thereby establishing a program that empowers regions to low-density pattern of suburban land development is more create more sustainable communities by funding smart de- challenging to service, and the congested transportation velopment practices. Planning teams have partnered with networks threaten environmental health and well-being. public and private experts across a wide range of fields, The Great Recession of the early 21st Century continues to along with residents, to lead the development of regional challenge regional economic vitality. sustainability plans and to implement the projects that will significantly improve the economic and environmental well At the same time, the lasting effects of extreme climate are being of their communities. This effort will guide integrat- now evident across Long Island. Communities will continue ed, sustainable solutions—from statewide investments to to recover from the devastation inflicted by October 2012’s regional decision-making on land use, housing, transporta- Superstorm Sandy and other weather events. Unprece- tion, infrastructure, energy, and environmental practices— to improve overall quality of life. 1 Long Island Regional Planning Council, Long Island 2035 Region- al Comprehensive Sustainability Plan, 2010. Long Island 2035 repre- sents a multi-year initiative to assess the position of Long Island rela- Under the Cleaner Greener Communities program, the Con- tive to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It included sortium and its partners (see Figure 1) are engaging in a a Regional Visioning Initiative to achieve regional public consensus of robust and inclusive dialogue about the future, ensuring land use, transportation, and institutional issues, a Regional Compre- hensive Sustainability Plan, and Technical Studies to support growth that the plans and the community values they represent scenario planning. are incorporated into the CGLI Plan. Through a robust pub- Cleaner Greener Long Island Regional Sustainability Plan Final May 2013 5 lic engagement process, the plan reflects a community- by New York Institute of Technology); projections for 1 based vision. 2020 GHG Emissions based on Business as Usual (BAU); and baseline calculations of each indicator as The CGLI Plan provides a new platform to build upon the the basis to measure progress that may be achieved collaboration already underway as the region makes through recommended strategies.2 strides toward long-term sustainable economic develop- – Target Assessment A target has been identified for ment. By example, one of the primary recommendations each sustainability indicator, which is a feasible and in the Long Island 2035 Plan was to build consensus for a reasonable estimate of progress that can be achieved Summary regional economic development strategy. The Long Island by 2020, assuming implementation of the proposed Regional Planning Commission (LIRPC) adopted the Sus- strategies. tainable Strategies from the Long Island 2035 Plan (as well – Implementation Strategies Strategies to achieve as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy) and the goals for GHG emission reduction, job creation, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and other selection