Volume 5, Issue 1

Winter/Spring 2007 President’s Notes John Dugan, AICP

On my office wall What does that which focuses on mixed in City is a map mean to us today in Okla- use and mixed income that covers more than 1400 homa? In my opinion, it neighborhoods in a pedes- square miles of central means negotiating with trian-oriented design Oklahoma. Almost every developers and neighbor- theme, nicely address these square mile shows some hoods to accommodate the ideas. type of development. highest density possible I encourage all As planners for concurrent with the highest Oklahoma planners to look the next generation we quality possible on every closely at the various New should be asking ourselves new subdivision and multi- Urban websites and publi- and our clients and custom- family development. It cations for ideas and strate- ers “is current low density means fostering mixed-use gies to better prepare our and intensity of develop- as the preferred develop- state for a sustainable fu- ment sustainable for the ment option, with densities ture. future?” high enough to sustain tran- And coming up is We are planning sit service whenever it is a City Planning Workshop now in OKC for a mini- finally available. And it organized by the Oklahoma mum growth of 70,000 challenges us as planners to Municipal League on Fri- additional residents and 50 design job/housing relation- day, May 4, at OSU-OKC million square feet of com- ships that work in terms of where the principles of mercial/industrial space both property values and New Urbanism will be dis-

ASSOCIATION over the next 10 years. The design functionality… cussed in some depth. I rest of the OKC metro area neighborhoods that are not encourage your attendance. is expecting a like amount. isolated and are accessible We as planners to jobs and schools without and advisors of the devel- every trip requiring auto opment and public sector use. communities have a profes- Of course, we are sional obligation to plan for not the first planners to this growth in the most consider these issues and efficient and sustainable challenges. In fact, the con- way possible. cepts of New Urbanism, ICAN PLANNING

Legislative Update by Erik Enyart, AICP

Editor’s Note: Informa- Tulsa) and Rep. Dorman REAP Grants SB 447 by tion derived from OML (D-Rush Springs). Con- Sen. Bingman (R. Sapulpa) cerns municipal control and Rep. McNiel (R. Bris- Legislation to watch: over the TIF. Bill passed tow) amends current for- the Senate with the title off mula for distribution of Tax Increment Financing by 44 to 0. (continued on page 5). SB 844 by Sen. Crain (R.

Inside this issue: Presidents Notes 1 Upcoming Events:

Legislative Update 1 • APA National Conference, April 14:18 in Philadelphia Al Gore’s World Tour Arrives in Norman at OU 2 • Oklahoma Housing Confer- ence, April 15:17 in OKC Carbon Trading in Oklahoma—An Introduction 2 • Enviro Expo, April 19 in Tulsa Complete Streets Webcast Summary 3 • OSN Conference, April 21 & 22 in Norman Maintaining Neighborhood Character Webcast Summary 3 • OKAPA Exec. Board Meeting, Central City Redevelopment in Fort Worth—Fernando Costa Lecture 4 April 27 in Sapulpa • OML C.P. Workshop, May 4 at Going Green: Builder of Valencia Development in OKC Strives for Eco- 5 OSU-OKC campus

Oklahoma Planner Facing the Future—Future City Competition 6 See website for more details. OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF THE AMER Join the Small Town and Rural Planning (STaR) Division 7 Campus Corner 7 Students get Eco-Friendly 9 Al Gore’s World Tour Arrives in Norman at OU By Erik Enyart, AICP

Norman, OK – , Uni- temperatures for the past 800,000 years versity of Oklahoma campus – Thursday, based on scientific measurements of carbon March 01, 2007. Former Vice-President Al dioxide (carbon) atmospheric levels re- Gore brought his worldwide tour to Okla- trieved from Antarctic ice core samples, homa and was met by an enthusiastic audi- which placed modern warming trends in the ence, reported by local newspapers to be context of known variation. between 7,000 and 9,000. At my estimation Toward the end of the presenta- of approximately 2/3 of the 11,528-seat tion, Gore highlighted and congratulated the facility, the number would be somewhere in City of Norman for being one of 369 U.S. between. cities at the time (442 now reported by The Oklahoma crowd gave a www.seattle.gov), and the only city in the standing ovation to welcome Al Gore as he State of Oklahoma to have endorsed the entered the arena. OU President David U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agree- Boren gave an introduction to Al Gore, his The excited crowd formed a serpentine line be- ment, a proxy for the Kyoto Protocol at the former fellow US Senator of 8 years. Boren ginning in the north parking lot, proceeding up municipal level. The Norman crowd gave the steps to the north entrance, and continuing also acknowledged in attendance several around the building through the lawn of the an enthusiastic cheer. Oklahoma officials, including Governor Lloyd Noble Center to the east entrance. Also during the event, David Brad Henry, Treasurer Scott Meacham, Boren reported that the University of Okla- State Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Gore remarked, “You win some, you lose homa was one of the first U.S. academic and State Senator Stratton Taylor. Boren some.... and then there’s that little-known institutions to have joined the Chicago Cli- also recognized Gore’s Oklahoma connec- third category.” mate Exchange, the second of two primary tion through his wife Tipper Gore’s family, The video- and slideshow-based carbon-trading marketplaces in the world. some of whom were also in attendance. presentation was the same one featured in The carbon-trading market ties an economic Icebreaking jokes and quips in- the full-length documentary, An Inconven- value to greenhouse gas emissions, and cluded, “I used to be the next president of ient Truth, which the previous week had allows carbon-producing industries exceed- the United States of America,” he said to won the Oscar award for “Best Documen- ing regulated allowances to offset their thunderous laughter, his perfectly executed tary Feature.” Gore’s presentation on overages by purchasing carbon credits from faux-deadpan face featured on the jumbo global climate change and the warming net carbon reducers. Boren noted that the screen. “I don't find that to be particularly effects of greenhouse gasses was sometimes University itself was taking measures to funny.” Also referencing the 2000 Presi- humorous, often sobering, and loaded with reduce carbon emissions and to embrace dential Election, in which he won the popu- facts, figures, graphs, and video clips. The alternative energy sources which contribute lar vote but lost in the Electoral College, most striking graph showed historic world to carbon reductions.

Carbon Trading in Oklahoma—An Introduction by Erik Enyart, AICP April 07, 2007

A Tulsa World headline today troduce only the key facts, and to more carbon sequestration opportunities and reads “Bleakest Yet Global Warming narrowly focus on one aspect of this reporting back to the Legislature, and Report Approved.” Tuesday’s World topic; specifically, how CO2 (“carbon”) authorized the Oklahoma Conservation headline read “Court: EPA Can Regu- trading and sequestration processes Commission to establish and administer late Exhaust.” tangentially intersect with the field of the carbon sequestration certification land use planning in Oklahoma. program. The intent of the act was ex- Global Climate Change is an inescap- In 2001, the Oklahoma Legis- press: “It is the intent of the Legislature able topic in the news and popular me- lature took the initiative and explored that such efforts to document and quan- dia. But how does Oklahoma fit into the potential for Oklahoma landowners tify carbon sequestration on agricultural the picture? to enter into the world carbon trading and nonagricultural lands within the market. That year, the Oklahoma Car- state will enhance the ability of the It would be an injustice to the bon Sequestration Enhancement Act state’s landowners to participate in any reader and the topic itself to attempt, in was passed into law, (Title 27A O.S. system of carbon dioxide emissions this op-ed article, to cover this broad Section 3.4), which formed the Carbon marketing or trading that may be devel- topic at any level of refined detail. It is Sequestration Advisory Committee, oped in the future.” therefore the intent of the author to in- charged with researching and exploring (Continued on page 8)

Page 2 OKLAHOMA PLANNER Complete Streets Webcast Maintaining Neighborhood Summary By Ken Bryan, AICP, Environmental Character Webcast Summary Planner, CH Guernsey & Company By Ken Bryan, AICP, Environmental Planner, CH Guernsey & Company, with additional reporting by Erik Enyart, AICP

On February 14, 2007, OKAPA sponsored a web- On March 14, 2007 the OKAPA sponsored an cast put on by the APA as part of their ‘Advanced Intensive online webcast training seminar titled Maintaining Neighbor- Series’. C. H. Guernsey and Company's of- hood Character presented by the APA. C.H. Guernsey & fice served as the host facility. The session was titled Com- Company hosted the seminar for the Oklahoma City area and plete Streets and was attended by - professional planners, the Tulsa Preservation Commission met in the Tulsa City landscape architects, transit representatives, traffic planners Council meeting room and served as the host in the Tulsa and engineers, as well as nonprofit organization leaders - area. Presenters included Katie Hatt, Noré Winter, and Jim primarily from the Oklahoma City metro area. (Icy roads and Lindberg. weather may have kept some potential attendees from travel- The issue of maintaining a neighborhood’s charac- ing too far from home.) ter is a concern in many communities, both old and young. In Session presenters included Barbara McCann, some cases teardowns and infill involve structures that do Christopher Conklin, Martha Roskowski, Randall Rutsch, not support the look and feel of the existing neighborhood. and Mike Sweeney. A Complete Street is described as one Teardowns were stated to be the biggest threat to historic that accommodates the needs of automobiles, pedestrians - preservation since the urban renewal era. The presenters including those that may require mobility assistance, cyclists, showed many examples from across the country. and transit safely and effectively. Several examples of ‘incomplete’ streets were given and recommendations on how to retrofit an existing facility and plan for adequate fu- ture facilities were provided. (continued on page 4) Incomplete Streets:

Existing ordinances are often outdated and do not speak to the character, form, or typol- ogy of new construction or addi- tions in established neighbor- hoods. There are multiple resolutions to address this con- cern, including Neighborhood Prevailing Standards/Urban De- sign Overlay, Neighborhood Stabilization/Established Neighborhood Overlay, Conser- vation District Overlay, and the most restrictive, the Historic Preservation District . The presenters recom- mended a healthy use of photos, graphics, and illustrations for communities and neighbor- (continued on page 9)

Page 3 OKLAHOMA PLANNER “Central City Redevelopment in Fort Worth”—Fernando Costa Lectures RCPL Students at OU by Erik Enyart, AICP

Norman, OK – Journalism Library at resource and the Oklahoma City’s similar was originally built over a street, but is now Gaylord Hall, transformation of the stream which courses planned to be replaced with an at-grade campus – Thursday, March 01, 2007. through downtown into an urban amenity. urban boulevard. Fort Worth, TX Planning Direc- With partners including the U.S. Army Costa discussed the city’s plans to tor Fernando Costa, AICP, presented to Corps of Engineers, the city plans to re-route focus on 31 commercial corridors and 16 OU Regional and City Planning students the Trinity River and create from the ’ox- specific urban villages within the city. He and other invitees a lecture entitled bow’ an urban lake. This will allow a large described how the city was shifting para- “Central City Redevelopment in Fort area immediately north of downtown, pres- digms to create a more livable city, which Worth.” Approximately 43 were in atten- ently an industrial brownfield, to be redevel- included such measures as working to con- dance. oped (see additional reporting in the October centrate development in specific areas (as Costa described the current rapid 2006 issue of Planning). opposed to present dispersed development pace of development in Fort Worth, noting Costa identified the second big patterns), taking a proactive (city-initiated) that the city saw, in 2006, its highest build- initiative: The redesign and rebuilding of approach to rezoning to bring areas into ing rate ever. Major natural gas reserves compliance with the comprehensive plan, were identified as a unique feature of Fort and taking a proactive approach to annexa- Worth, which boosted the city’s revenues tion. but also posed difficulties and required Costa identified Five Keys to major design considerations for develop- Success: ment. ⇒ Vision The city’s comprehensive plan, ⇒ Consensus referred to as the “Game Book” by the ⇒ Leadership mayor, was reported to be updated every ⇒ Partnership year. Costa identified the plan’s overarch- ⇒ Action ing goal to be the common recognition of Following the lecture, Costa Fort Worth as “the most livable city in fielded a couple of questions including an Texas.” inquiry by Dr. Marshment for plans to in- Highlights of the presentation clude light rail in the Lancaster Avenue included the massive redevelopment plan Fernando Costa, AICP, uses a slide show to dis- redesign, for which a qualified answer was for the ‘Trinity Uptown’ district, an area of cuss developments in central Fort Worth. Photo given. The second question asked how to approximately 800 acres immediately by Cat Bark, OU Gaylord College. stop continued [sprawl] at the peripheries north of (and part of) downtown Fort Lancaster Avenue, to transform the corridor of the city, which Costa answered by de- Worth and other featured central-city de- into an ‘Avenue of Light.’ Costa described scribing that the majority of development velopments such as the RadioShack and how street design has become exclusively a was at the periphery, and that the city could Pier 1 headquarters, the Tarrant County function of engineering, reflected in streets realistically capture only 10% of its growth College campus redevelopment, the new created solely for moving automobiles, as in the downtown area due to city initiatives. LaGrave Field. opposed to a function of planning. Costa However, Costa noted, this would be 10% A parallel was drawn between drew a second parallel between a freeway in more than would otherwise occur. Fort Worth’s redevelopment of the Trinity Fort Worth and I-40 in Oklahoma City, re- River into an economic and recreational lating how the Fort Worth elevated freeway See more at www.fortworthgov.org/planning

Complete Continued from page 3)

Many states and communities have adopted Complete Street policies and have been effective at vastly improving multimodal access and the connectivity of streets, sidewalks, and trails. Several success stories were pro- vided, a- long with Some challenges still remain - More information and great resources some where's the parking: can be found at: http:// contin- www.completestreets.org/ uing chal- lenges. Complete Streets (above and right)

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 Page 4 Going Green: Builder of Valencia Development in OKC Strives for Eco-friendly Homes By Kelley Chambers, The Journal Record Reprinted with permission from Dolan Media Newswires, Publisher. Referred by Nancy Wade, Bartlesville.

Developers of the Valencia vinyl-coated windows and a tankless cient homes and said the market will housing addition are focusing on hot water system. The Low-E vinyl- likely drive up the demand. homes that don't use much energy and coated windows are standard on all of Kathryn Thompson, new are some of the most environmentally the homes at Valencia. home consultant for Ideal, said often friendly houses on the market in their Ideal reports the zero-energy customers are unfamiliar with the con- price range. home is the first in the nation under cept of an energy-saving home. Richard McKown, developer $200,000. “We have an opportunity to for Norman-based Ideal Homes, said McKown said, however, that educate them,” she said. the company has spent its nearly two no matter how efficient a home is, peo- McKown said it usually does- decades in business on building homes ple will not want to live in one if it n't take long for home buyers to warm that are good for people and the envi- does not feel like a home. up to the idea of saving money on utili- ronment. “One of the things about our ties each month. He said the homes at From building a zero-energy houses is they are very comfortable,” Valencia can save many homeowners home to efforts at reducing construc- McKown said. about $600 a year on their utility bills. tion waste, McKown said the company He said efforts are made in all “Customers seem to be re- has also been able to keep the homes aspects of the homes’ appearance so sponding to this idea of green building affordable. that they feel like a home on both the or environmentally sensitive building,” “We've always been interested inside and outside, even while cutting he said. in energy efficiency,” McKown said. energy costs. McKown said the company is “Energy efficiency is kind of a mouth- Ideal has completed about 250 also looking into ways to reduce con- ful. People assume all new homes are of the homes. Home buyers can view struction waste including the use of energy-efficient.” different models at Valencia ranging in ground-up construction lumber as a Although McKown said he price from $110,000 to more than form of erosion control. The company did not want to knock the efforts of $250,000. also uses a roof structure that produces other area home builders, he cited fea- Valencia also has parks and a no excess wood or waste. tures built into the homes at Valencia, greenbelt system with trails and fishing “Sometimes there’s just a which will eventually number about ponds, as well as baseball and soccer mountain of debris,” he said. “So much 2,000, on NW 178th Street between N. fields. of that comes from design inefficiency. Pennsylvania and May avenues. The Darren Faires, president of the Our homes have very little construction development embodies Edmond and Home Builders As- waste.” Oklahoma City, including the Deer sociation, said he is not familiar with Creek and Edmond school districts. all of the energy-saving features of the Originally published in the Journal Record De- cember 5, 2006. In 1997, the Environmental homes but that the demand for energy- Protection Agency awarded Ideal as saving homes has increased due to Copyright 2006 the first 5 Star energy value builder for higher energy prices. Dolan Media Newswires homes costing less than $150,000. “The move in the direction as Valencia is home to one zero- far as smart energy type homes is the Provided by ProQuest Infor- energy home, which produces as much direction construction is going,” he mation and energy as it consumes, thanks in part to said. Learning Com- solar cells that convert solar energy to Faires said he did not see a pany. All rights electricity, ground-source heat pumps, downside to building the energy- effi- Reserved.

Fire Protection Districts SB 605 by electric services, with potential future Legislative (continued from pg 1) Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa and Rep. implications for all municipal utilities. Ron Peters, R-Tulsa, allows a single mu- Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) nicipality (regardless of size) or multiple Eminent Do- grant funds to sub-state planning dis- jurisdictions (municipalities and/or coun- main HB 1482 tricts. ties or rural fire districts joining to- & 1087 Appar- gether), to obtain a new revenue source ently inactive at Sales Tax Holidays SB 861 and Sales for municipal operations. the state senate Tax Exemption HB 2019 Latter by Rep. this legislative Shelton (D.OKC) and Sen. Lerblance (D. Municipal/Co-Op Electric HB 1739 session. Hartshorne) Concerns state oversight of municipal

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 Page 5

Facing the Future: For Second Year in Row, Catholic Schools Win First, Second in Future City Competition By Ray Dyer, Sooner Catholic. Reprinted with permission from Sooner Catholic Online. Referred by Larry Hopper, AICP

When it comes to planning for the future, Arias said the Sacred Heart team chose students in Catholic schools appear to the name “Astrophere” for its futuristic have an edge, at least when it comes to city. The city is built on an asteroid and designing a city of the future. For the features futuristic systems of transporta- fourth consecutive year, students from tion, communication and energy creation. Saint Philip Neri Catholic School will The team selected a cattle farm in which travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the methane gas produced by the waste the National Future City Competition. powered the city of “Astrophere.” The team will make the trip after winning the 2007 Oklahoma Regional Future City Both teams worked extra hours to make championship. The annual competition is The state champion Future City team from their entries champion-ship caliber. sponsored by the Association of Engi- Saint Philip Neri School in Midwest City “Our students learned many valuable your city that is no larger than 50 lessons,” Arias said. “They had to com- inches by 25 inches by 20 inches. bine creativity, logic, scales for math and • Select three team members that engineering to create something that will present a five- to seven- min- turned out simply amazing.” ute presentation describing the city. The Saint Philip Neri team will be repre- • The three team members will also sented in Washington, D.C. by presenters respond to five to seven minutes Sara Figueroa, Ashley Newburry and of questions from the judges. Melanie Scherer as well as Hawkins and Recla. Other team members in-clude Sue Hawkins and Monica Schmidlkofer Jonathan Fairchild, Stuart Symes, David A Close-up of the winning city were the Saint Philip Neri teachers who neers and for the second year in a row, coordinated the project for the winning the team from Sacred Heart Catholic team, while math and science teacher School in Oklahoma City finished second Anna Arias led the Sacred Heart team in in the prestigious contest. the competition. Each team is made up of seventh- and eighth- grade students and is Approximately two dozen schools from assisted by mentors. For Saint Philip central Oklahoma took part in the compe- Neri, the mentors were Wayne Recla, an tition. The regional finals, featuring electrical engineer, and Larry Hopper, a teams from 13 schools, were held Jan. 25 city planner. The Sacred Heart team was at Oklahoma Christian University during mentored by Roger Hall and Terry The state runner-up Future City team from National Engineers Week. Brown, engineers who work for Boeing. Sacred Heart School in Oklahoma City. Brown is also a graduate of Sacred Heart. Representatives from the Saint Philip Crall, Matt Wagner, Melissa Doan, Han- Neri team will travel to Washington, In honor of the Oklahoma Centennial, the nah Govett, Lea Ann Winterstein and D.C. for the Feb. 19-21 National Finals. Saint Philip Neri team created the city of Aaron Limon. “Soqua Vdodi Elohi — a Cherokee name The contest requires each team to pro- meaning “one with the earth.” The Sacred Heart team in-cludes present- duce the following: ers Rebecca Denny, Cody Woodward and Hawkins said the team decided to cele- James Niles. Other team members are • A computer city built using Sim- brate Oklahoma’s birthday in another 100 Jessica Pando, Guadalupe Garcia, Fabien City 3000. years — 2107. The city reflects Okla- Rojas, Nathaniel Myers-Antiaye, Juan • A 500-word abstract describing homa City being renamed to reconnect Franco, Josh Morgan and Jesus Carreon. the city they have created. with Oklahoma’s American Indian heri- • A 700-word essay on an assigned tage. The model shows both historical engineering topic — “Develop an Bricktown and numerous futuristic build- energy strategy to include fuel ings and transportation systems that cell systems to power a city of the would be found in the city core 100 years future.” from now. • Build a scale model of part of

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 Page 6 Join the Small Town and Rural Planning Division of APA

Be a STaR! (By Dale Powers, AICP, STaR Division Chair, and Paul Bednar, AICP, STaR Membership Coordinator

Every year when you get Finally, many private practi- • Access to the STaR message your invoice for renewing your APA tioners located in metropolitan areas board where questions to your membership, you are also renewing are STaR members due to their client planning questions can be your dues for membership in your base in rural areas. Planning outside posted and responses received State Chapter. Down on the bottom from throughout the country. of the invoice, you are also given the • 24-hour “rapid response” to any option of joining one or more of the questions posed directly to the Divisions of APA. Unlike Chapters Division Chair, Dale Powers of that are geographically based, Divi- Pine County, Minnesota. sions are based on some aspect of • Qualification for the STaR planning and are nationwide in scope. Awards programs for best small By far the most dynamic of town plan, small town planner, APA’s Divisions is the Small Town and student awards. and Rural (STaR) Division. STaR is STaR is also working on an dedicated to planners in small town initiative to subsidize a portion of and rural areas of the USA and Can- the cost of AICP certification main- ada. While many of you could not tenance for those STaR AICP mem- imagine working as the only planner the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro- bers whose income falls below the in your agency, many of STaR’s politan area is quite different than state median. members are solo practitioners and what metropolitan planners experi- STaR is excited about the are called upon by their agency’s ence, and the STaR connection has menu of services offered to it’s over Planning Commission and City proved invaluable to these planners 750 members nationwide (including Council to provide professional guid- when working with small town 8 here in Oklahoma), and we would ance on planning issues. Further, elected officials and staff. What are like you to consider joining our Di- these planners typically have less the benefits of joining STaR? The vision. We believe the $25.00 an- experience than metropolitan-area following list is just a sampling: nual dues are returned to you and planners. Consequently, these plan- your agency several times over in ners look to STaR for answers to • Access to our quarterly newslet- service. general planning and zoning matters ter that is an eclectic mix of For more information about that come before them. planning information, planner joining STaR, contact Division Another set of planners that profiles, columns on planning Chair Dale Powers at drpow- look to STaR for guidance are county management and technical plan- [email protected] or Membership planners. STaR is nationally known ning, as well as the most fasci- Coordinator Paul Bednar at for its work in agricultural land pres- nating photography of small [email protected] ervation and has recognized experts town and rural America of any in conservation subdivision among its Division newsletter.

Campus Corner By Erik Enyart, AICP; Photos Submitted by Dr. Charles Warnken, University of Oklahoma

The annual OKAPA/SPA Fall Williams’ Student Luncheon was held Friday, No- lecture fea- vember 17, 2006 and featured John Wil- tured the liams of Williams, Box, Forshee and Bul- story of the lard, P.C. of Oklahoma City. The event legal and was co-hosted by the OKAPA and the political Student Planning Association (SPA) of struggle the University of Oklahoma's Division which even- of Regional and City Planning. tually gave Williams’ lecture was entitled, way to the “Urban Planning Law Applied to Campus OSU campus Development and Expansion, including library. Eminent Domain.” Photos of John Williams, guest speaker.

Page 7 OKLAHOMA PLANNER Carbon Trading in OK specific industries or firms. This (continued from page 2) gives them a defined limit to reduce What Do You Think? emissions to. Those industries/firms The Committee’s November 29, then take measures to reduce carbon Do you think that the carbon 2002 and January 06, 2003 reports identi- emissions to an acceptable level, and trading industry will eventually affect fied a historical net loss of carbon due to those which achieve emissions levels land use patterns in your community? crop residue, tillage practices, soil ero- below the cap are given credit for sion, and other causes since settlement of their emissions shortage, which cred- Do you have any informa- tion pertaining to carbon trading that Oklahoma in the 1800s, and identified its may be traded to other industries/ you would like to share? methods for enhancing carbon sequestra- firms which are exceeding their cap. tion by reforestation and various agricul- Industries/firms exceeding their cap Email the newsletter editor tural and soil conservation methods and thus create demand for credits. practices. at [email protected] and share your thoughts — please note if you would

How does this affect agricultural and like your thoughts shared in a future What is ‘Carbon Sequestration?’ forest landowners in Oklahoma? newsletter article. Carbon sequestration is the When gathering information process of ‘sequestering’ or removing for this article, I contacted the state’s The various methods available CO2 gasses from the atmosphere. Along two largest public universities, OU for carbon sequestration identified in with other natural phenomena, trees and and OSU. Professors from OSU and the reports, including afforestation/ other vegetation, through the process of OU, respectively, stated they were reforestation, enhancements in agricul- photosynthesis, absorb carbon from the not aware of any programs in Okla- tural/cropland and soil methods and atmosphere and release oxygen. “For homa which certify credits for agri- practices, and oil/gas well injections, every ton of wood a forest grows, it re- cultural or forest producers to sell would seem of particular appropriate- moves 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide and carbon sequestration credits, or any ness for Oklahoma landowners. It is replaces it with 1.07 tons of oxygen academic work or active research on the opinion of this author that landown- (University of Missouri School of Natu- carbon trading itself. A response to ers realizing enhanced profits from con- ral Resources).” Methods for enhancing an inquiry to the Oklahoma Conser- tinued agricultural and agroforestry natural carbon sequestration include, vation Commission suggests a pro- landuses, as may be afforded by a vi- among other things, planting trees and gram may be in the works but not yet able carbon trading program, may be making adjustments in agricultural meth- established. less inclined to prematurely subdivide ods and practices. A program has been estab- and develop areas for immediate gain. Artificial methods are called lished in Missouri to certify credits ‘carbon capture and storage,’ and include and gain forest landowners up to So why are there apparently no pro- such methods as capturing carbon emis- $15.00 per acre per year for certain grams in place to gain carbon credits sions from fossil-fueled power plants and forestry-related carbon sequestration for Oklahoma landowners? injecting it into oil/gas wells to boost measures (Clearwater Forest Con- “The financial outlook for production. “CO2 has been injected into sultants). Once credits are certified, trading of carbon credits in Oklahoma declining oil fields for more than 30 they are aggregated by the National at current prices is not promising. Cur- years, to increase oil recovery Farmers Union (via its ND chapter) rently, the limited trading in the U. S. is (wikipedia.org, 04/07/2007).” Carbon for sale on the Chicago Climate Ex- in the $2-$5 per ton range and cost of sequestation by oil and/or gas well injec- change. The Farmers Union website confirming credits could exceed that tion is specifically authorized by the Act suggests that landowners in Okla- amount (Committee report November as a qualified carbon sequestration homa, even today, may be eligible 2002)” A check of today’s rates at the method. for participation (www.nfu.org). Chicago Climate Exchange: $3.50/ The “Oklahoma’s General metric ton. Thus, we have supply side of the eco- Landuse” exhibit, used in Carbon The report expresses concern nomic equation. Where does the demand Sequestration Advisory Committee’s over the viability of a carbon credit and come from? analysis and report, illustrates the trading program in Oklahoma, absent The ‘Cap and Trade’ system expansive areas of Oklahoma cov- U.S. participation in international ‘cap essentially works as follows: National ered by forests and agricultural lands. and trade’ agreements. governments who regulate greenhouse The report also finds, “The U. S. At present, it is not know how gas (GHG) emissions place a ‘cap,’ or Forest Service estimates that there Oklahoma will fit into this emerging maximum amount of GHG emissions, for are about 400,000 acres of Oklahoma world trading market. It appears to this For more information about this topic: marginal cropland that have the po- author that a proper balancing of supply www.okcc.state.ok.us tential to be planted to hardwood and demand is needed to fully realize www.nfu.org stands or buffers and utilized as agro- the ecological and economic benefits of www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration forestry acres.” such a trading system.

Page 8 OKLAHOMA PLANNER Maintaining... Unintended consequences although isolated examples have oc- (continued from page 3) have resulted in some cases. For curred in Midwest City, Norman, Choc- example, the historic ‘Denver taw, as well as in Oklahoma City. The hoods that are struggling with this issue. Square’ house design for infill areas issue was introduced that the concern Following the main presenta- was determined to have been out- over neighborhood character may even tion, a question and answer session fol- lawed as an unintended consequence extend to newer neighborhoods, after lowed. A fairly straightforward question of certain ordinances designed to all neighborhoods established in the was posed, ‘How do you stop tear- prevent incompatible design. The 1960s are approaching 50 years old and downs?’ The response was to examine advice was to constantly evaluate the have certainly developed their own the zoning ordinance to determine the effectiveness of policies and ordi- character. The issue of street trees and height, bulk, and area ‘by right’ allow- nances to ensure they achieve their parks was also discussed as a vital ele- ances, and compare and contrast the vari- intended purposes. ment of a neighborhood’s character. ous overlay districts to determine which A discussion forum follow- Oklahoma City and its neighboring overlay best fits the needs of the particu- ing the seminar in Oklahoma City communities recognize the need to up- lar neighborhood. included professional planners, archi- date many of their ordinances and in- It was expressed that the value tects, landscape architects, State His- clude ele- of a particular structure is a complex toric Preservation District staff, and ments that composite of multiple contributing fac- nonprofit community leaders all from help to tors. A significant percentage of the the Oklahoma City metro commu- maintain a value is derived from the neighborhood nity. This issue, especially as it per- neighbor- components of value, with others being tains to teardowns and rebuilds, has hood’s structure-specific factors including not completely emerged in the Okla- character square footage, the quality of construc- homa City area simply due to the when they tion, and property maintenance. economics of residential buildings, do so.

Students Get Eco-Friendly by Jami Mattox, Sapulpa Daily Herald Managing Editor

Students at Jefferson Heights The school also received a Elementary came to school Friday armed donation of promotional materials with shovels and pails, ready to pitch in from the Oklahoma Department of and help plant 30 trees that were recently Transportation for the “Keep Our Land awarded to their school. Grand” campaign. The trees were part of a grant The materials are part of a from the Oklahoma Department of For- larger program at Jefferson Heights estry and included red bud, hackberry and that will encourage students to partici- pin-oak trees. pate in its recycling program. As part “Students at Jefferson Heights Students at Jefferson Heights Elementary of the program, Show, Inc. of Sapulpa moved into a beautiful new school, but School helped plant 30 trees Friday. The trees will donate recycling bins and boxes funds did not include trees,” said Jeffer- were given to the school by the Oklahoma and pick up recycled items once a son Heights principal Tom Walsh. Department of Forestry and included red buds, week. hackberry and pin-oak trees. BOB “Thanks to the state of Okla- SHERRILL / Sapulpa Herald homa and local contributors, the school Originally published March 17, 2007 in the Sapulpa Daily Herald online version. Re- planted 30 new trees to provide shade and Westlake ACE Hardware in printed with permission. beauty for years to come.” Sapulpa donated 30 bags of mulch to The staff of Lamproe Construc- the planting project, and the students tion donated a full day’s labor to the with Sapulpa FFA donated time to school to dig 30 holes in which the trees help plant the trees. were planted.

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 Page 9 OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION

420 West Main, 9th Floor Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone: (405) 297-2576 Fax: (405) 297-1631 [email protected] We’re On the Web! The new Municipal Complex in Edmond. The facility uses geothermal HVAC systems which save thousands of WWW.OKPLANNING.ORG Making Great Communities dollars in energy savings annually. See more at Happen. www.edmondok.com/crosstimbers (photograph by Jan Ramseyer-Fees, AICP)

AICP to Move to Certification Maintenance (CM) Program

The AICP Commission is working on a proposed program to require continuing education in order to maintain AICP certification. The Commission has been in the process of reviewing comments received to- date, and will make a final decision at the April National Planning Conference in Philadelphia. To read more and to provide comment, go to http://www.planning.org/certification/maintenance.htm.

OKAPA Officers President Treasurer Legislative Liaison John Dugan, AICP Bob Wolfram, AICP Nancy McNayr, AICP [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (405) 297-2576 (918) 371-1012

Vice-President Board Of Directors Region III Commissioner Jan Ramseyer-Fees, AICP Jim Coles Mike Southard, AICP [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (405) 359-4796 (918) 596-2600 (405) 878-1655

Past President Larry Hopper, AICP Secretary/Newsletter Editor Richard Rolison, AICP Erik Enyart, AICP [email protected] [email protected] (405) 297-3935 [email protected] (918) 248-5917 (918) 227-6369

Professional Development Officer Farhad Daroga, AICP Steve Boettcher, AICP [email protected] [email protected] (918) 259-8412 (918) 584-7526

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 Page 10