Volume 3, Number 8 November 1995 Editor/writer: David Beach Inside The right priorities for transportation planning o Our lam), our food: , Eating sustainably in the region WITHOUT o Where we live: Our list of b(oregional names . o GRO H New. county visions from Lorain and Medina counties o Enviropmental education o Sprawl pressure points . 0 Good words
Humans, like aU otber creatures, must m ake .a difference; otherwise, they cannot live. But unlike other creatw'es, humans must make .choice as to the kind and scale of difference they make, If they choose 10 make . Here is one simple fact that tells a lot about the too small a difference, disturbing direction we're headed as a region: they diminisli their humanity. Between 1980 and 2010 the five-county region is If tbey choose to make too, great a difference, expected to lose three percent of its population while they diminish nature, and narrow their occupying 30 percent more residential land, subsequent choices; ullimately, they diminish Thus, we have sprawl without growth, We have a or destroy themselves, relatively stable population (and employment) base in Nature, then, is not only our source but also our limit and measure . . the region, yet we are spreading out - Wendell Berry overmore and more of the landscape, . See pages 4-6 HOME AT ECOCITY
Mission The state's role EcoCity Cleveland is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization : Thr~ugh the publication of the EcoCity Where YJe live The State of Ohio plays a major role in detennining where development Cleve'land Journal imd other programs, it will stimulate occurs. It builds roads and other infrastructure, gives tax breaks and grants, ecological thinking. about the Northeast Ohio region' More'than two years ago, we began our first Erie/Ont(lrio Lake Plain North Coast·Bioregion ig"nores the need for ~egional land use planning, and generally p.romotes (Cuyahoga Bioregion), nurture an EcoCity Network among issu~ of EcoCity C/~veland with the Euclid Creek .Watershed Nuclear Lakeshed sprawl at the expense of the cities. . local groups working on urban and environmental issues, following words: Flatlands of the West Bioregion Ohio & Erie Canal Corridor How should the state change? Here "are five principles to stress at the state and promote sustainable \;Vays Fragmented Mesophytic Forest Old Growth Suburb Bioregion Start by erasing the artificial lines level, with an emphasis on transportation investments: to meet basic human needs for food, she1ter. Great Lakes Plain Rocky River Watershed .better and more efficie,nt, not bigger. Sturui Greenberg, Environmental Health Wa~ch · Ianc~, water, plants, wildlife, Glaciated Plateau Bioregion Semi-Urban Suburb Bioregion • .Place matters. State transportation investments should support Phil Star, Center for Neighborhood Development, CSU people-:-and think ~gain about Grand .River -Headwaters Severance Asphalt Bioregion development, but it matters where that development occurs. All land in Ohio Chris Trepal, The Earth Day Coalition where you live. What is your horne Grand-Chagrip Bioregion Shaker Lakes Bioregion is not equal. The present goal ' Carl Wirtz, Hausser + Taylor territory on the planet? What's your Great Black Swamp Bioregion . Shale Beds Depot of state transportation bioregion? Great Lakes Basin Shoreway/Salt Mines Bioregion policies, however, is to open Advisory Board Deborah Alex-Saunders, Minority Erivironmimtalksoc, ; Since then, we· have been asking Hawthorn Heaven Bioregion Snow Belt Bioregion . up every acre of the st~te to Thomas Bier, CSU Housing Policy Research Program subscribers to include their bior~gional Height's Edge Bioregion South Erie Shore development. James Bissell, Cleveiand Museum ofNatural History name on their subscription coupons. (We Hiram Lobe Bioregion Suburban Forest Bioregion • Rural land co,!ld Diane Cameron, Natural Resources Defense COUI/cil . then put it on mailing labels so they actually Hockhocking Rainforest Suburban Sprawl Bioregion (should?) remain rural. Anne CIUlka, Union a/Concerned Scientists ·get mail addressed to their ~ioregion . ) Holden Arboretum Subregion Tallgrass Prairie Bioregion Rural land should not be seen Edith Chase, Ohio Coastal Resource Mgt. Project Periodically, we like to publish the list of. Homo Sapien High Density Bioregion The Planet Earth Sandie Crawford, Tri-C Center jor Environmenfpl Education as an empty place "needing" these bioregional names. We-think the Inner-Ring BurbsBioregion The Water Planet and Training Lake Effect Bioregion Third Planet from Sol development. In most -cases, names tell a lot about life in Northeast rural areas serve many vital functions-agricultural, ecological, Lee DeAngelis, Environmental Careers Organization Lake Erie Ancient Shore Bioregion Three Rivers Bioregion John Debo, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, Ohio. Some of the names are serious; others ' recreation~l-which should be preserved and enhanced. We should focus Lake Erie Bioregion ' Tinkers Creek Gorge Highlands Lois Epstein, Environmental De/e7l$e Fund are whimsical or sarcastic, Some define large-scale development in existing urban areas. With our stable population; Lake Erie Bluffs Bioregion Transit Frie~dly Bioregion Soren Hansen~ InterGraphic EngineeringServices . very small areas (the creek in the backyard); Lake Erie Lacustrine Plain Trumbull-Mahoning Bioregion therels no reason to -keep tearing up the countryside. Rick Hawksley, Fuller Design Group and Northeast Ohio others names are expansive (the Great . Little Creek/Big Creek/Cuyahoga River Turtle Island Bioregion • Job migrati.on is not job creation. Too ~ften, the. state. promotes the Land Trust Coalition . Lakes basin). But whatever the motivation, Little Cuyahoga Valley Unrealized Potential Bioregion migration ofjohs from the cities to the suburbs and then c~unts these as Kim Hill, Sierra Club each name is a personal declaration of Lorain Clay"Bioregion Upper Cuyahoga Bioregion lt Robert Jaquay, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission "new jobs created. This is the trag~c result of most Enterprise Zones in what's special about this place on the planet. Lorain Lakesho're Bioregion Urban Oasis Bioregion Ohio. State development officials need to change how they measure success, Da,:,id Knapp, United Labor Agency Susan Lacy, WE·CAN! Here are some of our current favorites: Lower Great Lakes Region Urban-Cement Bioregion s~ they are not rewarded for ~oving employment away from urban areas . Mahoning Valley Bioregion UrbanlRural Symbiot Zone Craig Limpach, Wildlife biologist 950 Feet Abov~ Sea Level where jobs are needed most. It is ludicrous, for example, to invest state gas Mentor Mar,sh Bioregion And the one with the tulip trees, trillium
2 EcaCilY ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 EcoCilY ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 3 REGIONAL DILEMMAS certainly sati sfy all reasonable needs with far less land than we are paving over now. Table 3: Losses in the core of the region Indeed, the ideal form for OUf metropolitan area would have development clustered around the city 1970 1994 Spra~I · ~ithoutgro~th of Cleveland (and Akron) and inner suburbs, with Population Population Loss % Loss other development focused on compact satellite The land use tragedy of Northeast Ohio cities and villages in the outlying counties (e.g., Cleveland 750,879 .492,901 257,978 34 Lorai'n, Elyria" Oberlin, Medina City, Hudson, Here is one simple fact that tells a lot about the Chagrin Falls, Chardon, Painesville). We could Brook Park 30,774 22,026 8,748 28 disturbing direction we're headed as a region: Table 1 : County population change, 1970-90 house and employ our population very well, while Euclid Between 1980 and 2010 the five-county region is maintaining most of our land as farms, woods and 71,552 53,251 18,301 26 expected to lose three percent of its population 1970 % of 1990 % of Change % ' natural areas. Garfield Heights 41,417 30,870 10,547 25 while occupying 30·percent more residential. land. Population region Population regiqn 1970-90 Change If development could be more compact, we Thus, we have sprawl without growth. We have {; I~l -' could all drive less because we would be located Maple Heights 34,093 26,171 7,922 23 a re latively stable popUlation ~and employment) Cuyahoga 1,720,835 74. 1,412,140 67 -308,695 -18 closer to the places we want to be. Higher base in the region, yet we are spreading out over densities would make public transit work better. Parma Heights 27,192 21,117 6,075 22 more and more of the landscap.e. It's a zero-sum Geauga 60,977 3 81,129 4 18,695 29 We would create less air poll u'tion and burn less game in which the perceived '~growth" of some gasoline. Our streams would be cleaner. We would South Euclid 29,579 23,364 6,215 21 parts of the regi~n often comes at the expense of Lake 197,200 8 215,499 10 .18,299 9 save money on infrastructure. The emphasis would older communities ." And it's a game that consumes be on maintaining and reyiving our existing urban Lakewood 70,173 57,063 13,110 19 more land and requires expanded Lorain 256,843 11 271 ,126 13 14,283 6 areas. In the long run, our communities would be Infrastructure-more roads and bridges, sewer and more livable. ·Fairview Park 21,699 17,526 .4,173 19 water lines, Schools and public buildings~that we Medil)a 82,717 4 122,354 6 39,637 48 and our chi ldren will have to build and maintain at Throw-away communities Bedford 17,552 14,598 2,954 17 great cost. . Region 2,320,572 2,102,248 -218,324 -9 But we are doing the opposite. Instead .of focusing The accompanying tabl-es tell the story of our development on the core of the region, we 8!e Warrensville Hts. 18,925 15,739 3,186 17 sprawling development patterns. The data come emptyipg it. from the U.S. Census and the Northeast Ohio Table 3 shows the big losers of population Berea 22,465 18,795 3,670 16 Areawide Coordinating Agency; the transportation since the region's population peak in 1970. They planning agency for Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, include the central city of Cleveland and Shaker Heights 36,306 30,548 5,758 16 Geauga and Lake counties. (NOACA does not surrounding inner suburbs. In effect, these cover Summit and Portage counties, so data from communities are being discarded so that "growth" University Heights 17,055 14,257 2,798 16 that part of the region are not included here) can occur out on the metropolitan fringe. . Cleveland Heights . 60,767 . 51,477 9,290 Table I shows how population has shifted from This outmigration includes income as well as 15 Cuyahoga County to surrounding cOUfities. In population. Table 4 shows how total payroll East Cleveland 39,600 . 33,918 5,682 14 1970, for example, Cuyahoga County contained 74 dollars have declined in Cleveland and the inner ' percent of the region's population. By the year suburbs, while increasing in the outer suburbs and Parma 100,216 85,792 14,424 .14 1990, Cuyahoga County's share dropped to 67 outlying counties (except for Lorain Co~nty , percent. Meanwhile, the other <,:ounties (Geauga, which was hit particularly hard by manufacturing Lake, Lorain and Medina) arc all gaining losses). This shift in wealth leads to a greater population. These trends are projected to continue concentration. of poverty in the core. These Table 4: Shifting payrolls I.ggregate p.yroll in millions of dollars) during the next decade. .. communities are burdened with higher social As Cuyahoga County em'pties out, its service costs at the same time they are losing 1972 Payroll 1987 PayrOll Gain/loss in population density (measured in people per income and tax base. Eventually, their social an'd (Inflated to 1987 dollars) real income residential acre) is decreasing; as sbown in Table 2. economic problems could undennine the fiscal That makes sense. But a.counter-intuitiye health of Cuyahoga County as a whole. Cuyahoga County $11,089$9,546 . -$1,543 phenomenon is expected to occur in the other At preseht, there is nothing in place capable of . counties. They will add population and decrease in changing these trends in Northeast Ohio. There a're Cleveland 5,908 4,025 -1,883 overall housing density. That's partly because most no programs, no organizations, no clear strategies of their new housing construction is in low density Table 2: Residential densities· IPopulation pe; residential acre) at the regionallevel--:-nothing strong enough to Inner suburbs 2,688 2,099 -589 suburban subdjvisions~big homes on large lots. break.the dynamic of sprawl and ,outmigration. There is, however, a growing recognition of the 1980 1990 2010 Outer suburbs ·1,340 . 2,296 956 If we were compact It_H' problem and an intense discussion about how to Does this residential sprawl have to happen? Well, Cuyahoga 15.4 13.7 11.3 respond. For instance, these issues were the inain Outlying counties 2,7092,839 130 we might ask how compact could we comfortably topic ofa "Livable Communities" conference be if development took a dilferent form. Imagine, Geauga 3.2 2.8 2.7 November 18 in Cleveland sponsored by the Ohio Geauga 144 270 126 for example, that the entire region was built to the Sierra Club. The conference brought together a population density of a well-planned community ·Lake 9.1 9.2 8.2 · diverse group of environmentalists, elected Lake 891 1,040 149 like Shaker Heights, or about 4,900 people per officials, planners, and university researchers square mile. At that'density, the region's 2.1 Lorain 9.6 9.3 7.9 (more on the conference in our nexrissue). Lorain 1,428 1,196 -232 .million people could fit into 429 square miles. Even the business community is realizing that Cuyahoga County has 458 square mUes, so all the ' Medina 6.4 7.4 5.3 bu siness as usual is neither affordable nor Medina 246 333 87 people in the·five-county area could live within'its sustainable. After a presentation or} population boundaries. We would need additional land for Region 12.2 10.5 8.9 trends at a recent NOAGA meeting, Dave Goss Region 13,798 12,385 -1,413 comme,rcial and industrial uses, but we could Continued on the next page
4 EcoCiTy ClEVElANd. 0 November 1995 EcoCiTy ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 5 BEING PLACES Fromp.5 from the Greater Cleveland Growth Association stood up and called for an New county visions alternative future for the region. "I'd like to Getting the transportation we want challenge NOACA a,nd others to think about Lorain County alarmed at the prospect of 365,000 more where we want to be 20 years from now," Ooss . people and an addi'tional 250,000 cars on the Something revolutionary has been happening energy efficiency with a seeks coordination mix of various said. "We have to challenge these trend roads. Groups such as Leadership Medina at the Northeast Ohio Areawide CoordinatiI)g It's.been no secret that weak political transportation modes. analyses, not just accept them like we have in County have sponsored community forums to Agency during the past couple of months. A leadership and a: lack of planning resources the past." . set new direction's for the county's futurc, and task force has been quietly working to · Planners at NOACA are have hampered the development of Lorain develop a scoring' system to rank supposed to balance these For its part, NOACA is trying to set the County Planning Commission is Count yin the past decade, The county has factors and are now priorities so that our transportation investments devei"oping a strategic growth platt transportation projects proposed in the five~ missed opportunities, and the d<;::velopment "fiscally constrained," reinforce more of the compact land uses that In addition, the Ohio State University , county region. that has occurred. wasn't always well planned. we want (see story on p. 7). Ultimately, Extension has begun organizing "growth To give you a sense for just how meaning that the TIP has to To improv.e cooperation and pJanning · be a short list of projects everyone in the discussion groupslt throughout the county. A revolutionary this.is, consider how things among communitie.s'in t~e county, a task < · 'region will have mini~wn of 10 groups in each township will worked in the pasL A new development that the region can really force of civic and business representatives has The right stuff · to come together "Forecasts of meet two to three times to work through a would bring traffic congestion to a particular afford. rather than a long . been laying the groundwork for, a new road. In response. local offiCials would wish list. Which transportation improvements should get top priority as a region and regional booklet which poses development choices: council of gQvernments.'Called thel,-orain demand that their county' eng~eer or the state All this means that in ·our region? ,The Northeast Ohio Regional Environmental come to grips The goal is ~opromote "civic literacy," County Community .Mliance, the Priorities Project, a program at Case Western Reserve with our '.lsflrawl employment according to the OSU Extension's Joe ' widen the road: add a highway·interchange, NOACA haS to make tough organization willad,dress issues,such as' land without growth" and population Daubenmire. or at least improve the traffic signals. _ choices like never before. A University which has called suburban sprawl Oll" ofthe use planning, transportation,and -efficient 1)1e implcmenting agency would then go couple of years ago; it drlemma. We . "The process is designed to create a region's greatest envirolID'ental threats, says we should favor show virtually , service deliVery by local governments; The started developing a have to !ccognize community dialogue that discovers deeply through the formality of getting the desrred transportation projects that will: Alliance may, for example, recommend that · framework for choosing by the dangerous, no growth over held conflicting values project listcd qn NOACA's Transportation • Preserve open space. certain government services adopting an excellent list of zero-sum game concerning the various Improvement Program (the TIP) SO that it • Minimize public health threats from air pollution. the next 20 be regionalized, or it may that have growth choices which we wou1d be eligible fOr federal funding. It didn't general 'planning ,principl~s. • Mlni!nize duplication of infrastructure, we provide technical assistance been playing. For years. Forecasts face;" 'Daubeilmire says. matter if there wasn't enough money to build (Principle 10, for instance, to help smaller units of • Preserve or enhance a sense' of neighoorhood and in the long run, of land use, UWe want to involve. the project right away. The project got listed says. "It is the intent of the government provide services . . NOACA Board to . conununity, this game is educate and engage as many with the expectation that, sooner or later, it absent policy more effectively. A key issue • Use multimodal strategies to reduce automobile use wasteful and citizens as possible in doing . would happen. And tl]e order in which encourage effi_cient. will be how.to absorb new . projects happened often had less to do with compact land use (i.e.~ maximi?e use ofpedes~ian, mass transifand bicycle- . destructi ve~ changes that the thoughtful choice work residents and, subdivisions · development that facilitates , friendly, options). environmentally, neces~ary to. adequately the regional benefit of the particular project would spilling into Lorain County • Do not substantiaUy contribute to further erosion of the so'cially and infoan our local elected than its readmess (e.g., how quickly the mobility, saves encourage from western Cuyahoga tax base of any existing urbanized,comrriunity hi region. economically. It's officials and appointed engineering work could.be completed). the infrastructure c~sts, the County-how to develop a Reduce the need for (ravel by promoting' compact, time to change. alternative government leaders." availability of local matching funds or local preserves environmcl].tally sensibly while maintaining . mixed~use development ' And we can For more infonnation, call politics. sensitive and agricultural , development, the county's rural character lands, and enhances-the change. We can 725-4911: Most projects did get built eventually. It The key thing to remember is thalthe need for costly show and environmenta-l quality. was NOACA's job to expedite the process; economic viability of choose a a transportation is a sign that places are inconveniently Organizers of th~ Alliance not ask a lot of questions that would slow existing conununities different path of continuation of ,One limitation of both these located; the less transportation the better. We should fueus are now seeking resolutions down growth. So few peop'e asked whether it within the region. ") development. For Lorain and Medina county . the sprawl of endorsement from each of made sense for the region to be promoting Now the agency is on taking care of places, rather than increasing the mobility example, the . initiatives is that they are the courity~s political more automobile use or whether we ought to developing specific criteria of cars between pl,aces. . rapidly growing patterns, .thus confmed to singJecounties jurisdictions:One challenge is to overcome be expanding roads to subsidize development so that it can evaluate how metropolitan when many of the forces they seek. to address suggesting rural township concerns that a centralized in rural areas. proposed transportation projects live up to But t\:le most interesting criteria proposed region of are regional{such as-the regional housing increasing. planning body might usurp 'local control over But the transportation planning climate the principles. In early drafts, the criteria are for projects that would add capacity to the . Portland, market which encompasses at least seven land use .. has.changed in the past four years since the include technical factors-whether a project transportation system, such as new or Oregon, plans to demands on counties).lt's hoped that as counties better "A council of governments can't supersede passage 'of the federal Interrnodal Surface will preserve the existing system (based on _ expanded' highways. They include questions absorb 700,000 define their own ~eeds and vision, they wil,l the local ord'inances or zoning, II reas~ures David Transportation Efficiency Act and new budget condition of pavement, bridges or bus fleets); such as: Was the problem defmed in such a new res~dents be in a better position' to participate in larger~ Cornicelli of the Lorain County Chamber of constraints at the state and federal levels. whether it will improve the efficiency of the .way that there could be a multi-modal with hardly any transportation regional discussions. At some- point, this Commerce. '.'We want to create a forum for Now the federally·mandated goal of system (reduce congestion, reduce air . solution? (For instance, is the question how increase in its . system. " needs to happen. dialogue and to build a consensus on a vision transportation no longer is simply to m.ove ' pollution, reduee transfer times between to move more cars faster past a certain point urbanized area. One tool thatrnightfacilitate regional. -NOACALong for the county." . more cars faster, but also to improve travel modes), reduce peak demand (e.g., or how to create the most efficient inix of To accomplish planning. is a,'.'zonip.g 'potential" study Range Plan For more information, call Comic~lli-at accessibility, quality of life, air quality and ,rush hour traffic) and so on. driving, walking, biking and transit?) Or, this, the Portland underway at the Northeast Ohio Areawide 323-9424 or Lorain County 2620 at 366-2020 does the project enhance the qUality of life for metro area will Coordinating Agency. NOACA staff are or 246-4589. adjacent property or does it degrade quality of promote higher-density development collecting zoning maps from every life in terms of visual aesthetics, noise, · downto~n and in satellite'urban: centers, with jurisdiction in the five-county area, analyzing Driven to death? Medina County accessibility? an emphasis on developmcnt clustered near how much- development is allowed by current ,As we sprawLin Northeast0hio. we move places farther apart,and that forces .us to drive . ponders gr:oWth There will also be scoring of land use light rail transit stations. 'And it will greatly zo,ning, and projecting what is likely to more. Accordirig to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating"Agency (NOACA), the annual Today. Medina County is mostly rural and ~pacts: increase the regional proportion of residential happen to the developing edge·ofthe region. number of miles driven in the five-c·ounty region increased by two thirds from .1970 to 1990. has about 135,OOO.residents. But the county • Is the land near the project open space development in the central city. The zoning maps are· being digitized to allow That figure could increase another 1-5 percent in the next two decades. Moreover. by the year has a double-digit growth rate and, giv.en or developed? The choice is ours. We can continue to let various development scenarios to be'played 2010 the number of motor vehicles in the region will exc~ed the number A sustainable Our land, ou.r food food system? In recent years we've been hearing a lot By Chris Craycroft and other about "sustainability." It's become a A dozen reasons to buy local and organic development It may seem like an conveni(;,mt buzzword. but it has' proven increases. It may be odd thing to do, but difficult to define in practical terms. We 1. Freshness. Locally-grown organiC fruits elimination of planetary biodiversity are some that the folks that after you've given have a sense that, in the long run, some and vegetables are usually harvested within 24 of the problems associated with today's ' . own some ofthis thanks for your next activities are more environmentally hours of being purchased by the consumer. .predominate fanning methods. Organic growers agricultural land meal, meditate on it. friendly and sustainable than others. Produce from Florida and California can't be use practices that protect soil, air al1d water decide it's more Just.what do you And we can develop indicators to tell us that fresh. . . resources; and that promote biodiversity. profitabl~ to ~'grow" know about his food? if we're moving in the directibn of 2. Taste. Produce.picked and eaten at the 10. Cost. Conventional food prices don't houses than crops, and so they sell. Or Where did it come from? How was it grown? s~stainability (see our May 1995 issue). height of ripeness tastes better. re~ect the hidden costs of the environmental, perhaps the farmers are getting on in years And by whom? But irs harder to im'agine what a 3. ~utrjtion. Nutritional value declines, health and social consequences of prevailing but don't have any friends or heirs 1hat are It's okay. You have a right to know about truly sustainable system would be often dramatically, as time passes after harvest. agricultural practices--of, for instance, interested in fanning. your food. After all, you are about to enter Iike-a food system, an energy system, Because locally-grown produce is freshest. it is correcting a water supply polluted by Land trusts like PLACE. value this into a very intimate rdationship with it, and a transportation system-much less a more nutritionallY' complete. agricultural runoff, or obtaining medical endangered land and can offer ~ number of parts of it will stay with you for a very long . whole community with many 4. Purity. Eighty percent of American treatm~nt for pesticide-induced illnesses tools to landowners who wish to earn a fair time. interrelated systems. What is the goal? adults say they are concerned about the .safety suffered by farmers or consumers: When these return; yet prevent their land from being The point is, the simple act of selecting How do we get there? How do we ofthe food they eat. They worry about residues and other hidden costs are taken into accoJ,lnt, as . developed. But what if we approached food to feed our bodies has enormous effects know when we've arrived? of pesticides and fungicides. These materials 'they should be, locally grown organic foods are endangered farmland from a different on the rest of our lives. Was your food Of course; we will never "arrive" at a are not permitted in an organ'ic production seen clearly for the value they are, even ifthey perspective? What if the citizens of Portage grown using sustainable farming practices final end state; sustainability will syst.em either before or after harvest. cost. a few pennies more. County committed ourselves to creating a which encourage natural diversity, build require a continuous process of 5. Variety. Organic farmers selling locally 11. A step toward regional food self local, sustainable food system in which we healthy soils and.conserve water and fossil improvement. But we do need 'are not limited to tbe few varieties that are bred reliance. Dependency on far-away food sources supported our friends and neighbors fuels' without depending on toxic pesticides? . compelling visions of what might pe for long-distance shipping, high yields and . leaves a region vulnerable to supply disruptions, economically while nurturing the land that Was it grown, processed and marketed possible to inspire us to action. shelf life. Often they raise and sell wonderfully and removes any real accountability of producer supports us? locally? Are your food dollars supporting . If we started thinking about a unusual varieties you will neyer fmd on to consumer. It also tends to promote largc;:r, your community and helping to keep family Local food sustainable food sy.stem for Northeast supermarket shelves. less-diversified farms th,at hurt both the Obio, for inst~ce, here are some of the farms in business? With a consistent, local market, farming 6. Regional economic health. W~en you environment and local economies/communities. questions we might begin to ask: . Unfortunately, for most of us, most ofthe' would become a more profitable business. buy locally-grown food you keep money' Regional f~od production systems, on the other time the answers to these questions are no. We would get fresh, wholesome food. at (he • What are the criteria for a within the community. This contributes to the hand, keep the food supply in the hands of sustainable food system? (All food We buy food that is perceived to be cheap, sensible time of year (not a melon in January health of all sectors of the, local economy, many. provide interesting job and self grown locally? No energy inputs from convenient and is most readily available at that has traveled from more exotic places increasing the local quality of life. employment opportunities, and enable people to , outside the region? All organic? Equal our su-permarket, responding to well-crafted that most of us will ever see). Locally owned 7. Soil stewardship: Soil health is essential influence how their food is grown. trade with other regions?) advertising and subtle coercion. food processing businesses might spring up. for the survival of our species. Conventional 12. Passing on the stewardship ethic. When • What would a sustainable food farming practice's are rapidly depleting topsoil you buy locally produced organic food you Crops vs. houses We would regain an understanding and appreciation of the art and science of food system be like in our region? How fertility. Creating and sustaining soil fertility is cannot herp but raise the co.nsciousness of your Portage County where I live has many production and thus a truer sense of its . much of our food could be grown the major objective for organic growers, friends and family about how food buying attributes, among them rural open space and value. locally? What would we have'to eat .8. Energy conservation~ Buying locally decisions can ~*e a difference i-n your life and prime agricultural farmland. As we are : And we would feel better knowing that during different seasons? What farming grown organic foods decreases dependence on the life of your community; and about how this becoming acutely awar~. many people from practices would have to change? we have petroleum, a nonrenewable energy source. basic. act is connected to planetary issues. more populated strengthened and • What would be the implications One-fifth of all petroleum now used·in the 13. Add your own .. : areas like Cuya~oga added threads to our for land use and development patterns United States is used in agriculture. Organic County also Reprintedjrom Ohio Ecological Food and Farm county's social in the region, it we became committed production systems do not rely upon the input appreciate the rural- . Association's 1995 Membership Directory and Guide fabric, while keeping to growing much more of our own of petroleum-derived fertilizers and pesticides to Certified Growers. Founded in 1979, OEFFA small town sqme unpaved land, food? and thus save energy at the farm. Buying from represents people who are interested infood grown character and are dark night skies, and • What models exist? What existing local producers conserves additional ene'rgy at '. using organic methods; preservation offamily farms taking advantage of locally grown apples programs (organic farms, community the distribution level. andfarmers; greater regional food self-reliance; and streamlined the connections between healthy soil, healthy food, . to ponder. 0 supported agriculture programs, food 9. Environmental protection. Soil erosion; commuting routes co-ops) are already working toward a pesticide j;ontamination of soil, air and water; healthy farms and healthy communities. For more information, contact OEFFA at PO Box 82234, to live here while Craycroft is a trustee sustamable food system? nitrate loading of waterways and wells; and of PLACE, a land truSt Columbus. OH 43202. (6141294-FOOD). maintainirtg a job - • What can we learn from our in Portage County, and somewhere else. Amish neighbors in Northeast Ohio? Land prices will works at Silver Creek . Farm, an organic/arm II! :VVhat 'are the next steps in rise as the demand near Hiram. This ' Northeast Ohio? That is, what's the for new housing, article is reprinted plan, if we take the idea of sustainable gas stations. from PLAC~'s Fall food seriously? shopping centers . 1995 nel.vsletter. 8 EcoeiTY ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 EcoCiTY ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 9 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION The flowering of environmentCJI studies A recent story in The New York Times Sunday Magazine called environmental studies lithe academic field of the '90s." Instead of getting bogged down . in narrow, abstract theories of IIpost-structuralism," students want to connect witl~ "the actual universe of rocks, trees and rivers." They are flocking to the interdiscip·linary courses of ~nvironmental studies: They are seeking a return to ~ctivism and" social responsibility. Among the environmental studies "gurus" listed in the Critters in the creek: Students from Shaker Heights' Woodbury School take inventory of article was David Orr of Oberlin aquatic organisms in Doan Brook near the Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center. The school 'College. Recommended readings joined more than 50 others in Northeast Ohio this fall to monitor the water quality of local Digital elevation model showing relief of the Chagrin River watershed. Source: University School streams. included Orr's recent book, Em·th Want a map ofthe newest subdivision sites Eventually, the school could become a within one to three meters of its true in Mind. in the Chagrin River watershed? Want to' clearinghouse for digital information on the position on the face of the planet. Improving rivers on a budget analyze where steep slopes and erodible Chagrin, according to Friebertshauser. "We Next year, Friebertshauser plans to equip Wetland soils along the river make development want to make the data available on-line, so t~acher~ and studies with global positioning How would you spend a $2 million grant from public education projects. unwise? You might find some of the people don't have to run around field units and have them map the location saves school Ohio EPA for water q·uality improvements? "If you don't educate people about the information at local planning com~jssions everywhere tracking it down ... GIS is an of new developments in the watershed. The The Parma school board bad That was the hypothetical question posed to impartance of clean water, you won't have a interdisciplinary tool that can promote global positioning units can be connected 0; park districts. But perhaps the best plans to close Green Valley students at the local congress of the Global lasting impact," said one. source is a high school. collaborations between people from directly to laptop computers, allowing Rivers Environmental Education Network . After hearing the students' arguments, water Elementary School as part of a University School, a private ,~------, students to create GIS maps on (GREEN) held No"ember 3 at the Auburn quality experts from Ohio EPA and other prep-school for boys in Hunting the fly as they drive around in a school consolidation program. ·Careers Center. organizations decided how to award the Valley, is becoming a leading car. But community pr~ssure . has As part of a mock budget hypothetical grant money. They "We'll be able to produce maps resource for studies of the u.s. does GIS forced the board to re-evaluate its hearing, students had to agree on "Ifyou don't placed half of it in a regional fund of what's going on out there for broad educational programs Chagrin River and its tributaries. plans. a program that would create the One reason for this is its (Translation: Students at University School without spending a lot oftime," greatest benefit for streams in educate people about water quality. And they Interestingly, the outcry to computer lab, where instructor use geographic information systems ' Friebertshauser says. Northeast Ohio. They quickly about the divided the .rest among the Reini Friebertshauser and tO,study Friebertshauser also has save Green Valley was motivated realized that the $2 million importance of watersheds for local educational students are using geographic obtained funding to develop a in part by the school's recently . would not go far if they tried to clean water; you programs. information systems (GIS) to the Chagrin River \!Vatershed" Chagrin· Watershed Institute, a make capital improvements to GREEN is an international constructed wetland, a unique . won't have a '. map and analyze changing land summer program for students place for learning thai students, wastewater treatment plants or program which allows students to uses. different fields of interest." and teachers at high schools throughoui the buy land to protect stream lasting impact, .. exchange water quality parents and teachers had They are assembling data from local, The school is already helping public Chagrin River drainage area. The institute corridors. So they -had to '------' information about rivers in their· , , state and federal agencies on soil types, agencies and researchers determine the complements other activities at University developed with great pride (and negotiate for other projects. And they had to communities. This year in the Greater Cleveland vegetation, topography, water quality, and precise location of their field work. It . School related to the river, such ~s with the assistance of the . compete for funding for the rivers ihey area, students from more than 50 schools many other factors. When all this maintains the only global positioning base instructor Terry.Harmon's work to restore Cuyahoga Soil and Water represented- the Cuyahoga, the Grand, the monitored ~ ites on the Cuyahoga River, Chagrin brook trout populations. And it could help information is plugged into a GIS, it can be station in the region. Researchers can call Conservation District). Tuscarawas, and small streams including Doan River, Grand River, Rocky River, Tuscarawas easily analyzed. For instance, in minutes the school's 24-hour computer bulletin . . coordinat~ other community efforts to arook and Euclid Creek . River, Euclid Creek, Doan Brook and other "The wetland saved the you can generate a map showing areas of board, download the exact positions of pre~erve the watershed. At one point, a negotiator f,?r one of the big streams. They assessed various chemical wetland soils that are within a certain satellites· in space" and fine tune the· Planning meetings for the institute are on school,H says teacher Jeanne rivers complained,-"You want $500,000 for a parameters, the diversity of aquatic animal life distance of major roads. Or you can show location data they got in the field from the second Tuesday ofthe month at 7:30 Goldberg. "Everyone has a real brook!" And his adversary retorted, '"'You're and the quality of stream habitat. Then they the correlation between the addresses of handheld global positioning devices. Thus, p.m. at the Cleveland Metroparks' Look sense of ownership. They s.aid .saying we don't deserve the money just h.ecause used computers to display their data and homes with septic systems and water the botanist from the Cleveland Museum of About Lodge. The public is welcome. For they worked too hard to give up we're a tributary?" communicate with other schools. quality monitoring sites where high levels Natural History can record the location of a more information, tall 831-2200 and ask In the end, the students agreed that they For more information about GREEN, call their school." of bacteria have been found: rare plant in the middle of a swamp to for Reini Friebertshauser. 0 could get the biggest bang for the buck with 68'(4820.0 10 . EcoCil)' ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 EcoCil)' ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 11 ECOCITY DIGEST ECOCITY DIGEST River Rats' report Doing good Rai ls-to-Trails Conservancy for when' selling out her work on the Towner's Members of the Friends of the Crooked 111£ fNViRoNMEN,A,USTs ARE OUR AIi< 15 C.LE"NER, OuR Woods Trail between Kent ar:Id Pressure points The Boy Scouts of America River recently completed their se,cond ALwI\V~ COMPLAINING. BvT LE rS ""ATER PURER, OUR rOOD SAf;ER. Ravenna and Windham. PLACE • Lorain County sewers: The future development of much of deserve praise for resisting the "Crooked River Century TouT," a canoe tour LOOk' "T 1J.iE RECORD. is now raising funds to help Lorain County could hing·e·on the creation of a Rural Wastewater blandishments of developers public agencies extend. the trail System Authority ·in Carlisle, Columbia, Eaton, Elyria. New Russia and of the entire Cuyahoga River. Here are some when selii ng'470-acre Camp along abandon·ed rail lines Grafton townships. Such a system is being studied by the area's Rural of their observations on the river as a Belden in southern Lorain between Akron anCt Warren. .Electric Co-op. . recreational. experience: County. The Scouts are selling Donations are needed, For more IlP irst and foreOlost, the Cuyahoga has the prime, wooded land to the • Carrying capacity exceeded: Rapidly-growing Hudson has information, call 678-3663. ovenvhelmed its watershed. The city's wastewater treatment many places of outstanding beauty. Canoe state for a nature preserve rather over1oade~ plant is bypassing poorly treated sewage into Brandywine Creek, and the access to the river is challenging but than let it b~ turned into Newburgh Heights plant cannot be iQ1proved ehough to protect the creek. So Hudson will tolerable along most of the river. With a few subdivisions. festers begin sending its wastewater to the Southerly treatment plant along the , notable exc~ptions, the river is navigable in Although the Scouts probably Che~tron Corp. is proceeding Cuyahoga River. most flow conditions. From Burton to could have gotten a higher price with pl.ans to bury radioactive • retail: Folks in Parma should be looking nervOlJsly at , Streetsboro, paddlers with limited from developers, they earped a Zero~sum wastes in a Newburgh Heigh.ts fair return and served the .public the construction of the SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. The glitzy new experience can canoe safely. But in-current 'Iandfill, good. Their action might serve mall will undoubtedly draw shoppers from Parmatown Mall . First downed trees that jumble the rest of the river and antf 'as a model for other civic generation malls like Parmatown (and Severance Mall in Cleveland· require some orientation and paddling skills. nuclear institutions with'land to sell . .Heights) will have to re-invent themselves to compete with the neW In add ition to these strainers, which can be . activist Ohio State University, for m",\Is and big box stores out on the ,subu rban fringe. In the stagnant retail life-threatening in high water levels, there Chris example, is considering what to market of Northeast Ohio, we keep spreadif1g consumer spending over a are a number of dangerous hazards (some of . Trepal of wider area . do with the Firestone estate in which lack warnings) where guidance or the Earth Day Coa liti ~n says the Bath. Case Western Reserve • Westlake wins: The city of Westlake reccntly won a zoning battle e~erience.is definitely needed. caSe is setting a dangerous University recently drew flack in Cuyahoga Common Plea~ Court to stop a proposed Super Kmart. City uWhile much of touT_was an precedent. for selling a large piece of land 'residents have protested plans for the giant store,. wHich they believe unexpectedly beautiful vqyage, there are "It's is not even a good Tom ToiesIBuffa10 News in eastern Geauga County to would ovenvhelm therr community. Kmart attorney' Timothy Grendell, -landfill site for solid waste, several aesthetic intrusions into t~e developers instead of.. who frequently represents developers against local communities, said mu.ch less radioactive waste," recreational value of the river. Obnoxious Thanks to Stokes . cooperating with the Geauga Kmart would appeal the ruling. she says. "They'rejust"digging a odors exude from some water treatment Local Democrat Co~gressman Louis Stokes is playing a key role in efforts to block the Park District. • Widening th·e flight path: Fears that passage of State Issue 2 facil ities, outfall pipes and certain Republican onslaught against the environment. Stokes! successful motion on November 2 rathole and dumping it in." would accelerate ODOr's plans to widen highways are already being , The·Nuciear Regulatory commercial/indus instructed House conferees to remove 17 anti-environmental riders from an EPA Enhancements realized. The extra money will advance the widening of 1-90 in Lorain Commission wants to ·allow trial operations appropriations bill. recommended County by two years. Many officials jn the region worry that the proje~t quick and dirty cleanups of this (and a simi lar widening project on1-71) will only exacerbate suburban bordering the Sixty-three Republicans joined Stokes, including Northeast Ohio's Martin Hoke, Steve The federal surface site on Bert Avenue and sprawl to outlying counties. river. Some LaTourette and Ralph Regula. The only Ohio Dem.ocrat to vpte against the measure was transportation act reserves a pot thousands of other contam inat~d developments James Traficant of Youngstown. of funds for "enhancement • Preserving small town ~esthetics : While other communities in the sites around the country, TrepaJ region are grabbing federal grants to imprQve traffic signals and increase have constructed Meanwhile, the anti-environmental onslaught continues on other fronts. Ofparti<;ular projects," which promote· adds. "lfthey show they can the flow' of automobiles along their major roads, Chagrin Fall s recently ugly and offensive concern is Senator Bob Dole's Omnibus PropertY Rights Act of 1995 (S. 605). This en~iron~ental quality, historic bury radioactive waste a few rejected such a grant. Faced with strong opposition from historic . encroachments "takings" bill would require the federal government to pay property owoers and special character, or bicycle and -hundred feet fr!Jm homes and pedestrian facilities: preservationists, the village council turned back $500,000 for traffic into and adjacent interests for not harming the enviroriment. It.would cost taxpayers billions of dollars, from the Cuyahoga River, they Local projects recently · lights, unless the lights can be hung on ~xisting utility poles rather than to the river. Downstream of the confluence while .bogging down the government and subverting essential environmental protections. can dump it anywhere." recOl;nmended to the Ohio on new poles with long mast anns. "Ideally. the money should be used with the Little Cuyahoga, the river is For more information, contact the Clean Water Network at 2021624-9357. for pedestrian projects," says Wendy lIoge Naylor of Chagrin Falls Departme~t of Transportation especially assaulted with IJtter and trash, At the state level, a "takings" bill was introduced recently in the Ohio Legislature, The Looking out for funding include Cleveland's Preservation. most of which is washed in with storm water so-call ed Private Property Rights Protection Act is co-sponsored by Rep. William for Doan Brook Lakefront Bikeway: Eastlake's , • Edge city car dealers: In an effort to trim costs, General Motors is . from sewers and roads. We paddled from ' . Batchelder of Medina . Doan Brook, the picturesque but . Vine Street beautification, trying to consolidate its car deaierships. GM is also prodding dealers "to the Little Cuyahoga to Bolanz Road after a polluted stream flowing through Parma's Ridge Road scenic relocate to thriving retail. districts, typically on suburban fringes and C l ev~ land and eastern suburbs, major summer storm and were outraged by Election results enhancement, Lake Metroparks' away form 'older cities and suburbs," according to Automotive News. may be the focus of increased the un sightly beverage and fast-food Congratulations to the Cleveland Metroparks, Lake Metroparks and Geauga Park District 1-90 Scenic Greenway, • Plopping suburbia inJbe city: One big advantage cities have over citizen activism.in the· coming containers, athletic accouterments and other for passing tax issues on November 7. The votes show once again- bow much the public Cleveland Metroparks' Mill most suburbs is their hum81).-scale, walkable environments. So it's a . years. The Doan Brook garbage. In addition, rip-rap made of old values well-managed parks and natural areas. Creek Waterfall and Trail shame to see the automobile-scale of suburbia creeping into th~ city. The Watershed Committee has concrete slabs with dangerous, protruding Some other interesting election issue~: Corridor, Avon Lake's bikeway, latest outrageous example is' the proposed headquarters of Bearings fnc. formed a task force to study rebar-lines long sections of the steep, sand Elyria's renova~ion of the New in Cleveland's Midtown Corridor. • Sprawl and outmigration influenced races in a number of towns, including Mentor. storm water and water quality clay banks in· the National Recreation Area. York Central rail station, and the • Rumor of the month: Could funding problems push the state to North Royalton, brange and Lakewood. issu(fs, edlicate citizens about By contrast, some municipalities have little Lorain Port Au.thority's Black merge the Obio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio • Voters in Medina County's rural Harrisville Twp. voted 371 to 314 to cbange zoning lhese issues, and work with 'impact on the river, and, in general, the Rive(·Plaza and Riverwalk Department of Natural Resources into a single conservation department? to permit development of an outlet mall at [-71 and SR 83. Some voters saw the proposed surrounding communities to heal Pfomenade. Other states have combine{J programs, and there are pros and cons to parks which line 'f!!uch of t~e river aTe its maU as progress, \o\!hile others fear how it will impact their quiet, farmi~g community" the watershed. The task force great defenders. such organization. On the one hand, a Jarger department can command •• Portage County residents voted against a sales tax hike for the Portage Area Trail maker was prompted by citizen greater authority and resources. On the other hand, it would contain uThe big conclusion ofthe tour is that .our Regional Transportation Authority. Virginia Shaw o·fPLACE, the opposition to the city of many divisions with conflicting interests. ·Even now, some divisions river is a wond~o u s and magical reality • Shalersville Twp. increased minimum lot sizes for sing l e~farni l y homes to two acres. Portage County land trust, Cleveland's plans to construct a within ODNR don't always communicate well (e.g., the economic which has fun and adventure around every We would appreciate hearing about othet local electoral co!1tests in which growth was a recently rece ived a community storm water ~etention basin on development-oriented staff who develop park resorts and the rare plant bend." major issue. service award from the Ohio the brook. folks in the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves). 12 EcoCi!)' ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 EcoCi!)' CIEVEl'!Nd 0 November 1995 13 ECOCITY DIGEST BIOREGIONAL CALENDAR Cleveland world have proven to be effective in December 7 December 22 addressing environmental and social Permits to pollute " Environmental Legislation at a Winter Solstice celebration, ·6 p.m. at the before problems in comprehensive and holi stic Crossr~ads," the annual conference of the Crown Point Ecology Learning Center, 3220 Here are same Ohio EPA actions of interest from recent Cleaveland ways. Based on the.'Four Pillars' of Ohio Alliance for the Environment in Ira Rd. in Bath. Call 666-9200 to register, as weeks. For complete and up - to ~date lists ofpemlit Want a wonderful ecology, social justice, participatory Columbus. Call 6 14/421-7819 for registration space is limited. activities in your county. watch for weekly legal introduction to the democracy and nonviolence, the qrce.n informat ion. nQtices in your local newspaper. For more detailed December 22 bioregion? Then check out the Party represents a genuine alternative to informat ion, call the Ohio EPA Northeast District December 9 Winter Solstice Serenade with the acoustic "Cleveland Before Cleaveland" traditional parties." Office in Twinsburg, 425-917 1 . Birdwatching for winter music group Sas~afraS, 7 p.m. at the exhibition opening the first week of ~- For information about local meetings residents in the Cuyahoga Cleveland Metroparks' Look About Lodge. December at the Cleveland Museum of • of the Greens, cail 631-0557. Hearing Valley National Recreation Fee $2. Call 247-7075. Natural History. Ohio EPA will conduct a public hearing on the Area, 8 a.m. at Kendall Lake The show, which is a Cleveland 20 years December 30 proposa l by Whitlatch & Co. to relocate a segment of Shelter on Truxell Road. Bicentennial event, explores how our of Citizen Action Tinkers Creek in Twinsburg. December II at 7 p.m. at Christmas bird count by the Western landscape was shaped over geologic time, Congratulations to Ohio Citizen Action the Twinsburg City Hall Auditorium, 10075 Ravenna December 12 Reserve Audubon Society and Rocky River long before the arrival of Moses on its 20th anniversary. The group has Rd. Forecasting folklore hike to observe signs Nature Center on Cleveland's west side area, Cleaveland in 1796. Visitors wi ll see how been a leader in the fi ght for fair utility Fines that predict wi nter's severity, 4 p.m. at the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 734-6660 to register. Cleveland emerged from shallow seas, rates, plant closing notificalion, Hukill Chemical, Bedford, agreed to pay $10,000 Lorai n County Metro Parks' Black Riv~r was uplifted by the shifting continents community right to krlOw about toxic and perfOiTIl $8,200 worth of public service (or . Reservation Day's Dam area. December 30 and finally scoured by glaciers. A . Exp l o~ing the southeastern rim of Tinker's hazards, and many other issues. With its hazardous waste violations. December 17 highlight of the show will be a walk Creek Gorge, 10 a.m. at the Egbert Picnic effective door-to-door canvassing Garfield Alloys, Cleveland, agreed to·pay $2,000 Christmas bird count in the southern through recreation of a glacier. The show for not submitting Toxic Release rnventory reports on Area of the Cleveland Metroparks' Bedford operation, Citizen Action is able to reach Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, 8 also traces the prehistoric peoples of our time for 1991 , 1992 and 1993. ' Reservation. hundreds of thousands of Ohioans with a.m. at Kendall Lake Shelter on Truxell Road. region back to about 11 ,000 years ago. its public interest message. For Water pollutIon ~ ,W. December 30 information about current issues, call LTV Steel, Cleveland, discharge to Cuyahoga River. December 17 Ohio Greens Hike to view December birds, 10 a.m. at the -Y~lJ~ Silent Night hike, 7:30 p.m. at 861-5200. Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Painesville Twp., the Cuyaboga Valley National Ex-Outrage of the Month An alternative party is Garfield Park Nature Center of the Cleveland P North Park Ash Facility. ::;:J1~ Recreatio~ Area's Horseshoe Subscriber. Mark letzer sent in the photo being formed by the Ohio Metroparks. Native plant scholars , Y.Ai't Pond on Major Road. above with a note saying: "After J Greens. The Greens are Air pollution The Holden Arboretum is offering a new Monarch Electric, Panna, heat cleaning oven. December 21 threatened·to send a photo of a "sidewalk to plan,ning a petition drive to certificate degree program in native December 31 Kraft Fluid Systems, Strongsville, spray booth. Holiday legends program, 7 p.m. at the ·nowhere" to EcoCity, the city of Shaker seek official ballot status plahts. The series of courses wi ll provide Family crafts for New Year's Eve Snow Metal Products, Solon, Lorain County Metro Parks' Carlisle Visitors Heights quickly responded by connecting in the state. a thorough understanding of native plant tri chloroethylene/petroleum wax coating dip tank. celebrations, using recyclables to make party Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd. the pedestrian !de.sert isle' under the According to Greens' identification, ecology and conservation. " Ohio Edison, Sheffield, ash disposal site. hats, -noisemakers and other party favors, 1-4 publications: "The urgent lightpost with a sidewalk extension ...The Participants will be better able to GE Ravenna Lamp Plant, Ravenna, lamp finishing. December 21 . p.m. at the Cuyahoga Valley National problems of poverty, joblessness and Solstice Discovery program featuring location is at the mega~intersectio n of participate as active stewards of natural Ford Motor, Avon Lake, modification to coating Recreation Area's Happy Days Visitor Center hunger are not unconnected to rampant plant communities in Northeast Ohio. For lines. planetarium show, hike and bonfire, 7 p.m. at Northfield, C hagrin, Warrensville Center on SR 303. environmental exploitation, destruction class information, call 946-4400. Owens-Coming Fiberglas, Medina, 200,OOO-gal. the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in . and Van Aken. There is also an RTA Rapid and p~lIution. Green part·ies around the storage tank for asphalt. . Bay Village. $5 fee. Register at 871-2900. December 31 station there. For four years I've been North American Precast, Stow. concrete plant. New )'~ar's Eve hike and hot chocolate, 7 walking through the mud before crossing. Akron Sanitary Landfill, Akron, gas collection December 21 only approves· projects. NOACA may p,m. at the Cleveland·Metroparks North Now, thanks to EcoCilY's clout and my pen, Transportation priorities system with flare control. Winter Solstice candlelight walk. 7:30 p.m.,. devise criteria that will favor hi gh- d en s i~y, Chagrin Nature Center. green travel is a little friendlier." Fromp.7 rndustri al Metal Finishing, Glenwillow, open top ·at the lodge at Geauga Park District's Swine transit-friendly de_velopments in the city, • Are the necessary infrastructure and . vapor degreaser using methylene chloride. Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Rd. Explore utilities already in place for the anticipated but if the only projects proposed are ones Geon, Avon Lake, storage tanks for vinyl chlQride. the roots of modem holiday celebrations and development? promoting low-density suburban sprawl, USS/Kobe Steel.. Lorain, pig iron casting facility. sing carols around the fireplace. F~ee. that's what will get built. Board meetings of agencies • I ~ the proposed development transit Water/sewer line extensions December 22 r ~egional NOACA officials hope the new sco~ in g Here are the regular, monthly meeting times of agencies that are shaping· our re~ion, oriented andlor walkable? Villas at Maclnt.osh Fanus Group K, Broadview Hts. Winter Solstice Sunrise observation, 7:3 0 system will send a clear signal about what Call to confirm. • Does the municipality have a fai r Asbebrooke West Phase 3, Boston Heights. a.m. at the Lake Picnic Area Shelterhouse of projects are· desirable, so that project · • Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Erieside Aye. Cleveland, housing ordinance and a range of housing Little Mountain Ltd., Mentor sewer. the Cleveland Metroparks Hunt!ngton 101 241~· sponsors (county engineers, local 8004. Friday" of first full week at 10 a.m. prices? Oak Tree Village Subdivision No.4, Brunswick. , Reservation. communities, ODOT) will start planning Westview Village Subaivision Phase I and 2, • Cleveland Metroparks, 4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, 35 1-6300. Second and Such · crite~ia are meant to favor projects in projects that will meet the goals of the Medina. .. fourth Thursdays at 9 a.m. existing urban areas. E~tra points als.o may region. Thousand Oaks No.1 and 2, Macedonia (another Third International • C uyahoga County Planning Commission,·323 Lakeside Ave, West, Cleveland, be given to projects in older communities In the next several years, we'll see if it example oft~e Cleveland )yater system facilitating 443-3700. Second Tuesday at 2 p.m. that have peak~d in population. works. And we'll sec what happens when EcoCity Conference• . sprawl development). • Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), State Office Building, 6 15 If successful, NOACA's new criteria projects start being rejected. What wi ll Senagal. January 7-12. 1996 Wildflower Condos, North rudgeville. Superior Ave. NW, Cleveland, 566-51-00. First and third Tuesdays at 9 a.m. will force transportation planners to happen, for example, when a suburban Steeplechase Townhouses, Northfield. The conference will highlight models of • Northeast Ohio Areawide Coord·inating Agency (NOACA), 668 Euclid Ave., systematically evaluate whether each mayor is told the road to hi s or her new Spring Hill Townhomes Phase 4, Macedonia. ·sustainable development, adopt a set of Cleveland, 241-2414. Board meeting seco.nd Friday at 9:30 a.m. Transponation Advisory proposed project meets the agency's goals. office park scored low and does not merit sustainable building principles, and Wetland 14011 permits integrate traditional village wisdom into a Committee third Thursday at 10 a.m. The right questions will be built into the funding? We'll see then'ifNOACA will be Stanun Contracting, permit denied for filling modern ecocity vision. For more • Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, 3826 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 881-6600. system. able to take the political heat. 0 wetlands along Cuyahoga River near Mantua, hearing information, contact the Eco Village at First and third Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. That will be a great leap forward for scheduled fo r January 6. NOACA. But it still won't solve the For more information about NOACA's TIP Ithaca, Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell Prioritization Task Force, call Ron Eckner or City of Kirtland, East Br.anch Chagrin River. problem of sponsorship. NOACA- is not a University, Ithaca, NY 14853, (607) 255- John Hosek at 241-2414. sponsoring.or implementing agency. It 8276. ~ ____-J~ o ______-J {l 14 EcoCil)' ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 EcoCiTy ClEVElANd 0 November 1995 15 MAP OF THE MONTH Widening Ohio' The Ohio Department of Transportation has an ambitious program for widening or otherwise upgrading nearly every Interstate ~nd major rural highway in the state. These !lmacro-corridor" project ar~as are shown 'by the wide lines on the map at right. The multi billion dollar construction binge will maximize sprawling development by ensuring that every part of the state is n'ear a macro-corridor. • • Source: Access Ohio by the Ohio Department of Transportation, 1993 The perfectly thoughtful, politically correct, recyclable, inspirational, bioregional gift! Give a 12-month subscription to EcoCity Cleveland this holiday season. It's a great gift for family members, neighbors, colleagues, students, and local libraries. Your first gift subscription is $1(5. Additiomil gifts are just $10 each. What a deal! ~~--::::~~::~--=-:--=---::~--::::~~~--~::~=---:. =-::~,~------~------~::::::::::::~ "Arguably the best local environmental EcoCity Cleveland NON-PROFIT ORG. . 2841 Scarborough Road U.S. POSTAGE publication in America." -Utn~ Reader PAID Cleveland Heights.' OH 441 18 CLEVElAND. oHIO Subscribe now! Each month, EcoCity Cleveland will . 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