The New Rochelle Sustainability Plan 2010 - 2030 Vision and Action for a Healthier Community The New Rochelle Sustainability Plan 2010 - 2030 Mayor Noam Bramson CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Louis J. Trangucci Albert A. Tarantino, Jr. Jared Rice Richard St. Paul Barry R. Fertel Marianne L. Sussman City Manager Charles Strome III Sustainability Coordinator Deborah Newborn TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION & SUMMARY LETTER FROM THE MAYOR ............... 5 EVERY SINGLE DAY ........................ 6 INTRODUCTION A Global & National Challenge......................7 A Local Opportunity ............................. 8 A Call to Individual Action ........................ 8 A Practical Guide to Progress...................... 9 A Vision for New Rochelle......................... 9 STATISTICAL SNAP-SHOT . 10 TEN BIG GOALS FOR 2030 . 11 ACTION PLAN SUMMARY Energy & Climate .............................. 12 Resources Conservation & Waste Reduction ......... 13 Ecology, Biodiversity & Public Health ............... 14 Smart Growth & Economic Prosperity............... 15 Transportation & Mobility........................ 16 Public Participation & Awareness ................. 17 ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ........................ 20 NOTES ON READING INITIATIVES ...... 21 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS .................. 22 PART I: ENERGY & CLIMATE........................ 23 PART IV: SMART GROWTH 1.1 Green Building Standards ................ 24 & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY ........................... 79 1.2 Exterior Lighting Efficiency ............... 26 4.25 Transit-Oriented Smart Growth ............. 80 1.3 Municipal Building Efficiency ............. 28 4.26 Waterfront Access & Enjoyment............. 84 1.4 Green Fleet ........................... 30 4.27 Peripheral Node Planning Standards......... 86 1.5 Renewable Energy Generation ............. 32 4.28 Green Business & Job Creation ............. 88 1.6 GreeNR Seal........................... 34 4.29 Workforce Housing....................... 90 1.7 Mid & High Rise Building Campaign ........ 36 4.30 Creative Capital ........................ 92 1.8 Efficiency & Conservation Loans ........... 38 PART V: TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY ........... 95 PART II: RESOURCE CONSERVATION 5.31 Pedestrian Mobility & Safety ............... 96 & WASTE REDUCTION .............................. 41 5.32 Bicycle Mobility & Safety .................. 98 2.9 Municipal Building Waste Reduction....... 42 5.33 Downtown Access ...................... 100 2.10 Residential Recycling Campaign.......... 46 5.34 Jitney Service Study ..................... 102 2.11 Public Area Recycling .................. 48 5.35 Green Commuting ...................... 104 2.12 Municipal Green Purchasing ............. 50 5.36 Scooter & Motorcycle Parking ............. 106 2.13 Water Use & Wastewater Reduction........ 52 PART VI: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 2.14 Household Composting ................. 54 & AWARENESS ....................................... 109 2.15 Regional Composting Study.............. 56 6.37 GreeNR Awareness Campaign ............. 110 PART III: ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY 6.38 Informed Social Competition .............. 112 & PUBLIC HEALTH ................................... 59 6.39 Civic Communication ................... 114 3.16 Sound, Lake & Stream Water Quality ....... 60 6.40 Sustainability Education Center Study ...... 116 3.17 Habitat & Open Space Preservation........ 62 6.41 Outdoor Classrooms .................... 118 3.18 Urban Forestry ........................ 64 6.42 GreeNR Tote Bags ...................... 120 3.19 Flood Control & Mitigation............... 66 6.43 English Language Proficiency ............. 122 3.20 Rain Gardens......................... 68 3.21 Green Lawn & Garden Care .............. 70 3.22 Idling Prevention ...................... 72 3.23 GreeNR Walking Guides ................. 74 3.24 Local Agriculture & Fresh Food ........... 76 APPENDICES ...................................... 125 Water Consumption ....................................... 143 Sanitary Sewage Volume & Flow Rate ......................... 144 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................. 126 PHYSICAL GreeNR AUTHORS & PARTICIPANTS General Geography........................................ 145 Sustainability Advisory Board................................ 127 Land Use & Zoning........................................ 145 Working Groups .......................................... 127 Open Space, Parkland & Public Access ........................ 145 City of New Rochelle Staff .................................. 127 Ground Coverage ......................................... 146 GreeNR HISTORY, CREATION & ADOPTION ....... 128 Waterfront .............................................. 146 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................... 129 Forestry . 146 GHG & ENERGY GRAPHS ............................ 130 ECONOMIC GHG EMISSIONS & ENERGY USE Employment ............................................. 147 METHODOLOGY .......................................131 Commerce .............................................. 147 Income . 147 CHART OF INITIATIVES Commercial & Industrial Property ............................ 147 Energy & Climate ......................................... 132 Property Value ........................................... 147 Resources Conservation & Waste Reduction .................... 133 Ecology, Biodiversity & Public Health ........................... 134 PUBLIC SECTOR & ASSETS Smart Growth & Economic Prosperity.......................... 135 Public Sector Budgets ..................................... 148 Transportation & Mobility................................... 136 Public Sector Employment .................................. 148 Public Participation & Awareness ............................ 137 Public Buildings.......................................... 148 Public Infrastructure ...................................... 148 NUMBERS........................................... 138 Municipal Fleet........................................... 148 HUMAN HOUSING General Population Characteristics ........................... 143 General Housing Characteristics ............................. 149 Population Estimates & Projections ........................... 143 Subsidized Housing ....................................... 149 Educational Attainment & Schooling . 143 Special Care Housing...................................... 149 Language/Origin ......................................... 143 General Housing Affordability................................ 150 BEHAVIORAL Housing Values .......................................... 150 Community Energy Use & GHG Emissions ...................... 141 PUBLIC HEALTH Municipal Energy Use & GHG Emissions........................ 142 Disabilities.............................................. 151 Solid Waste ............................................. 142 Life Expectancy & Causes of Death ........................... 151 Water Quality ............................................ 143 Air Quality .............................................. 151 Transportation & Commuting................................ 143 Medical Care & Illness ..................................... 152 April 22, 2011 Dear Friends & Neighbors, On behalf of the City Council, I am pleased to present to our community GreeNR, New Rochelle’s first sustainability plan. GreeNR reflects and articulates a vision of sustainable practices that can enhance the quality of life for citizens today, without compromising the interests of future generations. GreeNR aligns New Rochelle with municipalities throughout the world that recognize a common obligation to address global challenges of resource depletion, climate change, and social progress – but GreeNR is far more than an abstract philosophical document. Contained within these pages are scores of specific, achievable recommendations, aimed at improving the environmental, economic, and social health of New Rochelle during the next twenty years and beyond. It is a practical guide to action that can be embraced regardless of one’s views on global climate change. Contained within these GreeNR arrives at a moment of acute economic distress for our nation, city, and many individuals. In recognition of present constraints on municipal finances, most pages are scores of GreeNR initiatives are phased to limit expenditures in the short-term and rely to the degree possible on grants, private initiatives and contributions, or existing staff specific, achievable resources. While some recommendations entail the expenditure of public funds, the great majority would achieve meaningful long-term savings for our taxpayers recommendations, though reduced public and private costs. aimed at improving the Achieving GreeNR’s goals will require an ongoing commitment to sustainability, demonstrated not only through public policy, but also through individual action. environmental, economic, The hope and intent of GreeNR’s authors is that the concept of sustainability will and social health of New become more fully integrated into the culture of New Rochelle. Accordingly, many of its initiatives seek to empower citizens and community groups with the information Rochelle during the next and tools to make the best decisions for themselves. Finally, we acknowledge the limits of our predictive ability. During the next twenty twenty years and beyond. years, it is probable that changes in technology, law and lifestyle will render some recommendations obsolete, while also opening new paths to progress. GreeNR should not be viewed as a rigid document, but rather as a framework for ongoing discussion