[Durham INC] Open Space Resolution -- New version

[Christine Chamberlain]

I'm pleased to see the new version.  It makes sense.

I have a question, does the resolution stop with the '"whereas and therefore's" or is the 'background' included in the resolution?

Christine Chamberlain



________________________________
From: Pat Carstensen <pats1717 at hotmail.com>
To: inc listserv <inc-list at durhaminc.org>
Sent: Sunday, 18 September 2011 9:26 AM
Subject: [Durham INC] Open Space Resolution -- New version


 
Resolution on Urban Open Space Plan
Objectives
 
Whereas, the Durham City and County Planning Department is undertaking the
development of an Urban Open Space Plan, which should provide the City with
proper guidance for further decision-making processes, including possible
acquisition/preservation or development of those areas deemed important to
Durham’s quality of life and our environment; and
 
Whereas, generalopen space planning has
concentrated on aesthetic, recreational and wildlife benefits, and (as shown in
the background below), with urban open space we need to add health, social and
environmental benefits; and
 
Whereas, Durham has a
certain amount of ad hoc data laying out issues and opportunities for open
space in downtown Durham, but nothing like the scientifically designed
collection that other cities are doing.
 
Whereas, many
neighborhoods have a stake in downtown Durham, and the recent history of Old
North Durham Park has shown that these interests can conflict; 
 
Therefore, be it resolved that the InterNeighborhood
Council encourages the Durham City/County Planning Department development of
Durham’s Urban Open Space Plan should 
1.     Carefully consider the environmental health and justice aspects, in
addition to the more traditional aesthetic and recreational aspects. 
2.     Create an environmental health survey detailing the above issues
3.     Pay close attention to process and governance issues to manage /
minimize conflicts over the resources.
 
Background
 
Trees reduce the heat island effect; satellite data of Durham
County shows a clear connection between tree coverage and temperature.  Durham’s Urban Heat Island exceeds
10F.  Effects of this additional
heat include:
·      In other cities air conditioning associated with this elevated
temperature accounts for 5-10% of electrical energy costs and associated
greenhouse gas emissions.
·      Elevated urban temperatures make the effects of automotive
emissions worse in downtown areas and in surrounding downwind areas.  Reduced air quality increases incidence
of asthma and heart attacks by as much as 15 to 20.
 
Other benefits of the preservation
and protection of vegetated open space include decreasing peak runoff volume
through short term storage and evapotranspiration, filtering pollutants through
soils and other media, providing visual relief for urban neighborhoods and the
community, and providing habitat for animal, bird and insect populations.
 
All open space is a social and economic asset as it promotes
community investment, growth and development; promotes citizen connections and
multigenerational experiences and provides a more pedestrian-friendly
environment.  Trees are not “just
nice to have,” since the presence of trees calms people in urban areas,
reducing aggression by 25%, and promotes positive child development.
 
Urban open space is also an environmental
justice issue.  Durham County
data shows that families earning $80,000/year live in neighborhoods with 70%
tree coverage, but neighborhoods of families earning $20,000/year have just 20%
tree coverage.  
 
The Comprehensive Plan specifically identifies urban open space
areas that may need further protection (particularly sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
and 10) and the Unified Development Ordinance, Trails and Greenways Master
Plan, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Landscape Guidelines and a number of
other plans/guidelines that have already been adopted or are in process provide
some control and protection of open space in the City.  However, urban open space planning has
two aspects that differ from general open space planning.
·      Different types
of components – both publicly and privately owned spaces, including but not limited
to community gardens; isolated roadside trees, bushes and plants; benches and
bus-stop shelter areas; areas of strategic wildlife habitat unrelated to
recreation; rivers, streams, and creek corridors, and creek/bridge crossings;
city and county-owned small natural areas and pocket parks, cemeteries and
small natural areas around libraries, schools, and hospitals; median plantings;
informal pedestrian paths following sewer and power line easements; stormwater
facilities and similar sites; owner-maintained gardens and entrances to and
parking areas of commercial/office properties; and plazas; 
·      Broader design
questions– not just aesthetics, but also the public health and safety
issues outlined above.

In addition to the “philosophical issues,” there is the issue of
having too little data.  As an
example of what can be done, New York City is starting to use the same
data-driven approach that they applied to policing on the environment and
public health (see http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/tracking/tracking.shtml).  
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