Westchester Action Plan, 2008 - Westchester County Government

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use patterns and a presentation of ways to apply the policies at the county and local levels. The plan is proposed to replace Patterns for Westchester: the Land and the People, adopted by the County Planning Board in December 1995. After an extensive public review process, the Board aims to adopt the new policies in spring 2008. Strategy for a Sustainable Future To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts, adapt to climate change, and ensure sustainable development, the Community of Westchester must find ways to: 1) Preserve appropriate environmentally sensitive undeveloped land so as to reduce sprawl, capture carbon and protect natural ecosystems including wetlands and forests. 2) Encourage higher density mixed use development in centers and along major transportation corridors. 3) Improve existing land use planning processes. a) Enhance current regional planning efforts. Carbon capture through sequestration is the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into a biological unit. For example, CO 2 is absorbed by plants and used for growth. In New York State, forests hold an average of over 200,000 lbs. of carbon per acre. b) Integrate climate change concerns and sustainable site development concepts into planning processes. Address Climate Change through Comprehensive Planning The Task Force recommends that climate change and sustainable development concepts be addressed within and integrated into the existing planning processes. Specifically Comprehensive Planning should incorporate and address the following issues: ♦ Open space planning that identifies, inventories and prioritizes critical areas to be preserved; ♦ Acquisition of land for purposes of sequestration; ♦ Identification of forestry patterns and forest coverage, including street trees, to identify locations requiring management and planting; ♦ Encouragement of linked biodiversity corridors; ♦ Protection and enhancement of farmlands and agricultural areas; ♦ Promotion of transit-based development; ♦ Promotion of affordable housing near workplaces and mass transit; Attachment 7: Land Use Westchester Action Plan, 2008 7-2
♦ ♦ ♦ Promotion of cooperative regional planning pacts among the municipalities in Westchester and with surrounding counties; Promotion of a collaborative, multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder involvement process to encourage sustainable development; and Incorporation of nontraditional land use planning concepts that address GHG emissions such as: o Requirements and incentives for GHG inventories and tracking; o Promotion of solar, geothermal and other renewable energy sources for new development or substantial rehabilitation; and o Mitigation and adaptation strategies to address climate change. Mitigation means reducing the emission of GHGs or removing them from the atmosphere. For example, trees and plants remove CO 2 and store it in the soil biomass. Adaptation means to make adjustments so as to be able to exist with or accommodate the changes caused by global warming. For example, floodgates are currently being installed in numerous location globally to address flooding resulting from rising sea levels. County Government Planning The Task Force recommends that Westchester 2025 incorporate and address the climate change issues as outlined above. Planning by Municipalities The Task Force recommends that municipalities update their comprehensive plans to address climate change and sustainability in a manner consistent with Westchester 2025 and the Action Plan. Address Climate Change through Zoning, Planning and Land Use Code Modifications Update Codes. The Task Force recommends that municipalities update their zoning, planning and land use codes so as to conform to their updated comprehensive plans and to address climate change and sustainable development. Municipalities should particularly revise any codes that restrict use of renewable energy. To assist with this, the Task Force has provided a summary of the model codes developed by Westchester municipalities that address climate change and sustainable development. The Task Force recommends that the county government facilitate access to model codes and zoning ordinances to address climate change and support Westchester 2025. Attachment 7: Land Use Westchester Action Plan, 2008 7-3
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Contents Westchester Action Plan fo
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As a community, we need to respond
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a) Enhance current regional plannin
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To find out how the actions of all
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County Government Action Summary Pr
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♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Require all utiliti
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Evaluate potential strategies for i
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Implement adaptation strategies in
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Evaluate creating a model ordinance
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Replace incandescent bulbs with com
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Transportation Take Direct Transpor
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Provide information and training to
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Waste Reduction, Recycling and Gree
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Business Action Summary Provided be
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♦ ♦ Promote in grant programs,
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Develop contractual requirements fo
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To find out how the actions of all
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Perform an energy audit on all exis
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Change staff and student vehicle op
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Waste Reduction, Recycling and Gree
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Households Action Summary Provided
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Change vehicle operating behavior b
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Climate Change, Global Warming, and
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• Contraction of the Greenland ic
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A second related hazard for Westche
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Sources i Intergovernmental Panel o
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The mission of the Task Force was t
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Early in the process, the subject c
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Representing County Executive Andre
Page 60 and 61: Sector Committees Government Sector
Page 62 and 63: The County retained a consultant to
Page 64 and 65: GHG Inventory and Reduction Goal We
Page 66 and 67: About the Inventory Process The fir
Page 68 and 69: Electricity Westchester County is s
Page 70 and 71: This category also includes emissio
Page 72 and 73: Sources i ICLEI—Local Governments
Page 74 and 75: ICLEI, in conjunction with the U.S.
Page 76 and 77: Step 4: Implement Actions Members o
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Page 80 and 81: work well in traffic signals, parki
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Page 84 and 85: As with existing buildings, NYSERDA
Page 86 and 87: • Geothermal - Geothermal heat pu
Page 88 and 89: Funding these Actions All individua
Page 90 and 91: Promote Realignment of Regulation a
Page 92 and 93: Develop New Sources. Business shoul
Page 94 and 95: Education and Information Sharing A
Page 96 and 97: xxviii New York Power Authority: Se
Page 98 and 99: us fleet by using ultra-low-sulfur
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Page 102 and 103: Purchase Carbon Offsets Consider pu
Page 104 and 105: • Proof of payment and off board
Page 106 and 107: Showcase Successes and Lead by Exam
Page 108 and 109: Sources i ii iii NuRide http://www.
Page 112 and 113: Model Code Examples Clustering: Rec
Page 114 and 115: development goals. In establishing
Page 116 and 117: ♦ ♦ Municipalities should partn
Page 118 and 119: Sources i Pound Ridge http://www.e-
Page 120 and 121: Currently, the wastewater treatment
Page 122 and 123: Protection of Infrastructure Develo
Page 124 and 125: • Review building stormwater rete
Page 126 and 127: Sources i ii iii Center for Watersh
Page 128 and 129: The County Government has enacted t
Page 130 and 131: Improve Waste Reduction, Reuse and
Page 132 and 133: Specific green purchasing recommend
Page 134 and 135: • Identify opportunities to devel
Page 136 and 137: Education and Information Sharing A
Page 138 and 139: Business: Waste Reduction Opportuni
Page 140 and 141: Government: Green Purchasing Opport
Page 142 and 143: Guidance for Using the Action Plan
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Westchester Action Plan, 2008 - Westchester County Government

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