Full Strategic Plan.pdf - City of Southfield

Strategic Plan
Trend 2. SUSTAINABLE CITIES
THE TREND:
We live in an era of declining fossil fuel supplies and rapidly increasing prices for
those supplies, and an increased awareness of the potential impacts of global
warming. Sprawling forms of development are inefficient in their consumption of
energy and result in increased carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.
Cities that include walkable densities and that incorporate mass transit are much
more efficient in their use of energy and result in lower carbon emissions than other
forms of development. The average Manhattan resident generates 7.1 metric tons
of CO2 every year compared to 24.5 metric tons for the average US resident.
As energy prices continue to rise, cities will become attractive places to live by
offering a lifestyle that is more insulated from the price shocks for fossil fuel energy
supplies, and a lifestyle that also creates lower greenhouse gas emissions. Transit
Oriented Design (TOD) is a concept that places higher development densities near
transit stations. The combination of higher densities and access to transit creates
superb accessibility and mobility for businesses and residents, while reducing
transportation costs and energy usage.
IMPACTS:
Creating sustainable cities will require finding new and sustainable energy sources,
reducing energy usage per capita, and finding ways to maintain and improve
infrastructure improvements such as roads and sewers. These challenges may be
destructive to the economy in a “business as usual” scenario, but also can be a
catalyst for growth for communities that can successfully capitalize on these trends.
Creating a comprehensive, reliable, and attractive regional mass transit system is a
crucial step to help the southeast Michigan region address challenges of
sustainability.
CORNERSTONE’S
POSITION:
Cornerstone offers ample employment opportunities and access to a wide range of
goods and services. This makes it possible to position Cornerstone as an
important node within the region. Cornerstone is located adjacent to major
transportation routes within the region, which increases the chances that
Cornerstone will gain access to any regional mass transit system. It is important
that CDA leaders advocate for a “Cornerstone Station” under any such scenario.
Promoting a walkable environment that includes a combination of uses that are
active 18 or 24 hours a day will create a more sustainable environment by requiring
less energy use per capita and by making more efficient use of public infrastructure
improvements.
It will be necessary for Cornerstone leaders to examine policies and regulations to
ensure that those policies and regulations do not prohibit creating a walkable and
sustainable environment. While access to transit may not be available for some
time, Cornerstone can require new development to have a walkable design with the
pedestrian being the focal point of all design decisions. Cornerstone leaders will
also have to ensure that parking requirements are sufficient to ensure that the
District remains economically viable during the time before access to transit is
available.
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Cornerstone Development Authority