Table of Figures Fig. 1 - The Three Pillars of Sustainability.................................8 Fig. 2 - <strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Census County Division............13 Fig. 3 - Share of Local Communities Working in Area.............17 Fig. 4 - Centers, Sustainable Community Strategy ................20 Fig. 5 - Industrial/Manufacturing Zoned Properties.................36 Fig. 6 - Zoning Map, Sylmar/<strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Metrolink.............44 Fig. 7 - East <strong>Valley</strong> Transit Corridor - Alternative 4, Median-Running Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Metro Proposal.........................50 Fig. 8 - Characteristics - East <strong>Valley</strong> Transit Corridor...............51 Fig. 9 - Light Rail Transit, Alternative 4....................................52 Fig. 10 - Light Rail Transit Configuratios..................................53 Fig. 11 - Walkable Section of a Town Center...........................62 Fig. 12 - Vehicle Enhanced Network (VEN) Map.....................64 Fig. 13 - Fastest Growing Occupations....................................66 Fig. 14 - Occupations with the Most Openings........................67 Fig. 15 - Sylmar-<strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Metrolink TOD Area Labor Market Characteristics - Mulholland Institute................72 Fig. 16 - <strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Area Labor Market Characteristics - Mulholland Institute................73 Fig. 17 - Van Nuys Boulevard Pacoima Center Area Labor Market Characteristics - Mulholland Institute................74 Fig. 18 - Panorama Mall and Shopping Area Labor Market Characteristics - Mulholland Institute................75 Fig. 19 - Sun <strong>Valley</strong> Remediation Area Labor Market Characteristics - Mulholland Institute................76 Fig 20 - Green Jobs Overview and Ratios...............................80 Fig. 22 - Landfills, Excavations, Facilities.................................86 Fig. 23 - Total Environmental Burden.......................................87 Fig. 24 Community Needs Index - Scores...............................93 Fig. 25 - Funding Sources.......................................................95 Fig. 26 - Per Capita Vehicle Miles Traveled 2035...................104 Fig. 27 - Share of Housing in HQTA Transit Areas 2035........104 Fig. 28 - Average Auto Trip Length 2035................................104 Fig. 29 - Percent Change in Mode Share 2035.....................104 Fig. 30 - New Multi-Family Housing 2035..............................104 Fig. 31 - Pollution Burden......................................................108 Fig. 32 - Environmental Cleanup Sites..................................109 Fig. 33 - Groundwater Threats Indicator................................110 Fig. 34 - Hazardous Waste Generators & Faciities................111 Fig. 35 - Solid Waste Sites & Facilities...................................112 Fig. 36 - Ozone Concentration...............................................113 Fig. 37 - Diesel Particulate Matter.........................................114 Fig. 38 - PM 2.5 Fine Particle Pollution..................................115 Fig. 39 - Traffic Density Indicator............................................116 Fig. 40 - Pesticide Use...........................................................117 Fig. 41 - RSEI Chemical Releases & Toxic Exposure............118 Fig. 42 - Drinking Water Contaminants Index........................119 Fig. 43 - Asthma....................................................................120 Fig. 44 - Low Birth Weight......................................................121 Fig. 45 - Linguistic Isolation...................................................122 Fig. 46 - Sensitive Population Characteristics.......................123 Fig. 47 - Children & Elderly Percent of Population.................124 Fig. 48 - Unemployment.........................................................125 Fig. 49 - Poverty.....................................................................126 Fig. 50 - Less Than High School Education...........................127 Fig. 51 - Pacific Electric Red Car Line Map...........................130 Fig. 52 - Regional Educational Institutions............................131 Executive Summary The <strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Sustainability and Prosperity Strategy addresses all three pillars of sustainability—Environment, Economy, and Equity. Livable communities and opportunities for prosperity are the key goals for the <strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Strategy. The next several decades will see the investment of billions of dollars in mobility, affordable housing, environmental remediation and infrastructure projects in Los Angeles County. As one of the most overlooked and underserved areas of the county, the <strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> has to be ready with vision, planning and civic leadership able to benefit fully from these resources. Metro’s plan to ease traffic will be on the November 2016 ballot, and will impose a new 40-year 1/2 cent sales tax in Los Angeles County, expected to generate $120 billion for transportation and infrastructure. In addition the proposition would extend the existing Measure R half-cent sales tax. A portion of this would fund Light Rail Transit (LRT) on the East <strong>Valley</strong> Transit Corridor1 instead of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). It would also contribute to converting the Metro Orange Line from BRT to LRT and support additional projects for grade separations at key intersections. Under Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) and Senate Bill 375 (SB 375), state Cap and Trade funds are also becoming available for projects that reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The central goal: Linking land use and transportation planning to support community sustainability As governmental leadership evolves, there will be opportunities to create unified economic, environmental and mobility initiatives. By unifying around a common set of goals, northeast communities can provide the necessary civic vitality to drive agendas and garner the critical support of elected officials. The cycle of economic success begins with the creation of business and industry clusters that are community-friendly and also able to provide wellpaying jobs and careers. Local residents should be able to access the education, and develop the skillsets needed to fill these positions. Hiring locally reduces commutes and overall Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). the <strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> is blessed with a number of world-class institutions: Caltech, Cal Arts, UCLA, USC, a host of specialty schools, and the <strong>Valley</strong>’s own Cal State Northridge. <strong>Northeast</strong> residents need the wherewithal to participate fully in these resources—cultivating the brain trust for local economic development. Course availability must to align with existing and emerging industries and clusters. As northeast communities improve, communities and residents should be able to grow with them— not be displaced. One way to achieve this is the cultivation of home-grown entrepreneurship and innovation. In addition to educating employees, schools and other institutions need to also focus on the one-in-ten or one-in-twenty locals with potential to start new homegrown businesses. The five target area centroids (see Figure 1) typify the serious demographic and economic challenges in the northeast region. They have generally lower incomes, and a higher level of transit dependency. The areas currently have opportunities to improve their mobility and quality of life, showing what is possible with new economic development and transit initiatives, such as the East <strong>Valley</strong> Transit Corridor. Target areas include: a half-mile radius around the Sylmar/<strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Metrolink Station; <strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Road and Mall in the City of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong>; Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima; the area of Van Nuys Boulevard that makes up the Panorama Mall, Panorama Plaza and Plaza del Valle; and significant “remediation areas” of industrialized Sun <strong>Valley</strong>. A great deal of progress has been made in the Southern California region over the last several decades, with smart growth, public transportation and environmental protection. After many years and lengthy processes, the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) sustainability program comes down to a few core principles: mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. Community colleges such as Los Angeles Mission, <strong>Valley</strong>, Pierce and Glendale are a ready resource to support these initiatives. In the broader area, 1 The East <strong>Valley</strong> Transit Corridor will extend from the Sylmar/<strong>San</strong> <strong>Fernando</strong> Metrolink Station to the Van Nuys Orange Line Station. vi Page www.<strong>Northeast</strong>Strategy.org Draft Revision I - May 25, 2016 Page 1