com_cap_memo_COTE-099. 0 points awarded, this is a reduction of 3 points. Not a requirement as necessary for credit but a very significant incentive. Given consideration under #33.
No action
23. 0 points awarded this is a reduction of 4 points. Does not specifically encourage LID and application of the DEP SW policy does not qualify.
Curb section of SD regulations 290-44. New by-law, must install granite curbs or do LID. Thus, developers save $50 per foot when they install LID. $60 ($30 per foot x 2) for both sides
of street. Asphalt is $10 ($5 per foot x 2). Savings of $50 per foot when perform this lid.
240-44 SD. “[Amended 4-17-2008] A. All roads shall use curbing and edging, except as otherwise allowed or as may be allowed in the future for low-impact development (LID) drainage design.
All curbing and edging shall be granite and consistent with the requirements below. For existing streets and in exceptional circumstances, the Planning Board will consider waivers to
allow concrete curbs but never to allow bituminous curbs.”
Use Natural Resources Wisely (8) Existing Commit 23. Adoption of a bylaw, ordinance, or regulation that encourages the use of Low Impact Development (LID) to address stormwater ( 4 ( 2
Description: Communities will earn the points under this criterion if they have adopted a bylaw, ordinance, or regulation that encourages or requires the use of Low Impact Development
(LID) techniques to manage stormwater post development. The goal is to replicate the pre-development hydrology of the site after development by reducing impervious surfaces and retaining
and slowing runoff on-site. Low Impact Development is a more sustainable land development approach that begins with a site planning process that first identifies critical natural resource
areas for preservation. Then, once the building envelope is established, LID techniques, such as maintaining natural drainage flow paths, minimizing land clearance, clustering buildings,
and reducing impervious surfaces are incorporated into the project design. A series of small stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that preserve the natural features and hydrology
of the land are used instead of the conventional methods of collecting, conveying, and piping away runoff. Ineligible:
Open Space Residential Design (OSRD) alone (absent implementation of LID stormwater techniques)
Erosion and sedimentation control measures targeted at construction sites
Illegal discharge detection and elimination efforts
Action & Timing: A community that has a qualifying stormwater measure (one that requires or encourages the use of LID techniques) in place at the time of application submission will
earn 4 points. Two points are earned by communities that commit to establish an LID measure by December 31, 2009. Documentation: In the answer box describe the relevant bylaw/ordinance
or regulation that encourages or requires use of LID techniques including which local board or commission is responsible for reviewing projects for consistency, the LID measures encouraged
or required, and the types of projects that are required to comply. For commitment points submit a statement agreeing to implement a qualifying bylaw, ordinance, or regulation by December
31, 2009. More Information: The Massachusetts Smart Growth Toolkit provides a model LID bylaw and other resources at: www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/pages/mod-lid.html. More
information is available on EEA's website at: www.mass.gov/envir/lid/default.htm
29. 0 points awarded, this is a reduction of 3 points. Actions cited qualify under #30 as innovative measures rather than context sensitive transportation.
1) Reconstruction of Earle St. – tighter, smoother intersection. Bike path entrance and adjust abutting rail.
2) Noho’s gateway – New bike-bridge is highly visible, as it’s located at the main gateway to downtown. It has low aesthetical impact, is environmentally sound via adaptive reuse, uses
sensitive materials and no toxic paint, (local wood/materials/labor?) and below height regulations to mitigate visual impact. Also incredibly easy access. See section 10.3.1 of MassHighway’s
Guidelines for good bridge design: http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/downloads/designGuide/CH_10.pdf
Provide Transportation Choice (9) Existing Commit 29. Regulations requiring or completion of a context sensitive transportation project since July 1, 2006 ( 3 ( 1
Description: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is committed to caring for the built and natural environments by promoting sustainable development practices that minimize negative impacts
on natural resources, historic, scenic and other community values, while also recognizing that transportation improvements have significant potential to contribute to local, regional,
and statewide quality of life and economic development objectives. The goal of context sensitive design is to construct roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure that
fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources while maintaining safety and mobility for all users. Context sensitive design is important
to the Commonwealth and is a guiding principle of MassHighway’s Project Development and Design Guide which was created to provide designers and decision-makers with a framework for incorporating
context sensitive design into transportation improvement projects. The Guide helps to ensure that improvements to the Commonwealth’s roadways are implemented in such a way that the character
of the project area, the values of the community, and the needs of all roadway users are fully considered. An important concept in planning and design is that every project is unique,
and there are no generic solutions. Each project requires designers to address the needed roadway improvements while safely integrating the design into the surrounding natural and built
environment. The following have been identified by the Federal Highway Administration as characteristic of a context sensitive project:
Satisfies its purpose and needs as agreed to by a wide range of constituents
Safe for users of all ages and abilities as well as for the surrounding community
Meets minimum design standards for accessibility for people with disabilities and gives attention to universal design principles
In harmony with the community and preserves environmental, scenic, aesthetic, historic, and built and natural resources of the area
Well managed and involves efficient and effective use of the resources (time, budget, etc.) of all involved
Designed and built with the least possible disruption to the community
Adds lasting value to the community
Municipalities have an important role to play in regard to context sensitive design. They can ensure that public projects, whether funded by the Commonwealth or the community itself,
are sensitive to their surroundings. They can also require private parties that are constructing roads and other infrastructure to utilize context sensitive design. Action and Timing:
Communities can earn the 3 points available under this criterion by either requiring through a bylaw, ordinance, or other land use regulation the construction of roads, bridges, and
other transportation infrastructure that are context sensitive or by demonstrating that a significant road or other transportation infrastructure improvement has been completed (by the
Commonwealth or the community) in a context sensitive manner since July 1, 2006. Documentation: Communities should both cite and summarize their land use regulation that requires private
parties to implement context sensitive design or provide a summary and site plan of a context sensitive project completed since July 1, 2006. A commitment point can be earned by a community
indicating in the answer box its intention to complete a project completed or implement regulations requiring context sensitive design by December 31, 2009.
30. 0 points awarded, this is a reduction of 3 points. While good projects are cited the connection to environmental equity is unclear.
Advance Equity (6) Existing Commit 32. Actions that promote environmental equity since July 1, 2006 ( 3 ( 1
Housing Authority actions.
Affordable housing and market rate housing in the context of landfill
Hotel/brownfield/affordable housing project
Description: Advancing environmental equity means providing equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement
of environmental laws, regulations, and policies and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits. This is based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected
from environmental pollution and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment.
Historically, lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color have born the burden of industrial pollution and many of the negative impacts of development. The Commonwealth seeks
to address these disparities and promote the equitable sharing of the benefits and burdens of development, advancing environmental equity. Municipalities also have an important role
to play in advancing environmental equity throughout Massachusetts.
Note: This criterion intentionally avoids narrowly defining an environmental justice community (such as by using the definition contained in EEA’s Environmental Justice Policy) in order
to provide the opportunity for as many communities as possible to earn points under this criterion.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=2&L0=Home&L1=Grants+%26+Technical+Assistance&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_sgse_env_equity&csid=Eoeea
Actions and Timing: This criterion rewards those communities that have taken actions to:
Avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on foreign-born (lacking English language
proficiency), minority, and low-income populations;
Ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in municipal environmental decision-making; and
Provide infrastructure, services, and other benefits to minority populations and low-income populations.
Municipalities will earn three points under this criterion if any one of the following measures is in place at the time of application or has taken place after July 1, 2006. Commitment
to implement/complete any one of the following by December 31, 2009 will earn one point.
Enhanced and accessible outreach and communication to historically underserved populations to ensure access to and encourage involvement in planning and environmental decision-making
(public meetings/hearings). This outreach may include utilization of alternative media outlets and community organizations to engage residents, as well as provision of translation services.
Adoption and ongoing implementation of a municipal environmental equity policy.
Presence of formal advisory committee on environmental equity and opportunities that advises the Mayor, Town/City Manager, or the Board of Selectpersons/City Council, composed of the
business community, residents of historically underserved communities, public health organizations, environmental groups, community development organizations, academia, and others.
Training sessions on environmental equity for residents of the community or for municipal employees and officials who are involved in land-use planning, permitting, parks and recreation,
public health, and community development. (EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice can be instrumental in developing and conducting such trainings).
Investments or actions to advance environmental equity such as the provision of open space and recreational resources, transit improvements, remediation of public health threats (such
as efforts to remediate lead paint or institute an anti-idling campaign), or greening initiatives (i.e. brownfields to greenfields redevelopment and tree planting) in historically underserved
communities.
Municipal documents and/or related web pages, programs, and signage related to environmental initiatives, planning, public health, and parks and recreation have been provided in a dominant
language spoken in the community other than English.
Examples:
The community’s Green Space and Recreation Committee received an EPA grant and is working to address severe truck traffic (and the associated air pollution) in the City. Our community
has an extremely high asthma rate and virtually all of the community is included in an EEA designated EJ area.
Our town has several town owned (tax-title) brownfield sites in low income neighborhoods. On May 13, 2008 the community appropriated $75,000 to assess the degree of contamination of
these properties in order to begin the process of cleaning up these potential public health hazards.
The community has established a forest canopy goal which targets tree planting and parks development in EJ communities that presently lack green amenities.
Documentation: Communities can demonstrate their attainment of the criterion by describing their qualifying action(s) in the answer box and providing documentary evidence such as a copy
of the municipal environmental equity policy, minutes of an Advisory Committee meeting, translated program documents and/or websites, or evidence of expanded outreach and training. To
earn the commitment point include a statement attesting to the municipality’s intention to complete one or more of these actions by December 31, 2009.
More Information:
MassGIS EJ maps and municipal Environmental Justice (EJ) population list: http://www.mass.gov/mgis/ej.htm
MA Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit – Environmental Justice Module: http://www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/pages/mod-ej.html
U.S. EPA Region 1 EJ Program: http://www.epa.gov/region1/ej/index.html