This time around, its the Regent Neighborhood Association. Why pick a resource rich, dense urban area? Why not pick something like, um, East Washington Avenue, where sustainability is a goal for an area that needs more planning and some good urban infill? And, it has so much more potential for economic development. Once again, I don’t get it.
Here’s the issue and decision made and why.
From: Olinger, Mark
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 10:48 AM
To: ALL ALDERS
Cc: Harmon, Ray
Subject: EPA Green America’s Capitals Technical Assistance ProgramRecently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Request for Letters of Interest for their Green America’s Capital Technical Assistance Program. Under this program State capitals apply for technical assistance to use the principles of smart growth, green building, and sustainable communities into a focused, small area planning process. Design assistance would be provided for three days by a team of designers, with expertise in urban design and landscape architecture to help the City re-imagine the area through the lenses of smart growth, green building and sustainability. Additionally, the intent is to develop options that might be replicable through the six program elements the EPA is looking to have included in the proposals:
1. Creating a strong sense of place
2. Innovative storm water management
3. Sustainable green building techniques
4. Protect environmental resources
5. Revitalize neighborhoods
6. Spurring additional economic and social benefitsThe EPA hopes to fund 3-4 cities under this Program in 2010.
Staff was asked to look at the application to see whether or not there was a project for Madison that might fit. Given the tight timeline attached to the application, they are due on Friday July 9, and the rather specific and short duration of the technical assistance, we looked at neighborhood planning projects that were presently underway to build/support those planning efforts. We also talked to EPA staff about the program and they suggested that we focus on a small geography.
We are working with the Regent Neighborhood Association to finish a planning process that began a few years ago but still needs considerable work and community input to complete. The technical assistance that could be provided by the Greening America’s Capitals program could be of great benefit to create a new vision of the Corridor through a sustainability lens that could become a model of how we approach future planning efforts in which the City will be involved.
The Old University Corridor Plan provides a great opportunity to fold this assistance, if we are successful in our application, into an existing process. The application requires no cash match from the City. The existing staff resources dedicated to the process are acceptable to the EPA.
We are excited about this opportunity and hope that the EPA will look favorably upon the City’s letter of interest.
If you have any questions, please advise.
Thank you.
