Planning Commissioners Journal

Mass Market Electric Vehicles Get Closer to Market

 The World Wildlife Fund is providing extensive coverage from the U.N. Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. One quite interesting video they've posted is one of their reporters taking a spin in the Renault Fluence 4-door, 5 passenger electric car, now in final development. It's billed as the first mass market fully electric car -- and will be available in 2011 in Denmark and Israel. The hybrid/electric Chevy Volt should be on the market in 2010..

For a related blog posting on Renault's electric vehicles.

We also posted two reports in 2008 about some of the interesting impacts electric vehicles may have. See Plug In Your Car & Save Dollars (and the Environment), and the follow-up posting, Will the Electric Grid Fuel our Vehicles? Interestingly, Warren Buffett recently predicted that 20 years from now, all car being sold will be electric. 

Also this morning on our companion Planning News, Notes, & Quotes blog, see Ways to Really Follow the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. 

Unappealing by Day ... and Can Creep You Out at Night

"We're designing neighborhoods that are unappealing by day ... and can creep you out at night." That's one of the comments you'll hear from Tim Tielman, executive director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo. The focus of this episode of his "Adventures in Buffaloland" series of broadcasts is on the downtown Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and how its design flaws & isolation from its immediate surroundings undermine what appears to be a good-looking piece of architecture. 

Tielman asks whether its design failures negative the economic benefits this massive investment might bring to the downtown area? As he notes, "the tragic irony: It’s the MEDICAL industry that is creating a built environment so harmful to public health and safety."

fyi, we've often covered urban design issues in the Planning Commissioners Journal. Take a look, in particular, at our publication: Taking a Closer Look: Design & Aesthetics. For a limited time, you can also download at no charge one of the articles from this publication: Ilene Watson's "An Introduction to Urban Design" (a 7 page pdf file). It connects to kinds of issues Tielman speaks about in this video.

We Didn't Realize the Magic Kingdom Looked Like This!

As this is Thanksgiving weekend, and it's a good time to relax, we thought we'd post a video that really doesn't have a direct planning connection (unless you can think of one!). It makes uses of a photographic technique called "tilt-shift" -- if you're intrigued you can find several groups on Flickr where thousands of tilt-shift photos have been posted. For more about the Disney video.

The Remarkable Johnson Wax Building

I'm a bit of a Frank Lloyd Wright junkie, and have visited at least a dozen of the homes he built. But I was especially struck by a visit two years ago to the Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin, designed by Wright. It's a remarkable office space, still in active use. It includes many innovative features, and conveys a dramatic but surprisingly tranquil feel.  

So much of the focus in our thinking about architecture is about residential design -- and Wright was, of course, a master of that as well. But I think you'll enjoy and learn from this three part video series providing a tour of the Johnson Wax building. If you're ever in Racine, it's well worth a stop -- though I believe tours are only given on Fridays.

These three videos -- to be viewed in sequence -- provide a good overview of this special building in American architectural history.

For information on visiting the Johnson Wax Building.

Art & Soul in Planning

The Orton Family Foundation has done some terrific work in Vermont, Colorado, Maine, and other parts of the country in engaging citizens in local planning. A recent project of theirs in the small town of Starksboro, Vermont, is especially interesting as it uses storytelling and art as key elements in the planning process. Take a look at this short video. For more on the Starksboro project.

For more on the importance of the arts to local planning, see Ric Stephens' short article, "Where's Art in Planning" (free pdf download) from the Fall 2009 issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal.

Take a look also at our new Resource page on Art in Planning. It's a work in progress, and we'd welcome your suggestions for additional links or resources to cite.

Ride the Bus

The just published Fall issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal features an article by Hannah Twaddell on how to better plan for rural public transit. But it's also important to promote bus service. Take a look at these two short public service announcements, the first from Red Rose Transit in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the second from the Town of Ocean City, Maryland. Let us know of any bus-related PSA's you've enjoyed.

Light Rail for Kansas City

I thought this was an effective short video on the role that light rail can play in shaping a city. It works well without any narration. More about the video below.

Imagine KC from Arnold Imaging on Vimeo.

I received the following information from Jonathan Arnold whose firm produced the video:

"The video was produced for a community outreach program called Imagine KC where residents had town hall meetings to discuss what they wanted Kansas City to look like in 20 years. The overwhelming concensus was they wanted Kansas City to be vibrant, green, and connected.

The 3 minute piece was a visualization of what that could look like in KC. It was very well received both here in Kansas City and across the country (via the web) as it not only showed the technical aspects, but conveyed emotion and the increased human interaction that TOD offers.

The current status of LRT in Kansas City is that there are three proposed routes using various technologies. Time will tell which one wins out, but it looks like some form of rail based transit will be built here."

Can Cars Share Space With Bicyclists & Pedestrians?

A fairly radical new concept in transportation planning emerged a few years ago in the Netherlands, and has rapidly caught on in Europe. It's called "shared space." At its core, this means allowing cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists to share the same space. As Hans Monderman, who pioneered the concept, explains,"When you don't exactly know who has right of way, you tend to seek eye contact with other road users ... You automatically reduce your speed, you have contact with other people and you take greater care." 

You'll get a clearer idea by watching this short video about the City of Auckland, New Zealand's plans for implementing shared space on several streets. 

More details about the concept are also available on the Project for Public Spaces' blog. There's also a good article on shared space on Wikipedia, with a number of links. Could something like this work in the U.S., or would it require too big a change in motorists' behavior?

Allentown

Our music and art can often tell us a lot about our cities, and our society. Billy Joel is especially perceptive in this way -- plus he's got quite a voice! For this Friday's short video offering, listen to his song "Allentown." The video below is a home made version; to view the official music video you'll need to use this link. If you want to find out about economic development issues facing Allentown today, visit the Allentown Economic Development Corporation's web site.

The Astounding World of the Future

Many of us probably remember those visions of the amazing, high-tech future -- often common at Worlds Fairs from the 1960s and earlier. I certainly was enthralled by the New York World's Fair of 1964 which I visited as a 13 year old, especially the General Motors' Futurama and the Ford Motor Company exhibit (and it's interesting that it was the auto companies that painted the most vivid, futuristic pictures of America).  

But how do these visions of the future actually pan out? Today's video, written and directed by Scott Dikkers, provides an entertaining take on this.

Also, fyi, our October special offer, "Does Planning History Matter to You?," also looks back at the future, as recounted by planning historian Laurence Gerckens. Take a look at what's available to order & download.

Affordable Modern Prefab

Is it possible to design & build a distinctive looking modern prefabricated house? Take a look at this short video about Alchemy Architect's weeHouse being installed in various sites and configurations. For more detailed information about the weeHouse.

Early in the video there's a reference to the Lustron House, an early post-World War II effort to develop attractive manufactured homes. We found an interesting 15 minute video about the history of the Lustron and efforts to preserve one Lustron house.

For more on the signficance of the Lustron, take a look also at planning historian Laurence Gerckens' short piece "The Unfulfilled Promise of High Tech Housing" (and accompanying sidebar by Beth Orenstein with more on the Lustron) -- this was one section of our special issue, The Promise of America: Ten Successes and Ten Failures that Shaped the 20th Century American City (available to order & download).

Doing a Walking Audit

"Walkability is the single most important issue facing cities today," says planner Troy Russ in this Friday's short video about doing a "walking audit" in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The video is by the Center for Planning Excellence in Louisiana.

For another excellent example of how to do a walkability survey, see the Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhood Walking Survey tool (pdf file). 

Getting Uphill

Sometimes it can be a challenge to get uphill. But here are two worthy solutions. The first is an innovative bicycle lift in Trondheim, Norway. The second is the 4th Street Elevator in Dubuque, Iowa, one of the remaining funiculars still in use in the U.S. Message to transportation planners: we need more of both of these modes of transport. Getting uphill should be fun! Ah ha -- that's why it's called a funicular.

Art, Traffic Calming, & Community

Is it possible to combine art, traffic calming, and community involvement? The answer in Ocean City, New Jersey, is a resounding "yes" -- as you'll see in this interesting 10 minute video. To learn more about Ocean City's Community Art Projects. Our thanks to Bryan Davis of the Chittenden County (Vermont) Regional Planning Commission for alerting us to this video. If there are any online videos you'd like to alert us to, email us at: pcjoffice@gmail.com

The Right to Dry

"No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements." 27 Vermont Statutes Sec. 544(a) (the quoted language is on p. 48 of the pdf of the law).

Last Summer, the Vermont legislature enacted a "Right to Dry" law, prohibiting municipal and private restrictions barring, among other things, the use of clotheslines. Lyman Orton, owner of the Vermont Country Store, spearheaded this effort. For more detailed information on the right to dry movement, visit the Project Laundry List web site.

The following is a five minute video by reporter Bill Geist from the CBS Sunday Morning show -- definitely worth a look. Below that is a short video of the celebration of enactment of the Vermont right to dry law.

Watch CBS Videos Online

A few years ago, we published in the Planning Commissioners Journal an article on the growing impact that homeowners association rules and bylaws are having on our communities; the article reported on prohibitions against the use of clotheslines, American flags, and other common restrictions -- and local and state responses to this.

Bike Commuting

Two short videos that document the growing interest in bicycle commuting. The first, produced by StreetFilms, is of bike commuters heading into Portland, Oregon; the second , by WTTW11 in Chicago looks at some hardy Winter bike commuters in that city.

I Spend 3 1/2 Hours a Day Online

You might be surprised to hear that I saw this short video at the annual meeting of the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association. On its face, as you'll see, the video has absolutely nothing to do with planning. But Barbara Knauff, who included the video as part of her talk at the planning conference, was focusing on the importance of planners being able to better understand the next generation of young adults, and how they communicate & get their information.

Take a look also at an article we published last year, The Next Generation of Your Planning Commission, by Kit Hodge (free download; pdf format).

Constructing Rain Gardens

In the Winter 2009 issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal we highlighted the growing importance of stormwater management in local planning. These two videos focus on one technique: the construction of rain gardens. The videos contain some good, basic information that should help citizen planners better understand what's involved with constructing a rain garden.

The first video below (produced by the Opequon Creek Project Team) shows a larger-scale rain garden being constructed in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The second video (by the Backyard Farmer at the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension) focuses on a smaller-scale rain garden.

For more on green infrastrucutre, take a look at the contents of our newly revised and expanded publication, Green Essentials.

"The Epicenter of the Green Movement" ... is in Kansas

Just a little over two years ago I visited Greensburg, Kansas, not long after a devastating tornado destroyed much of this small city -- population about 1,500. Take a look at my report, Rebuilding Greensburg. While there -- besides being overwhelmed by the scope of the devastation -- I also got the clear sense that Greensburg would be coming back. I was also impressed by how people from across the state of Kansas were rallying to support Greensburg.

Having said that, I'm still amazed by the direction Greensburg has taken. As one young resident says in this video, Greensburg is "the epicenter of the green movement." It's a view shared by local leaders, business owners, and residents.

Here's one part of a series of short videos from the Sundance Channel. To view the full series on Greensburg.

Some photos I took while in Greensburg two years ago. The bottom left photo is of the City Council meeting under the tent; bottom right, planners discussing rebuilding priorities (more on this on my 2007 report from Greensburg).

  click on photos to pop up at larger size

The Most Advanced "Bus Rapid Transit" System in the World

In less than ten minutes, this video will give you a great introduction to the potential of "bus rapid transit." You'll visit Bogota, Colombia, home of what is considered the most advanced BRT system in the world, the Transmilenio. It has provided Bogota with a much cheaper alternative than either building more expressways or a subway system. The Transmilenio is also closely linked with feeder bus and bike routes. The video is by StreetFilms, a terrific source of videos on transportation issues.

For more about the Bogota system, see a recent article in the New York Times (July 9, 2009).