TND Survey

Looking over the survey data there were lots of great comments about the traditional neighborhood design left by attendees. I picked one for, one neutral, and one against the tnd and added some additional comments.

For the TND:

“A TND design will ensure a growth plan that will meet the needs of our changing world much more than sprawl. “Walkable, “eyes on the streets”, private backyards, save on sewer with density, save on street paving, with density, save on busing when kids can walk to school and watch our property values retain their integrity.”

It is true our world is changing. The US census says:

This country’s population is changing, and so are its real estate preferences. These lifestyle changes have significant implications for development. For the first time, there are more single-person households (26.4 percent) than married-couple-with-children households (23.3 percent). The groups growing the fastest, people in their mid-20s and empty nesters in their 50s, are the groups most likely to look for an alternative to low-density, single-family housing.

US census

This means that some of our new and/or older residents will be seeking exactly what the TND would provide – an alternative to low-density, single family housing. Currently our housing market is lacking inventory in this area, while we have a 30 year supply of lots that are outside the city core with lower densities. This un-balanced situation contradicts our comprehensive plan which states that we should “encourage opportunities for a diversity of housing choices.” Ultimately, having many different housing options is important to our community. It will help ensure that opportunities for home ownership are open to a wider spectrum of income levels.

There is lots of data out there to support the rest of the comments. I’d only add that initial paving and sewer costs are put on the developer, but maintenance and up keep are the cities responsibility. It is very expensive for the city to service water and sewer pipes, roads, pump stations, and plow. By condensing these services it will be cheaper for the city.

Neutral

“I appreciate the open house to explain what’s going on in the city. I have mixed feelings on the TND concept. I hate to see the smaller homes going up but I do think we need to take advantage of what property is available. As long as it enhances the beauty of our city – I guess it is for the best – also brings more taxpayers.”

It’s okay to have mixed feelings about this. Remember a TND is not for everyone. If you have an adverse reaction to the set backs or density it is important to remember that you don’t have to live in one. Even without living in one, there are still community benefits.

1.) Homes located near TND neighborhoods are worth more. When you live in or next to a nice, safe, attractive neighborhood your property values increase.

2.) The city will ultimately save money by having to provide less service to far out future sub divisions (sewer/water upkeep and maintenance, snow plowing…) Ultimately this would allow Victor to put that money in other areas.

3.) Having more people within walking distance to downtown would help bring in more local businesses and help keep our current ones going.

Against the TND

“The reason I enjoy living in a rural area is because it is rural. City density as close as a traditional neighborhood is too dense for a rural area. Not that sprawl is everywhere but not that dense. Does not allow reasonable snow removal.”

I agree, I LOVE living in a rural setting. More then anything I want to maintain and protect our valleys rural lifestyle. Rural areas are better for those who choice to work the land, it is better for our wildlife, and it helps preserve our valley’s beauty.

Development pressures are currently threatening our rural lands. The fact that more people want to move to Victor is beyond anyone’s control. Without good planning, we will witness our rural lands get gobbled up by sub-division after sub-division.

I believe one solution to save our rural land is the TND. The proposed TND box is a half mile in each direction from our city center which even by current zoning is not classified as rural. The idea is, by increasing density within this small box, we will help protect everything outside the box. We are trying to create a density gradient – Having it most dense in the city core and having it taper off as you get further and further away.

There are thousands of TND’s all over the country. Almost all pre-WW2 housing was TND, but as far as new development goes there is currently 18 in Colorado, 9 in Michigan, 9 in Wisconsin, 1 in Montana, 3 in Utah, and 2 in New York. These places all have one thing in common. Snow! We can come up with solutions to deal with snow. Other communities all over the country handle it very successfully.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who came out to our open house last Thursday night. It really got me fired up about all the people who care and want to be informed about what is happening in Victor. Many have said they had no idea of the work that is going on and want to continue to be kept in the loop. I hope that this blog is one more way to stay informed.

It was a nice reminder that community members have similar values and ideas of which direction we want Victor headed. As a council member I work for us all and it is important to make sure I am on the right track representing our vision. Thank you.

Great training opportunity!

Conservation Voters for Idaho is hosting a one-day Campaign Training in Driggs and we need your help in getting the word out to people who may be interested.

If YOU are interested in attending, email me now! If you know people who may be interested, please forward this!

About the Campaign Training:
This training is comprehensive, and an invaluable resource to participants who have never experienced campaign training—as well as those who have prior training experience. The training is geared towards candidates and campaign managers/key volunteers.

Date: Saturday, April 5th

Time: 9 am – 5 pm

Place: Driggs (location will be sent to participants after they register)

Workshop Cost: Free to participants who apply through Conservation Voters for Idaho (includes lunch and workshop materials)

Trainer: Lee Flinn, Conservation Voters for Idaho


Participants will learn how to:

1. Determine how many votes are needed to win a race
2. Write an effective campaign plan
3. Create and carry out a field plan
4. Raise funds to carry out a winning campaign


Space is limited, so please let me know right away if you are interested in attending!

I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks!

Lee Flinn - lee@conservationvotersforidaho.org

Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND)

If you've been wondering what TND stands for here's your chance to find out. Traditional Neighborhood Design is a reference to the style of community building popular in the United States before World War II. TND's typically have a variety of housing sizes, close together, with set back garages at the end of skinny driveways. The houses are fronted with porches and built right up to the curb with only a small front yard. The streets in a TND are narrow, usually have parallel parking, a planting strip for trees, and then a sidewalk before reaching the front yards. Often there is a more sizeable back yard and even a service alley behind that.

But wait, there's more. A successful TND is a true mixed use development. Remember the "corner store" that seems to have disappeared in the modern subdivision. Well it's back in the TND. Along with town homes, row houses, and some light commercial. Ideally a resident in a TND could walk or ride a bike to the corner store for milk and along the way greet their neighbors who are sitting on their porch. A TND resident may even be able to walk to work while their child walks to school. If you think of a great neighborhood from your childhood, it's probably a TND.

So, what's that got to do with Victor. Victor is currently considering a TND zoning overlay for a one square mile block of downtown. This size was arrived at by looking at the distance someone can easily walk in 15 minutes. This optional zoning overlay is intended to encourage infill development by offering density bonuses to downtown land owners. Infill development is a way to grow a city from the inside out with a gradual increasing density gradient as you move further away from the city center.

On Wednesday March 19th, there will be an open house at the City Hall from 8:30am to 8:00pm. Valley residents are encouraged to come by and learn all the ins and outs of the TND as well as our upcoming re-addressing and the proposed new Impact Area. After the open house there will be a more formal public hearing during an upcoming Council meeting. The TND ordinance has already passed through the Planning and Zoning Commission 5-0.

Links:
List of TND's across the country.
Mountainside Village - Victor's TND
smartgrowth.org
TND Power Point Presentation

Orton Heart and Soul Grant

On March 3rd, the city of Victor submitted an application for the Orton Foundation Heart and Soul Grant. This grant assists small communities in the Rocky Mountain West and New England develop the "heart and soul" of their community. Our application made the case that Victor's heart and soul is its liveable / walkable downtown core. If we receive the $100k, Victor can pay for a lot of critical planning tools such as a Transportation Plan, GIS analysis and growth alternatives, 3D visualization, etc.

The ultimate goal is to build upon all the great work that has already been done. Through the Comprehensive Plan process, Victor heard loud and clear that our citizens want a more vibrant, walkable downtown. But what does that look like? How will we pay for it? What steps are next? Hopefully this grant application can keep momentum alive in order to answer these questions.

Thanks to our grant writer, Stephanie Thomas, our application looks great and I think we have a fighting chance to win one of the 2 Rocky Mountain grants. We'll know in the next few weeks if we made the short list and qualified for a site visit. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted.

Scott Fitzgerald
Victor City Council