More than fifty percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. As the U.S. and the rest of the world’s population shift to higher density communities we must figure out how to make our communities more sustainable, especially in view of depleting oil supplies, dwindling water resources, and accelerating climate change. Communities must look for ways to reduce their ecological footprint.
=== Why create a new division and not combine this topic with an existing division?
1. There is demonstrated interest in forming a new Sustainable Community Planning division among APA members.
At the 2007 National Planning Conference in Philadelphia, Sharon Ferguson collected over 600 signatures (with contact information) of planners who supported the creation of a new APA division for "sustainable community planning." This number represents a significant percentage, considering that approximately 4,000 planners attended the conference, and Ferguson was the sole signature collector. The planners who signed their names represent a wide range of planners working in all levels of government practice, private firms, and universities.
The top of the sign-up sheet stated: "Yes, I’m interested in membership in a new APA Division – Sustainable Community Planning" and requested name, organization, email address, and APA membership. Approximately 99.99% of those signing were APA members.
2. Sustainable community design and planning is a topic of extensive scope and can stand alone on its own merits.
Sustainability has become a mainstream issue. The media is filled daily with headlines and news stories containing the words 'green' and 'sustainable.' These stories range from where to buy 'green' products to sustainable storm water management techniques to green building design. Green and sustainable design will soon encompass all facets of our lifestyles to include the way cities are planned and managed.
In an effort to curb sprawl, sustainable planning concepts were introduced through the tenets of Smart Growth. Principles of Smart Growth such as mixed land uses, improved public transit, the design of safe and pleasant walking environments, and compact higher density developments were the first wave of smarter planning. Sustainable community design and planning moves the profession beyond that level to the next stage in the design of human settlements.
Planners are uniquely qualified to assume a leadership role in confronting and solving the evolving uncertainties that humanity faces. This is too great a topic of interest and concern not to be a significant part of the APA. A division solely devoted to this topic is sorely needed and is, frankly, overdue.
3. A Sustainable Community Planning division would be a bridge between existing divisions.
Sustainability issues would not fit well within a single existing division -- in fact, it overlaps with nearly all of them, including City Planning and Management; Economic Development; Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy; Federal Planning; Housing and Community Planning; Information Technology; International; New Urbanism; Regional and Intergovernmental Planning; Small Town and Rural Planning; Transportation Planning; Urban Design and Preservation; and County Planning.
While a case could be made that each of these divisions has a supporting role to play in the overall goal of creating more sustainable communities, the Sustainable Community Planning division would focus on leading the effort.