Agenda - 08-19-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities walk improvements, street lighting, directional signs, trees and planters, street furniture, and trash recep- tacles that can improve the appearance of a down- town corridor or Main Street and thereby attract more people. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations, and regional. planning commissions often have funding avail- able for streetscape improvements .14 In New Jersey, NJDOT has awarded between $750,000 and $3 million (depending on legislative appropriations) to jurisdic- tions that have participated in the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan. The funding is available for projects that enhance pedestrian and bicycle features, make streetscape improvements, and rehabilitate transportation structures. In 2009, the state also announced a Transportation Enhancement grant program through NJDOT, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which has $19.5 million available to communities for "non- traditional transportation projects," including streetscape improvements.3s Targeted new development By targeting new development into existing growth areas or downtown corridors, where infrastructure already exists, communities can ensure that private investment generates the maximum benefit for the community while avoiding the expense of provid- ing new infrastructure that is required for greenfield development. Strategically designating existing areas to receive new development in a comprehensive plan (and ensuring that local ordinances support that plan) can save taxpayers money and provides predictabil- ity to developers looking for an appropriate place to build. Kentucky has a long history of preserving its historic and cultural resources. The state's first preservation organization was founded in 1978. It has evolved into Preservation Kentucky, a statewide organization focused on providing educational opportunities related to preserving historic and cultural resources. Preservation Kentucky now administers the Rural Heritage Development Initiative (RHDI), a pilot program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. RHDI, which is funded through a grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and matching funds from private donors and county governments, focuses on five goals in eight central Strategy 2.b. Encourage private sector investment Infill development incentives Current policies and regulations may inadvertently create incentives to build on greenfields by making infill and redevelopment more costly than developing on the outskirts of an existing town. To remedy this situation., communities should review their land use policies and regulations to ensure that there are incen- tives for infill and brownfield development and disin- centives for greenfieid development. Examples include faster project approval and reduced impact fees. Overcoming barriers to Infill Existing codes and ordinances may make it difficult to accomplish infill development and brownfield redevelopment. Where infrastructure already exists, communities may need to revise their existing poli- cies or adopt new ones that enable infill development to occur. The Land -of -Sky Regional Council in North Carolina, with a grant from the EPA, evaluated existing policies in the four - county region and examined how to overcome barriers to infill .37 Cities and counties in the region have been removing these barriers, facili- tating brownfield redevelopment, and creating new amenities on underused and abandoned sites. This kind of project often generates excitement, which can jump -start additional private- sector investment. Redevelopment readiness certification Communities can send a message to potential inves- tors that they are ready for reinvestment by dem- onstrating redevelopment readiness. The concept of redevelopment readiness certification is that a commu- Kentucky counties. The program works to "create a regional approach to implementing historic preservation and economic development" strategies, including developing the heritage tourism industry, developing local businesses that reinvigorate Main Streets and reflect the unique culture and heritage of the region, and preserving farmland and historic farms while devel- oping new local markets for farm products. By investing-both public and private funds, Preservation Kentucky has helped the state's rural communities thrive' 1 Preservation Kentucky, http: / /www.preservationkentucky.org/ 109