This July 25, 2007 webcast, presented by ICMA and the US EPA, looked at how two very different communities—San José, California and Barnstable, Massachusetts—protect water quality while meeting smart growth goals for economic growth and development. Speakers from both communities provided background and discussed the political, economic, and regulatory aspects of their programs.

Case Studies

The city of San José, California (pop. 974,000), has pursued smart growth policies for three decades. In 2006, the city revised its stormwater policy to increase controls while providing flexibility for projects that complement the city’s smart growth goals. For example, the policy contains exemptions from meeting site level controls for certain projects, such as brownfield and urban redevelopment and construction of low income housing. This reduces constraints for projects, which, as a result of their more compact footprints, can reduce the overall amount of impervious surface in the watershed.

The Cape Cod town of Barnstable, Massachusetts (pop, 48,000), is developing a market-based transfer of development rights (TDR) program. The TDR program will redirect development from critical natural resource areas, including those impacting water supply, into historic downtown Hyannis, where revitalization efforts are underway. The program will enable resource preservation and help address water pollution and traffic congestion—without putting a stop to growth. The town is conducting an economic analysis to better understand the impact the program will have on development costs and how to value transferable development rights.

Speakers

Moderator:	Geoff Anderson, director, Development, Community and Environment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Speakers:	Laurel Prevetti, assistant director, Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, San José, California
	Paul Niedzwiecki, assistant town manager, Barnstable, Massachusetts

This webcast was presented by ICMA with support from the US Environmental Protection Agency.