House Committee Approves Bill To Promote Alternative To Sprawl

House Bill 1609 (Freeman-D-Northampton) to promote traditional neighborhood development as an alternative to sprawl was unanimously voted out of the House Local Government Committee this week.

 

"Traditional neighborhood development is an excellent alternative to the type of sprawl development that consumes vast amounts of farmland and creates traffic congestion nightmares," said Rep. Freeman, chairman of the House Local Government Committee. "TNDs are a more compact form of development that uses less land, is pedestrian-friendly and provides for a mix of uses and housing options that foster a greater sense of community than conventional suburban developments. A TND creates an actual village or neighborhood rather than a subdivision."

 

Nearly a decade ago, Rep. Freeman authored the original traditional neighborhood development provisions in the state's Municipalities Planning Code. Since then, a number of communities pursued the TND alternative, but provisions in the 2000 law proved somewhat cumbersome to implement.

 

Rep. Freeman said his bill would make changes to current TND provisions to make it easier for municipalities to use them as an alternative to sprawl. Under current law, a TND that is in the form of a new development must be in the form of an overlay zone rather than a designation "by right." The bill would allow municipalities to designate a TND "by right," thereby making it easier to develop mixed-use, traditional neighborhoods.

 

"By allowing municipalities to make an outright TND designation in their zoning codes, it would be a lot easier to create TNDs," Rep. Freeman noted. "Municipalities could ensure that this more compact form of development would be utilized, rather than simply suggesting it to a developer as an alternative. With this added tool in their planning toolbox, local officials would be in a much better position to manage growth more effectively, preserve more open space and reduce people's dependency on the automobile for everyday needs."

 

The bill also would allow municipalities to incorporate a design guideline manual for TNDs as part of their zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances in order to ensure quality design.