How to Put this Tool into Action in Your
Community:
Implementation Techniques
Let's get started! If you live outside of California and would like to get a statewide infill opportunity zoning law similar to California's enacted in your state, click here to read the full text of the
California Infill Opportunity Law
(amending Section 65088-65089.10 of the California Government Code). Then,
get in touch with the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) to find out how this law was enacted in California. STPP advocated for the passage of the Infill Opportunity Zone Law in California and can provide you with more info about that and how to campaign for the passage of a similar law in your state).
California residents can already take advantage of the flexible traffic standards permitted by the state's Infill Opportunity Zone law, but only if their city council or county government adopts a resolution designating an 'infill opportunity zone' in their community. Thus, any local government that does not proactively adopt such a resolution will remain obligated to impose the conventional, one-size-fits-all LOS (level of service) standards and traffic mitigation measures (usually road widening) for all new development. The voluntary nature of this new law requires that California advocates must work for the local passage of such a resolution through three essential activities:
outreach to your elected officials,
education of politicians and other stakeholders, and
partnering with other like-minded groups.
Outreach to Elected Officials. Having only recently been signed into law, many local decision makers are still unaware of the new law and its benefits. Here's how you can help to spread the word!
|
> |
Know your community. Your first step will be to identify areas in your community that would qualify for designation as infill opportunity zones (see the criteria for designating infill opportunity zones listed in the
Guide section above or check out the
Eligibility
Checklist). There's no need to do a lot of resear ch yourself at this stage (unless you like that sort of thing): just ask the staff of your elected representatives to provide you with the necessary information, or put you in touch with the person at your local planning department or regional transit agency who can. You'll need to identify different areas in your community that
(1) meet
the law's
criteria, (2) would benefit from designation as an infill opportunity zone (areas that need more affordable housing, commercial reinvestment, and improved amenities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit passengers), and
(3) can accommodate infill development (usually areas with lots of vacant parcels, abandoned structures, aging low-density development, and/or large surface parking lots). |
| > |
Get in touch.
After doing this preliminary research, you'll want to get in touch with your City Councilpersons or County Supervisors (for contact information, see the online
directory of all city and county governments
in California). You can contact them either in writing or by phone to request a meeting to talk about the Infill Opportunity Law. Start by letting them know that you and/or your group wants more infill, transit-oriented development, increased transportation choices, and less automobile traffic in your community and that you have some information to help them achieve these goals. (Click
here for a sample letter that you can customize for your letter or use as a reference during your phone
call). If you are unable to contact your representative in person, speak to the representative's scheduler to set up an appointment. Usually the scheduler will request more information about what will be discussed during the meeting so they can be prepared. Offer to send them an
Infill Zoning Fact
Sheet, a
Transit-Oriented Development
Factsheet, and a
Sample Resolution for designating infill opportunity zones. |
| > |
Be strategic. If you don't have time to meet with numerous Councilpersons and/or Supervisors, target your outreach efforts by contacting only those officials whose voting records, press releases, and/or website suggests an interest in transit-oriented development or affordable housing. |
Education. Your elected officials and their staffpersons may not know or remember all the technical details of the Infill Opportunity Zone Law, so you'll have an opportunity to educate them at your meeting. Here's some suggestions on how to be most effective when you meet with your elected officials on this issue (for additional suggestions,
click
here).
| > |
What should I say? When you meet with your local representatives, begin by explaining the infill opportunity zone law to them and the law's potential benefits for your community (you could highlight many of the issues raised throughout this summary and provide your representative with some of the resources and fact sheets listed in the
'Dig A Little
Deeper' section below). Then discuss the areas that you've identified as potential candidates for designation as an infill opportunity zones. Conclude by requesting that your representative immediately begin immediately to work towards designation of these or other areas as infill opportunity zones in your community |
| > |
Five key points to emphasize. Whether you are able to meet with your representative in person, or are only able to contact them by phone or in writing, the most important points to try emphasize are the following:
| a) |
The Infill Opportunity Law provides for local control and flexibility and
will encourage more transit-oriented infill development.
The Infill Opportunity Law is an exciting opportunity that returns a measure of local control over transportation investments to local officials and gives them the flexibility to invest in a variety of transportation infrastructure (expanded sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit amenities) that address the needs of the entire community. In addition, the law promotes more transit-oriented infill development, which can help increase the supply of affordable housing and promote commercial revitalization. |
| b) |
Conventional LOS standards often lead to bad results in our community. Statewide traffic mitigation standards are a one-size-fits-all, single-minded planning approach which require road widening for all new development, regardless of the unique characteristics of the development proposal or our local community priorities. While this results in minor (but often temporary) improvements in traffic congestion for motorists, it permanently degrades travel conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit passengers by creating inhospitable and dangerous streets in our community. |
| c) |
Alternative LOS standards and traffic mitigation measures exit which can help us grow smarter. Transportation planners have developed alternative LOS standards and several traffic mitigation measures that are more responsive to the needs of all travelers. These proven and sophisticated mitigation measures can help us create safer, more vibrant streets with improved amenities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit passengers. (Click
here for a resource sheet you can provide to your elected officials and/or their staffs that lists resources for developing alternative LOS measures and traffic mitigation measures, as well as case studies of communities where these alternatives have been successfully
implemented.) |
| d) |
There are several areas in our community where we can implement these flexible traffic standards and promote transit-oriented development. There are several areas in our community that are eligible for designation as an infill opportunity zones under the criteria of California's new Infill Opportunity Law. (At this point, discuss the
eligibility criteria in the law, the areas you've identified that qualify for designation as infill opportunity zones in your community, and all the potential benefits that are only possible with such a
designation). |
| e) |
You must take action to make it happen. We cannot begin realizing these benefits until the City Council and/or Board of Supervisors introduces and adopts a resolution officially designating the eligible areas in our community as infill opportunity zones. |
|
| > |
Following up. Hopefully your representative will be receptive to your request. If so,
ask them what specific actions they intend to take and when. If you receive a negative response (or if your representative only offers to 'look into the issue' or 'study the matter further'), ask them for a specific deadline when you can expect their decision on this issue and ask that they contact you directly with their decision (so you won't have to keep calling back). Regardless, of the response you receive, be sure to send a letter to the representative and their staff thanking them for their time and reiterating your key points.
|
Partner with local organizations and stakeholders. Don't give up if you initially receive an unenthusiastic response to your request for the designation of infill opportunity zones (or if your elected officials seem to be taking no action on the issue). You can build a stronger case for the adoption of infill opportunity zones by connecting with like-minded local organizations (including advocates of affordable housing and transit-oriented development (TOD) as well as pedestrian, bicycle, and transit groups). Building coalitions can strengthen your efforts to educate your elected officials about the benefits of the new law and to encourage them to adopt resolutions designating infill opportunity zones.
If you are unfamiliar with groups in your area working on TOD, pedestrian, housing or smart growth issues,
contact a state or national
organization who can often suggest a local group to work with. Because these organizations often represent a large and diverse membership, bringing a representative from one or more of these transit or housing organizations to your meeting with a City Councilperson of County Supervisor may help you persuade your elected officials to take action. Similarly, other broad based groups, such as the
Senior Action Network
that are interested in the health and safety benefits of TOD and more pedestrian-friendly streets could be very effective partners in your campaign bring the benefits of infill opportunity zones in your community. Lastly, the local Chamber of Commerce and professional organizations representing developers, the building industry, and realtors may also be particularly influential allies to court since they have a vested interested in making infill development easier, reducing traffic congestion, and preserving the livability of the communities where they work.
Other avenues to promote TOD and more balanced transportation investments in your community (even if the Infill Opportunity Law doesn't apply to you). Even if you can't identify any areas in your community that meet the population size, zoning, and transit frequency service
requirements of the Infill Opportunity
Law, there is still much you can do to promote TOD. Instead of meeting with elected officials and like-minded organizations to work for the designation of infill opportunity zones in your community, you can take the following
actions:
| > |
Advocate for your local planning agency to adopt mixed-use, infill, or compact zoning in your community. Several cities have adopted these types of zoning ordinances. (California residents, click
here to see a list of communities that already have a mixed use ordinance). If your community is not in the above list, find a nearby community that does have a mixed-used, infill, or compact zoning
ordinance, and then click
here for the contact information of that community's planning agency. |
| > |
Lobby your state transportation department to revise the statewide LOS standards to allow for greater flexibility and local control (California residents should contact
Caltrans). |
| > |
Demand increased transit service and investments from your local elected officials. Better transit service will not only benefit existing transit riders, it will also allow those areas in your community that are good candidates for designation as infill opportunity zones to achieve the
transit service intervals required under the Infill Opportunity Zone
Law. Thus, improving transit service can attract new riders by promoting more transit-oriented infill development, thereby bringing more people within walking distance of transit and putting more places that people want to go along routes that are well-served by transit. Click here for a list of transit advocacy links that can help you with your efforts to bring better transit service to your community. |
  
|
