Taking the Safe Growth Message to Congress

APA and the House Livable Communities Task Force hosted a congressional briefing, "Safe Growth: Planning, Development & Design Strategies to Enhance Community Safety on July 28, 2005. Approximately 60 congressional leaders and staffers attended the special briefing that explored how design, planning technologies, and local code reform can improve public safety.

Executive Director, Paul Farmer, AICP, moderated the panel discussion. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), chair of the House Livable Communities Task Force and an outspoken advocate of comprehensive planning, welcomed attendees and stressed the importance of good community design in order to protect our people and places from disasters — whether natural or man-made.

"APA has long partnered with congressional leaders to promote safe growth in our communities," said Jason Jordan, APA's assistant policy director for government affairs. "Hosting this briefing helped reinforce the safe growth planning message in Congress. And Rep. Blumenauer's legislation will help make safe growth a reality for communities across the country.

A panel of distinguished experts in the field of disaster mitigation gave presentations and made substantive comments about the role of sound planning practice and the need for a federal partnership in state and local efforts to protect our nation's communities. Michael Chipley, senior manager for risk and emergency management at PBS&J, and Len Hopper, chief landscape architect for the New York City Housing Authority, provided background on human-caused disasters, including visual examples from their work with risk assessment technology and mitigation strategies for urban security and safety.

David Godschalk, FAICP, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, demonstrated how planners have used various tools and technologies to successfully improve safety and mitigate against potential harm in three distinct communities in his state. New technologies, planning and design techniques, and local regulatory reform have helped communities identify potential vulnerabilities and increase the safety of homes, public facilities and transportation systems.

Two representatives from the International Code Council (ICC) discussed the role of building codes in thwarting disaster. Jim Tidwell, vice president of fire service activities at the ICC, stressed the importance of planning, design, and development strategies to mitigate the risks of fire and keep communities safe in a wildland-urban interface. Tidwell urged federal lawmakers to get involved by more actively regulating the development patterns and fireproofing requirements necessary to protect those who choose to live in close proximity to forest environments.

Rep. Blumenauer concluded the briefing by discussing Safe Communities legislation that he will introduce once Congress returns from its summer recess in September. His legislation would provide grants to assist communities with safe growth planning.

The briefing was part of APA's Safe Growth initiative. Click here for more information on Safe Growth.

Images: From top — U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.); David R. Godschalk, FAICP, Stephen Baxter Professor Emeritus, Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Dr. Michael T. Chipley, Senior Program Manager, PBS&J; Terry Holzheimer, AICP, APA Economic Development Division Chair and Director of Business Investment, Arlington, Virginia.