[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                                                     Task 37   RNAL PRODUCT HRPDC
                                                     FY 1"3  Technical Assistance









                        AN ANALYSIS OF EFFORTS TO CONSTRUCT


                    ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

                                  (Interim Report)

Z_




                                  Prepared by the

                     Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

                                      and the

                   Richmond Regional Planning District Commission

                                  November, 1994













                                       A






          A Product of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's
                  Coastal Resources Management Program pursuant to
               National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award
                                  No. NA370ZO360-01


                This document is funded in part by a grant from the
                  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
           The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not
            necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any sub-agencies.














                        AN ANALYSIS OF EFFORTS TO CONSTRUCT


                   ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING



              Much has been written and said about the need to develop
         housing that fits with the environment, that does not ignore or try
         to reshape the surrounding environment. Much has also been written
         and said about the need for affordable housing, especially for low
         and moderate income families. To the writers' knowledge, however,
         not much has been written or said about combining these two
         worthwhile goals.

              In an attempt to determine what, if anything, was being done
         to tie these two concepts together, staff of the Hampton Roads
         Planning District Commission and the Richmond Regional Planning
         District Commission began to look at these two issues together.
         Specifically, staff wanted to investigate the availability of
         information about best management practices aimed directly at
         serving the needs of medium priced housing. While staff assumed
         such activity was underway, there appeared to be little published
         information available on the topic.     Such information would be
         beneficial to all the localities in this region as they plan for
         encouraging affordable housing and attempt to adequately protect
         the environment.

              During the course of the year it became apparent to staff that
         the scope of the project needed to be expanded. The investigation
         should go farther then best management practices.        It should
         examine any work being done in the field of affordable residential
         development which incorporated environmental protection in its
         broadest sense into the design. This concept was presented to the
         staff of the Department of Environmental Quality who agreed.

              In our attempt to find information on this topic, staff of
         RRPDC and HRPDC contacted a variety of organizations. Following is
         a list of agencies contacted.

              American Institute of Architect
              American Institute of Architect--Virginia Section
              American Planning Association
              American Society of Landscape Architects
              Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department
              Fifth Planning District Commission
              Homebuilders Association of Richmond
              Lower James River Association
              National Association of Regional Councils
              National Association of Homebuilders
              North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural
                   Resources








              Peninsula Housing and Building Association
              Tidewater Builders Association
              Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
              Virginia Housing Development Authority
              Virginia Housing Study Commission

              While each agency evidenced a sincere interest in the topic,
         few were able to give staff any concrete assistance on actual work
         being done in this f ield.   Some agencies were, however, able to
         give staff recommendations regarding individuals or agencies that
         may help with this inquiry.     Staff followed up on some of this
         references and was able to determine that there is extensive
         interest in the development of environmentally sensitive affordable
         housing.

              The work of Randall Arendt is often referenced. Mr. Arendt
         has gained a national reputation based upon a work which he co-
         authored.   This book is entitled Dealing with Change in the
         Connecticut River Valley:    A Design Manual for Conservation and
         Development.   Mr Arendt has made presentations on this topic in
         this region and makes a strong case for developing with the
         environment, not in conflict with the environment. In addition,
         Mr. Arendt's concept attempts to provide a realistic compromise
         between the needs of a developer to make a profit and a desire to
         design with nature.    While Mr. Arendt's work is significant, it
         deals with designing with nature on the macro level and is not
         aimed at affordable housing. Still, his concepts can be helpful in
         this field.

              The Lower James River Association has also attempted to
         provide information that could be used to develop with the
         environment. Their publication The Lower James River Watershed:
         Strategies for Resource Protection and Sustainable Development
         examines the needs of the James River watershed and presents
         examples of sensitive development from numerous localities.

              Several examples of residential development that attempt to
         blend in with the environment can be found in this region. These
         include Ford's Colony, Gatling Point, Governor's Landing, Jordan on
         the James, Kings Mill and the Vineyards at Jockey's Neck. While
         all of these are excellent examples of residential development that
         attempt to harmonize with the surroundings, all of the housing in
         these developments are aimed at upper level income families. None
         are aimed at the affordable housing market.

              In addition, there is a national effort afoot to develop
         "green housing". Our current understanding of this concept is that
         it goes beyond the concept of environmentally sensitive subdivision
         development.    It incorporates actual modifications in housing
         design and construction techniques to make each housing unit adapt
         to environmental constraints and realities.        There is a group
         formed in Richmond, Virginia, which will examine the concept of
         "green housing".








              During the coming year, staff of RRPDC and HRPDC will continue
         to investigate the issue of environmentally sensitive affordable
         housing.   Staff will continue to contact various agencies and
         individuals about the topic.    As stated previously, some of the
         organizations contacted made suggestions about additional contacts
         that may be helpful.    Furthermore, staff will also continue to
         learn about the concept of "green housing" and its relationship   to
         the topic.   Attention will also be given to work being done      in
         other parts of Virginia.

              As indicated previously, Tidewater Virginia has a number     of
         examples of environmentally sensitive housing developments. All   of
         those that are cited frequently as models, however, are aimed at
         the high end of the housing market.            During the ongoing
         investigation into this topic, staff will attempt to determine the
         factors that have led to this situation.       These factors could
         include the cost of the site amenities or environmental management
         features included in the development, a lack of knowledge of lower
         cost options on the part of the development community, a perceived
         lack of interest in such features on the part of the consumer or
         other factors.

              At the same time, staff will continue to examine these higher
         cost housing developments that have incorporated environmentally
         sensitive design into the site plan. Much is to be learned from
         the developments.   They certainly have attributes that could be
         emulated elsewhere.

              our goal is to determine if environmentally sensitive
         development and affordable housing are compatible. If these two
         desirable objectives can be met in the same development, this will
         be an asset to local governments, local developers and to future
         residents of the Tidewater area.





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