David E. Johnson PE: What is your definition of a sustainable Local Community?

What level of government should be involved in planning how a local community grows – Local, State, Regional, Federal, or the United Nations?

I have added four illustrations defining a sustainable community for your review.

Should you consider sustainability as a movement in the real estate industry – yes because it is being promoted by government at all levels and orchestrated by purse strings. Is a sustainable community a good thing – yes and is it a bad thing – you bet! It depends on how far the pendulum has swung while the real estate development industry strived to survive during this historic recession.

Federal Government

Clinton’s President's Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD):

Goal 6: Sustainable Communities
Encourage people to work together to create healthy communities where natural and historic resources are preserved, jobs are available, sprawl is contained, neighborhoods are secure, education is lifelong, transportation and health care are accessible, and all citizens have opportunities to improve the quality of their lives.

From the White House:

June 11, 2012 - “As we continue to fight our way back from the deepest economic crisis in generations and build an economy that lasts, rural America is helping to lead the charge,” said President Obama. “On farms and ranches; in towns and communities across this country, rural Americans know that we are stronger as a people when everybody gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.

United Nations

For over thirty-five years the UN has made their stance very clear on the issue of individuals owning land;

Land… cannot be:

Treated as an ordinary asset

Controlled by individuals

Subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market.

According to the UN:

Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it may become a major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development schemes.

The provision of decent dwellings and healthy conditions for the people can only be achieved if land is used in the interest of society as a whole.

ICLEI’s 8-AGENDAS

“ICLEI advocates for cities' greater involvement in international decision making processes by representing their interests at major sustainable conferences and multilateral bodies such as UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 and the European Commission, as well as working with our global partners including UNEP, UN-Habitat and Aalborg Commitments Network.”

“A sustainable city is marked by a green economy, a healthy and happy community, smart infrastructure, and are biodiverse, low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient.”

The information about ICLEI is important to know since this organization directly targets local government to implement AGENDA 21. ICLEI is a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities & urban regions, 450 large cities, 450 small & medium-sized cities & towns in 84 countries dedicated to sustainable development. Many US cities are members of this international organization.