The Piedmont Triad: Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Project

As stated in our last blog, the Piedmont Triad is in the midst of a regional planning project with a goal to build economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools, and transportation.

There are three key elements of sustainability that the project will focus on: environment, community, and economy. As defined by the project, sustainability is the act of balancing the environment, community, and economic needs of the region for present and future generations.

Below, some of the goals of the project are listed:

Environment Goals

• Define the limits of communities with a true sense of urban and rural settngs
• Take advantage of abandoned mills and brownfields
• Provide the green infrastructure that binds cities and towns
• Manage greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy consumption

Community Goals

• Promote compact, walkable development
• Foster social equity in housing, employment, and transportation choices
• Meet the needs of anticipated demographic changes
• Support energy efficiency
• Reduce the need for automobiles and short trips

Economic Goals

• Expand the employment opportunities to meet 21^st century needs
• Lower the cost of housing and transportation for low income residents by locating employment center proximate to transit lines
• Continue to pursue economic development clusters that yield more jobs with higher wages

For more information, click here.

This is an exciting project for our region, and it can use your input. To share your thoughts and ideas, be sure to visit The Piedmont Voice!