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Events

Principles to Guide Cranberry’s Sustainable Development

Board Adopts Sustainability Principles

Talk with any community planner and pretty soon phrases using the term ‘sustainability’ are going to find their way into the conversation. But what do they really mean? The specifics vary from place to place, but their essence is to plan as though the community in question is going to be around for a long time. That means planning which doesn’t encourage development that would hurt future generations. And it means working to actively engage residents in the rising fortunes of their community. Now it’s Cranberry Township’s official policy as well. On February 28, Cranberry’s Board of Supervisors adopted its own set of sustainability principles. Their goal is to inform the Township’s policy decisions over the 25-year period covered by Cranberry’s comprehensive plan.

More below

Resources

"Should the Mon-Fayette Expressway Be Completed?"

Monday, April 14
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Oakland
For more information contact: 412-624-2887 or red20@pitt.edu

This is a public debate on the future of transportation in Pittsburgh. Speakers will include Shawn Fox, Allegheny County executive chief of staff; Andrea Boykowycz, PennFuture outreach coordinator, and Pitt student debaters Colin Esgro and Richard Pittman. A webcast of the debate may be viewed at http://mediasite.cidde.pitt.edu starting at 6pm on April 14 (select "William Pitt Debating Union" in the catalog window).

"The Role of Engineers in Poverty Reduction"

Tuesday, April 15
4:30 pm
Carnegie Mellon University, Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall

Bernard Amadei, founder of Engineers Without Borders, on "The Role of Engineers in Poverty Reduction." More on his work on sustainability and engineering at http://www.edc-cu.org/profileamadei.htm.

Lecture: Stefan Behnisch and Thomas Auer

Tuesday, April 15
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Carnegie Museum of Art (CMA) Theater
Free admission
Exhibition galleries open 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm preceeding the lecture
For more information about Carnegie Museum of Art, call 412-622-3131 or visit www.cmoa.org .

In conjunction with the exhibition Ecology.Design.Synergy on view at Carnegie Museum of Art's Heinz Architectural Center, Stefan Behnisch of Behnisch Architekten and Thomas Auer of Transsolar ClimateEngineering will together discuss several of their collaborative projects. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, Behnisch and Transsolar work together from initial sketches to realize buildings at the forefront of environmental design, including the RiverParc proposal for Downtown Pittsburgh. The presentation is the Hans Vetter Memorial Lecture in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Spring 2008 Lecture Series.

Working collaboratively, the German architecture and engineering firms Behnisch Architekten and Transsolar ClimateEngineering are setting a standard around the world for "green architecture." Their environmentally responsible designs for buildings and urban spaces are innovative, aesthetically refined, energy efficient, and sustainable. RiverParc, the team's winning proposal for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is on view along with the firms' other designs that transform work environments and city spaces for contemporary life.

Rachel Carson Spirit & Nature Forum

Wednesday, April 16
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Chatham University, Shadyside
Tickets: $25 for adults and $10 for college students (dinner is included).
Register and pay online at www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org.

Rachel Carson Homestead will present a multi-faith gathering to discuss the reverence for nature contained in all world religions. Through this roundtable discussion, participants can explore how earth stewardship is a matter of faith and how sustainable living, including conservation efforts, green building and using renewable energy, are practices that can be embraced by all.

Participants include Reverend David Carlisle, Springdale United Presbyterian Church; Nusrath Ainapore, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh; Sharon Pillar of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, biologist Dr. Kanak Iyer, a representative of the Zen Buddhism Center of Pittsburgh (to be confirmed) and Dr. Elisa Beck, Founding Co-Chair of the United Jewish Federation Environmental Committee, Dr. Terry Collins of the Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Sister Mary Christopher of Felician Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Province.

Deliberative Democracy Lecture

Wednesday, April 16
7:00 pm
Steele Hall Auditorium, California University of PA
For more information and easy directions to campus, visit www.cup.edu.

California University of PA hosts a day of democratic deliberation on environmental issues. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Natural Resources Defense Council and Waterkeeper Alliance, will address the health of our nation’s rivers and other issues.

Safe at Home: Living Without Pesticides

Thursday, April 17
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Carnegie Science Center
Free admission
Click here for more information and to register.

Safe at Home: Living Without Pesticides is the first in a series of educational workshops exploring one's health and the environment (inspired by the Women's Health and the Environment conference held last year).

"The Business of Brownfields” '08

April 17 & 18, 2008
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 3rd Floor - Downtown Side, Pittsburgh
http://www.eswp.com/brownfields/index.htm

Hear from these brownfields industry experts experienced in city, county, state, and federal brownfields redevelopment:
Tom Murphy, Urban Land Institute - Wednesday Night Opening Reception
Dan Onorato, Chief Executive Allegheny County, PA - Thursday Morning Keynote Session
David Lloyd, U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, D.C. - Thursday Morning Keynote Session
Jill Gaito, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA - Friday Morning Keynote Session

Sierra Club’s Environmental Film Festival

Saturday, April 19
6:00 pm SHARP - 10:00 pm
BOTANY HALL - adjacent to Phipps Conservatory, across from Schenley Park Visitors Center
Note: these presentations are NOT at Phipps Civic Garden Center in Squirrel Hill
** All starting times are approximate except for the 6 pm sharp start! **
Contact: Donald L. Gibbon, Program Chair, Allegheny Group at 412-362-8451 or dongibbon@earthlink.net

“The festival for hard-core environmentalists and those who have the nerve to become one”. You’ll leave infuriated, inspired, uplifted and enraged all at the same time.
6pm: Deconstructing Supper – Is your food safe? (48 min)
7pm: Polar Bear Tour with Chad Kister (62 min)
8pm: The Crabs, The Birds and the Bay – Spring miracle on Delaware Bay (19 min)
9pm: Natural Connection (46 min)

Earth Day 2008 at Frick Environmental Center

Saturday, April 19
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill
For more information or to volunteer, contact Patty Himes at 412-422-6538 or patricia.himes@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

A fun community festival featuring bird walks, an owl encounter, live local entertainment, tabling by local environmental organizations, nature crafts, and stewardship activities including tree planting and a Garlic Mustard Pull. Event poster.

An introduction to cohousing by Chuck Durrett

Thursday, April 24
6:30 pm
Carnegie Mellon University, 203 Margaret Morrison Hall
Free admission
For information on the local cohousing effort visit http://www.pittsburghcohousing.org.

Featuring Chuck Durrett, coauthor of the seminal book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, and largely responsible for bringing cohousing to this country.

Equal Pay Rally

Friday, April 25
Noon
Market Square
Hosted by Women and Girls Foundation - wgfpa.org

Southwestern Pennsylvania has one of the most dramatic gender wage gaps in the country.
• Nationally, women make 80 cents for every dollar that a man earns.
• In Pennsylvania, women earn 73 cents per dollar.
• In southwestern Pennsylvania, women earn only 69 cents for every dollar that a man makes.
Have your voice heard.

Lecture 4: “Local Living Economies: Green Fair and Fun”

Tuesday, April 29
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Connan Room, University Center, Carnegie Mellon University
Free to the public

The Local Living Economies and Urban Farming lecture series concludes with Judy Wicks, founder of Philadelphia's Sustainable Business Network, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE, www.livingeconomies.org), and the White Dog Café. Wicks is probably best known for establishing The White Dog Cafe on the first floor of her Philadelphia home in 1983. As the restaurant grew, so did her notion that the strength of her business relied upon the quality and sustainability of its locally grown ingredients. Envisioning how strengthening relationships among independent, community-rooted enterprises could inspire broad and profound cultural change, Wicks joined the Social Venture Network and co-founded the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) in 2001. She is currently writing a book about the White Dog Café and local living economies called Good Morning, Beautiful Business.

"Food and Farming Based Entrepreneurship: The Next Generation of Business in Pittsburgh"

Wednesday, April 30
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Singleton Room, Roberts Hall, Carnegie Mellon University
Fee: $50/$30 academics and nonprofits. Free to the CMU community.
RSVP by April 11 to 412-268-1125.

Following the last lecture in the Local Living Economies and Urban Farming series, there will be a public workshop featuring keynote talks by Judy Wicks and Benjamin Gisin, publisher of Touch the Soil magazine (www.touchthesoil.com) and an expert on how monetary policy affects agriculture. Afterwards there will be a panel discussion with local and regional sustainability leaders.

8th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Smart Growth Conference

Revitalize the Region: Seize Market Interest to Redevelop Core Communities
Friday, May 16
Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh
8:30 am - 3:30 pm (continental breakfast and lunch included)
Keynote speaker: Christopher Leinberger, Metropolitan Land Strategist & Developer
Cost: Early Registration: $30. After May 1: $40 (free to elected officials)
Register online at www.sustainablepittsburgh.org For more information call 412-258-6642 or emailinfo@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Presented by:
Local Government Academy
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development
Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Sustainable Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics

Sponsored by:
BNY Mellon
Babst, Calland, Clients, and Zomnir, P.C.
Bombardier
Building Owners and Managers Association - Pittsburgh
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties - Pittsburgh Chapter

For sponsorship and tabling opportunities call 412-258-6643.

This conference, designed for communities in the region that desire to accelerate their redevelopment, will be rich in content, featuring tools, case studies, and technical assistance opportunities. A window of opportunity is growing for communities that are prepared to foster smart growth in step with the shift in the development market that is now occurring. Renewed interest in urban and core communities by developers and investors spells opportunity for restoring prosperity. This shift is fueled by demographic, economic, and cultural trends that are serving to revalue our core communities. Want to be better prepared to seize this market interest? This Smart Growth conference will help communities better understand the changing market, appreciate how to capitalize on their assets, comprehend what needs to done to participate in the market-based renaissance, and engage in a network to pursue mutual interests. Our region's sustainable growth depends on it.

Conference Highlights:
Project Region: The new regional transportation and development plan, plots a new smart growth course for Southwestern Pennsylvania focused on restoring and reinvesting in the region’s existing communities. Learn how the Region's Plan is aligned with emerging market interest in reinforcing existing places and targeted corridors with a strong emphasis on preservation, maintenance and operation of existing infrastructure.

Deal Makers and Breakers: To fully benefit from the Region's Plan, it's incumbent on existing communities to understand what developers and investors are looking for when they scan a region for opportunity. In a unique undertaking, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University (CURP) have collaborated to investigate new approaches municipal officials can employ to help attract new development to their communities. Project leader, David Soule will engage conference participants in discovering what is takes to attract smart growth investment. Furthermore, a consultancy will be launched to work with communities around the region to take a proactive, aggressive stance to meet the complex needs of firms looking to start up operations, relocate, or add new facilities.

Window of Opportunity: Keynote, Christopher Leinberger (see below), will demonstrate the shifting market now brewing in favor of “walkable urbanism” -- downtown and suburban downtown revitalization, New Urbanism, transit-oriented development, green field mixed-use development (“lifestyle centers”), regional mall redevelopment, among others. He will review ways the real estate sector is re-tooling how it designs, plans, regulates and finances to serve these markets to formulate and implement the next American Dream. A panel of regional developers and government leaders will discuss the trend of revaluing urbanity now stirring in our SWPA and how to accelerate market readiness.

Zoning for Smart Growth: Too often zoning techniques that shaped the growth of the American suburb create barriers to meeting today's community visions for traditional types of development. Gregory Heller of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will be on hand to explore new innovations in zoning that provide flexibility to respond to changes in private market demand. Learn from Gregory and local leaders how your community can be an early adopter and zone the way to seize market interest to redevelop core communities.

Keynote Speaker:
Christopher B. Leinberger is a metropolitan land use strategist, developer, teacher, consultant and author helping to make progressive development profitable. He is a founding partner of Arcadia Land Company, a real estate development firm serving to create walkable communities in harmony with nature.

Leinberger is a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution focusing on research and practices to help transform traditional and suburban downtowns to places that provide “walkable urbanism." He is also a professor and director of the Graduate Real Estate Program at the University of Michigan which focuses on downtown and suburban town center revitalization, transit-oriented development, new urbanism, and conservation development.

In his recently released book, The Option of Urbanism, Leinberger reviews how Americans are voting with their feet to abandon strip malls and suburban sprawl, embracing instead a new type of community where they can live, work, shop, and play within easy walking distance. He explains why government policies have tilted the playing field toward one form of development over the last sixty years: the drivable suburb. Conversely, Leinberger shows how the American Dream is now shifting to include cities as well as suburbs and how the financial and real estate communities need to respond by building communities that are more environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable.

Leinberger has written award-winning articles for publications such as The Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal and Urban Land magazine. He has been profiled by CNN, the Today Show, and National Public Radio.

Conference support provided by:
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
The Richard King Mellon Foundation

Save the Date - Western PA Environmental Awards

Wednesday, May 28
Westin Convention Center Hotel, Pittsburgh
For more invormation call 412-481-9400 or visit www.pecpa.org/news/events .

Featuring: Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. & Mrs. Joshua C. Whetzel, Jr.
Keynote Address by Robin L. Weissmann, Pennsylvania State Treasurer
Presentation of Western PA Environmental Awards

Resources

King and Kerner: An Unfinished Agenda

America has had much to reflect upon during the approach of the interrelated 40th anniversaries of the final report of the Kerner Commission, the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the round of riots that followed in Washington, Baltimore, Chicago and well over 100 other cities across the nation. We have heard Sen. Barack Obama's insightful speech on race and the reactions it provoked. Today, unfortunately, Dr. King's dream remains deferred.

Equity and Regionalism - Lessons Learned

The current fiscal crisis of the City of Pittsburgh, plus several analyses indicating that the region suffers economically because of governmental fragmentation, have caused increased discussion about the merits of some form of governance restructuring such as through boundary changes or functional consolidation. . .Through this research and recommendations provided herein, Sustainable Pittsburgh aspires to ensure that considerations regarding representation of economically disadvantaged citizens and communities of color are addressed up front as opposed to being an after thought in any proposed consolidation or merger.

More

PolicyLink: Regional Equity and the Quest for Full Inclusion

This paper contends that the regional equity framework anchors our collective efforts and provides a platform for societal transformation. It begins by providing a snapshot of regional equity in 2008, then describes how major national and global forces are creating unique challenges and opportunities for achieving equity. The final section articulates a vision for full inclusion and sustainability and outlines key elements of an agenda for realizing that vision.

Change to 'green' is viewed as a business opportunity

The dire news about global warming and soaring energy prices could translate to lucrative market opportunities for businesses that figure out how to capitalize on developing products for the green movement, environmental experts told PPG Industries employees yesterday.

Save the Buildings, Save the World

Historic preservation has always been the greenest of the building arts because it necessarily involves the conservation of energy and natural resources. Now it’s time to make sure everyone knows it. It’s all about sustainability. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation accounts for just 27 percent of America’s greenhouse gas emissions, while 48 percent – almost twice as much – is produced by the construction and operation of buildings. . .The greenest building is one that already exists. . .We need to see state and local tax credits promote the reuse of historic buildings, with building codes that allow flexibility and innovation to make existing buildings more energy-efficient.

Building a Green Economy with Van Jones

This lecture took place at Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences as part of the Urban Sustainability Forum, featuring the work of Van Jones, who is leading the national movement for green collar job development. This event was convened by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.

Randolph Planning Board considers “live where you work” zoning change

Burgess said he has been told by real estate people that “work where you live,” with housing within walking distance of the workplace, is especially attractive to biotech companies looking for a new location. . .Burgess said the program would also take advantage of financial incentives offered under the state’s “smart growth” program. The rental developments will also include some affordable housing, where 25 percent of the apartments would rent at below market prices to tenants who meet income requirements.

Fifth Avenue Place Opens Recycle Store for Earth Day to Urge Consumers to Rethink, Refocus, Resolve

"Fifth Avenue Place is committed to sustainable, eco-friendly and green (SEG) principles in its building and retail environments. Through strategic partnerships with some of Pittsburgh's leading environmental organizations - including this partnership with the Rachel Carson Homestead - we can offer events and information to help visitors learn more about SEG principles," said Byron Falchetti, president of Fifth Avenue Place. "In addition, by partnering with Rachel Carson Homestead, Fifth Avenue Place is working to create a fertile environment for the next generation of eco-friendly retailers. Our venue will serve as incubator space as we look to engage new partners in testing environmental retail ideas such as new store concepts, programming and product lines."

Museums sprout 'green' architecture

Pittsburgh is home to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which Brophy calls one of the two premier green museums in the country. The director of the Phipps, Richard Piacentini, can describe every step the conservatory has taken to become more environmentally sustainable, from banning bottled water to designing a greenhouse with an open roof and "earth pipes" dug to cool it... "[Green measures] are going to become as natural and automatic as full accessibility and inclusivity," Brophy says. "Within a year, the public is going to be asking all museums about their environmentally sustainable behavior. They're going to want to see evidence. That will push all museums. There's a pretty substantial learning curve, but the entire population is going to be going through it, and museums will be part of that group."

Bike-friendly laws pedaled

Motorists would have to give bicycles at least 3 feet of room and the state Department of Transportation would be forced to accommodate bikes and pedestrians on state highways under legislation pending in the General Assembly. Rider advocates say it's about time that the state acknowledged the needs of bicycles, particularly on state roads where, with the soaring price of gasoline and the arrival of spring, riding to work is a viable carbon-neutral option.

Black, white or green?

So is the Bank of America an environmental hero? A villain? Both? Or neither?..I called Jon Coifman, an NRDC spokesman, to ask him how the organization squared its decision to honor BofA with the group's opposition to conventional coal. "Ken Lewis is discovering that he's operating in a complicated world," he said, "One in which environmentalists can walk and chew gum at the same time."..As for BofA, it is no different from GE and Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola and Duke Energy, all of which have a mix of "dirty" and "clean" business practices. They're not green. They're not black. They're not white. They're gray.

Principles to Guide Cranberry’s Sustainable Development - continued from top

Cranberry has adopted five sustainability principles. But they are more than just lofty principles; they are also practical guidelines, and the process of benchmarking the Township’s current practices against them has already begun. Sustainable Pittsburgh – a regional organization which has been a high-profile proponent of these principles in western Pennsylvania – is working closely with the Township to implement them. “The next phase is a sustainability assessment,” according to Cranberry’s chief strategic planning officer John Trant, Jr. “That’s where we take a close look at what Cranberry Township is actually doing from a physical plant and policy standpoint to promote sustainability. It will help us inventory what we’re already doing that’s sustainable. And it will help us build on those things to make them even better.”

Some of that involves how efficiently the Township uses utilities and other energy resources for heating, lighting, cooling, fleet mileage, and maintenance. An initial series of reconnaissance visits from Sustainable Pittsburgh’s assessment team members will help to plan for detailed evaluations, department by department. But there’s more to it than that. “We’re headed down the path of incorporating aspects of sustainability into our land development ordinances,” Trant said. “Our form-based building code, for example, includes a discussion about sustainable development because the Board of Supervisors thinks it’s important to lead by example. So we’re going to highlight the things we’re already doing, and then get recommendations on additional things we could be doing from a sustainability standpoint.”

The following principles were adopted by the Township’s Board of Supervisors on February 28. They will help to guide the formulation of Cranberry’s operating practices, legislative policy and spending priorities over the next 25 years. Principles to Guide Cranberry's Sustainable Development found at: http://www.cranberrytownship.org/PLAN/PGSustainable.pdf

Article found at: http://www.twp.cranberry.pa.us/information/SPRNG08CranberryToday.pdf

Sustainable principles promoted

The township staff has worked with Sustainable Pittsburgh to develop principles to guide sustainable development in the township. The township supervisors recently approved those principles. The new guidelines will be distributed to all township boards, commissions and committees to be used in dealing with land development projects.

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2008 from:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
The Heinz Endowments
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
University of Pittsburgh



Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP