The promotion of environmentally friendly infrastructure has become increasingly important to American life in recent years. But with so many variables to consider, the average person can easily get lost among the information. This same problem plagues the men and women working to develop, protect, and effectively use our resources.
One County’s Solution
Highly populated Cuyahoga County has recently implemented a new program to aid in environmental considerations in land use called the Greenprint. Essentially, it is a set of tools used by communities within the county to map and plan according to up-to-date information on available resources and current standards and practices. These tools can then be utilized by land specialists, urban planners, or economic developers, among others, to make faster and more ecologically practical decisions.
Streamlined Coordination
The Greenprint’s two essential parts are readily available to anyone on the Internet. The first is the Viewer, an interactive map that works much like modern digital map applications, only highly specialized with information about Cuyahoga’s current state. The map is highly detailed down the individual community and area. The county’s Planning Commission stays on task to keep the program updated by regularly reviewing the plan’s criteria. Such effective communication encourages informed decision making for community planners.
The Greenprint’s second half, the Guide Book, provides an updated list of practices within the county. Again, this component is available to anyone online, and functions as an in-depth review of specific structures and locations in the community. Essentially, the Guide Book provides context so that the best, most sensible decision can be made when future plans interlock with previously existing properties.
Balancing Resource and Progress
Ongoing development is a must for any community to thrive, and the Greenprint enables this progression while illuminating common pitfalls that affect community planning. Its major use is then to protect Cuyahoga citizens, infrastructure, and biological diversity from natural disasters like flooding and storms that can be exacerbated by poor land development. The program also encourages environmentally friendly trails and recreation areas connected throughout the county.
Applications Across the Country
Cuyahoga’s unique Greenprint plan to enable developers to work in concert quickly and effectively is new, but if reports of its success cause the program to grow in popularity, then areas throughout the rest of the United States may begin to see a very similar two-pronged system. Because of the Greenprint’s open access to anyone, such a program could also be used to encourage everyday citizens to form environmental coalitions to aide in the preservation of local parks, or petition against plans they see unfit for their community. Regardless of how it is used, its potential for a more responsible use of resources makes the Greenprint model a valuable tool for everyone.