Types of Assistance

Greenbelt Alliance is offering the following seven types of technical assistance:

1. Fiscal health and Infill Housing Guide – New homes can strain a city’s resources, yet building homes within already urbanized areas can be beneficial to a city’s fiscal health. Greenbelt Alliance will facilitate the development of a policy plan, tailored to a specific city, on how to build more housing in a way that is fiscally sustainable for that community and not a drain on resources. We will hold a workshop with city staff, provide a written assessment of funding mechanisms, and train staff on how to implement the recommended policies. 
2. Policy in Practice Forum – Contentious issues or common goals without a path forward can stall city leadership. Our Policy in Practice forum begins a dialogue among city staff and leaders, community organizations and residents on the issue facing a city. Greenbelt Alliance will work with the diverse groups to identify policy solutions, gather information, and listen. Greenbelt Alliance will then present key findings and facilitate a discussion. Where appropriate, we will bring in experts to help provide details and guidance. This type of forum is particularly useful when a city is interested in exploring a new tool such as a parking benefits district to promote smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions and community benefitsin planning and land use, this refers to developer exactions that are required as a condition of development. The benefits contained in a community benefits agreement (CBA) may be provided by the developer or by other parties benefiting from the development subsidies, such as the stores that rent space in a subsidized retail development. Some benefits can be built into the project itself, such as the inclusion of a childcare center in the project or the use of environmentally sensitive design elements, such as white roofs that help avoid the "heat island" effect. Some benefits will affect project operations, such as wage requirements or traffic management rules. 0ther benefits will be completely separate from the project, such as money devoted to a public art fund, or support for existing job-training centers.. Read about Walk the Talk forums as an example.
3. Engaging the Next Generation in Planning – Often the residents who attend city meetings are more established members of a community. Using video and social media, Greenbelt Alliance will convey the benefits of smart, equitable growth and explain complex planning topics to a broad range of community members. Greenbelt Alliance staff will work with city staff to produce one or more videos, develop an outreach plan for a project or plan of the city’s choice, and train staff on how to implement the communications strategy. Watch a video example.
4. Transit-Oriented DevelopmentA system of regularly scheduled buses and/or trains available to the public on a fee-per-ride basis. Also called mass transit. Tours – Often the best way to help people envision a proposed development, especially one facing opposition, is to visit successful transit-oriented developments. Greenbelt Alliance will organize a day-long tour for residents, city staff, and community leaders. The tour can highlight reduced parking needs or affordable housingHousing that can be purchased or rented by a household with moderate, low, or very low income, based on a household's ability to make monthly payments necessary to obtain housing. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30 percent of its gross monthly income (GMI) for housing, including utilities., or be more generally focused on the benefits of transit-oriented development. The Greenbelt Alliance tour will feature expert speakers, insider access to several developments, and opportunities to hear from people who call those places home. Read about a past tour.
5. Open SpaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. Policy Protection Audit – Cities that are updating general plans or making important decisions about where to allow development need to know the value of their land. Working with landowners, local governments, and developers, Greenbelt Alliance can apply our At Risk Mapper, which maps where natural resources are and potential development sites. Greenbelt Alliance will identify priority natural areas and working farms and forests. We will recommend approaches for protection such as urban growth boundaries, zoningThe division of a city or county by legislative regulations into areas, or zones, which specify allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for buildings within these areas; a program that implements policies of the general plan. changes, conservation easements and funding mechanisms.
6. Great Neighborhoods Audit– What makes a place an attractive place to live? In conjunction with city staff, city leaders, and neighborhood leaders, Greenbelt Alliance will evaluate a neighborhood on criteria such as walk scores, housing affordability, access to services, parks proximity, and ease of commute. We will present the evaluation to city staff and others in a visioning session to help develop a smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions plan, and provide next steps for the city to enhance the neighborhood in a sustainable, equitable manner for new and existing residents alike.
7. Smart GrowthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions Ambassador training series – Residents, particularly in areas traditionally underserved, may lack the skills needed to speak up for their needs and community. Greenbelt Alliance will provide a training series educating residents on how development, when done right, can benefit them. Those leaders can then serve as ambassadors for good planning and smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions in their neighborhoods. The training can include: how to read an Environmental ImpactThe effect of any direct human actions or the indirect repercussions of human actions on existing physical, social, or economic conditions. ReportA report required of general plans by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and which assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area and determines what effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action. It must assess potential adverse impacts upon the environment, measures that may avoid or reduce these impacts (mitigation measures), and alternatives to the plan. (See California Environmental Quality Act.) An EIRA report required of general plans by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and which assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area and determines what effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action. It must assess potential adverse impacts upon the environment, measures that may avoid or reduce these impacts (mitigation measures), and alternatives to the plan. (See California Environmental Quality Act.) An EIR is also conducted for proposed projects. is also conducted for proposed projects., evaluate guidelines for development proposals, speak in public, talk with officials, and use Internet communication tools. Watch a training video.