Characteristics of Local Codes and Ordinances

Over the past several decades, U.S. legislation has targeted several sustainability issues, including bioenergy and biofuel, solid and hazardous waste, and air and water pollution. While federal initiatives to address sustainability are important, sustainable development really begins locally. Every community has unique needs and problems that ultimately influence sustainability efforts. For instance, one community may struggle with traffic congestion and focus its efforts on public transit or bicycle paths. Another community may struggle with a lack of green space and focus its efforts on altering land use and zoning codes and practices. While communities may differ in their sustainability efforts, they all use local codes and ordinances to further sustainable development and positively affect the behaviors of residents. Codes are a set of all jurisdictional provisions of a community and include ordinances. Ordinances are specific laws or decrees made by a local authority. Both are consulted, revised, and updated according to the needs and problems of communities. The purpose of local codes and ordinances is to guide the community on the path intended to advance sustainable development.

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With these thoughts in mind:

Post by an explanation of the role and importance of local and regional governments in sustainable community development. Then describe two local codes and/or ordinances your community would benefit from adopting and explain how and why. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your explanation.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

redaings
Kiss, T. (2005). Nature-driven economy through sustainable communities. World Futures, 61(8), 591–599.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Kraft, M. E. (2001). Leverage and sustainable communities: Overcoming policy obstacles at the local level. Conservation Biology, 15(6), 1483–1484.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Parkinson, S., & Roseland, M. (2002). Leaders of the pack: An analysis of the Canadian ‘Sustainable Communities’ 2000 municipal competition. Local Environment, 7(4), 411–429.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Reid, R. (2009). The moral imperative for sustainable communities. Public Management, 91(4), 27–31.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
City of Chicago. (1998). Chicago Commission on Human Relations Ordinance: Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance. Retrieved from http://www.kentlaw.edu/perritt/courses/property/chicago-fair-housing-ordinance.htm
City of Santa Monica. (n.d.). City of Santa Monica: Transportation Management Ordinance 1604 – summary. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from http://www.smgov.net/departments/transportation/
Local Initiatives Support Corporation. (n.d.). Characteristics of sustainable communities. Retrieved June 18, 2014, from http://www.lisc.org/washington_dc/images/media_center/asset_upload_file836_14215.pdf
Richardson, N. (n.d.). Characteristics of a sustainable city. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://archive.rec.org/REC/Programs/SustainableCities/Characteristics.html
Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute. (2014). Framework – Sustainable Community Development Code Beta Version 1.5. Retrieved from
http://law.du.edu/index.php/rmlui/rmlui-practice/code-framework/model-code