Lou Slade KeyNotes Editor

Conserving Energy

This U. S. political season, the political battles will rage over gas prices, the cost of crude and at the pump, carbon caps and credits, new pipelines and whether we are drilling enough. I have recently been reminded that conservation and efficiency remains very available to many of us and can take us very far toward energy independence and toward reducing our carbon footprint. Consumer conservation can

also conserve another important resource: personal spendable cash. In this month's column, I’ve used some obvious transportation conservation examples to make this point.

One of the ways to get people to conserve is to charge a tax for use of certain resources. This leads to a discussion of increasing the gasoline tax but you readers know all those arguments pro and con. I am very sympathetic to those who would be most impacted because of where they live so I wonder why gas tax proposals haven’t been suggested that would have their greatest impacts in urban areas where there are good public transportation alternatives to driving. The District of Columbia is imposing high charges on people who drive in the city, but rather than doing that at the gas pump, the city is doing it at the parking meter. This has driven long-term parkers into off-street parking or into public transportation, and the result is much better access for short-term parkers and that benefits local businesses.

Another easy way to conserve is to induce people to ride-share and that is most successful when high occupancy vehicles are permitted to avoid congestion by using their own exclusive roadway lanes. I think that's because while we want to drive alone because it is more convenient than ride-sharing, car pool lanes can save a lot of commuting time leaving expendable time for chores, errands and fun.

Excess capacity on car pool lanes has led some jurisdictions to offer car-pool lane access to single occupant automobiles in HOT (high-occupancy toll) facilities. This is controversial because it provides a benefit to only those who can afford it: “Lexus lanes for the one-percenters”. However, it does hypothetically conserve energy by using infrastructure more efficiently, potentially reducing congestion, and creating a revenue source that could subsidize better public transportation service. The toll-payers only have access when the ride-sharers are not fully utilizing the optimum level of capacity of the road.

We can very easily reduce congestion and the need for more transportation infrastructure by shifting commuters’ time of travel through fully-separated work shifts, or by more flexible work shift start times, or by going to a 4-day work week with the 5th weekday staggered through each of the five days of the week. If this results in more of the motor vehicle traffic operating at the most energy-efficient travel speeds due to reduced congestion, fuel consumption would be reduced significantly. The side benefits are less stress for drivers and more room for development without the need to construct more transportation capacity. However, as a young man, I worked a midnight shift and was never able to get the hang of the circadian clock change. I think I would have been better at telecommuting; the ultimate way to conserve commuter transportation energy and costs.

(By the way, the reason we worked those shifts at the international engineering firm was to make most efficient use of the one computer we had! We now all have a computer on our desk, on our lap, or in our pocket that is more powerful than that old IBM 360. That was 1968.)

We now have the choice of more energy-efficient automobiles that incorporate conservation technologies built into the power train. Regenerative brakes capture much of the energy used to slow and stop a vehicle, and store and then use a good part of that energy to power the vehicle. Plug-in vehicles can be charged during off-peak energy consumption times to diminish the peak loads on our electrical energy generation sources and grids. Demonstration vehicles show how the use of solar power generated from photovoltaic cells on the top surfaces of a car can significantly contribute to its energy requirements. There is even a proposal to harvest the air-disturbance energy generated by moving vehicles by placing arrays of small, sensitive wind turbines along-side interstate highways in the right-of-way.

The politics of all this can be confusing, but all of us are open to anything that saves time or money or both. Conservation measures can do both and also contribute to energy independence and reduced environmental impacts. So here’s a question for the crop of candidates for political office this fall:

“How shall we best work toward lowering energy costs, gaining energy independence, and reducing our carbon footprint?:

1. More domestic fossil fuel exploration and drilling.
2. More R&D and subsidies of alternative energy resources.
3. More conservation measures.
4. All of the above.”

Lou Slade, International LAI Editor

New Members and Initiation Ceremonies

The Atlanta chapter of Lambda Alpha International held Initiation Ceremonies for new members on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 and Tuesday, February 21, 2012. The new members are: Jim Durrett III, Executive Director of Buckhead Community Improvement District; Dan Immergluck PhD, Associate Professor, School of Regional and City Planning; College of Architecture; Georgia Institute of Technology; Joseph Johnson, Vice President, Economic Development Director, Millenium Worldwide Group; former Economic Development Director Fulton County GA; Kay Lee, Director, The Center for Community Preservation and Planning; Steve Nygren, Developer, Serenbee; John O'Callaghan, Director, and CEO, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership; and AJ Robinson, President, Central Atlanta Progress.

The Atlanta Chapter meets the third Tuesday of every other month from noon to 1:30 pm. The program for the April 17th meeting is "Investment Opportunities in the Atlanta Region," and Matt Bronfman from Jamestown is the speaker. Jamestown is a successful developer/redeveloper of commercial, mixed-use and hotel properties in Atlanta and other locations in the U.S.

The proposed program for the June 19th meeting is "T-SPLOST and the July Referendum and Other Issues and Opportunities." The Atlanta Chapter proposes to invite the Atlanta Regional Commission to discuss this topic. T-SPLOST and the July Referendum are the first of its kind in Georgia. The State has been divided into regions, and in July, each region will vote on a list of agreed-upon transportation projects of all kinds (e.g., roads, sidewalks, bikeways, light rail, MARTA expansion, etc.) which will be planned, developed, etc. over the next ten years. The funding is T- SPLOST, a one-cent Transportation – Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax which will be collected over the next 10 years.

The Atlanta Chapter continues its goal of bringing together a very diverse group of members with complimentary experience, expertise and interests. The Chapter is committed to growing its membership; internal and external networking; having a voice on issues; and working together towards positive initiatives in the Atlanta Region.

Joan H. Herron, Atlanta Chapter President

News from the Ely chapter.

Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner, Gabe Klein, provided the March Ely Chapter luncheon attendees with the City’s strategic plan to improve the Chicago transportation network, a transportation system that boasts the freight rail hub of North America, a dual hub airport, 24 hour transit system and a well-established bicycle network. The current administration plan is based upon six principles:

• Safety first for Pedestrians, motorists, people with disabilities, children, seniors
• Action: Comprehensive crash analysis evaluating safety hazards, education, engineering design standards, $1.4 M pedestrian countdown signals
• Rebuild and Renew the multi-billion dollars of infrastructure assets
• Action: Scheduled maintenance, “fix it first-build it better”
• Choices for Chicago: Core values expressed in the Complete Streets Policy
• “The safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, freight, and motor vehicle drivers shall be accommodated and balanced in all types of transportation and development projects and through all phases of a project so that even the most vulnerable – children, elderly, and persons with disabilities – can travel safely within the public right of way”.
• Action: Summer 2012 launch of Bike Sharing-4000 bicycles available for short term rides; renovated and redesigned elevated stations, central Loop Bus Rapid Transit routes
• Serving Chicagoans by increasing transparency, customer service and responsiveness
• Action: CDOT on Facebook and Twitter, increased digital tools, including signage, real time bus and train information, mapping out routes to special events, landmarks etc.
• A More Sustainable City supporting the Chicago Climate Action Plan and the Green Streets program
• Action: implementation of the densest network of Quick charge stations in the world- 280 total; reducing stormwater runoff through permeable concrete alleys, improving aesthetics and stormwater by constructing planters as curb bump outs, converting developing in-city rails to trails
• Fuel for the Economy:  Chicago has a $500+ billion GDP regional economy that needs a great transportation network-great streets, freight operations, truck mobility, air/rail connections , to maintain and grow
• Action:  use the Strategic principles to develop and implement plans comprehensively.

Commissioner Klein demonstrated that the City of Chicago understands the nexus between business/economic growth and transportation, while respecting the needs and concerns of the citizens and users.

Mary Bak, Ely Chapter Scribe

A unique benefit of LAI Orange County chapter membership

Among the many non-profit civic and professional organizations to which we all have opportunities to belong, Lambda Alpha provides speakers willing to disclose valuable insight into their experiences and strategies that produced both success and failure. Their willingness to speak openly is largely attributed to an assurance that the LAI audience comprises a relatively small number of highly-experienced professionals. Our Orange County chapter possesses this reputation and is able to attract top flight real estate executives who feel comfortable and willing to tell their company’s story without spin.

This month’s luncheon presentation by Patrick Donahue, Donahue and Schreiber, was the epitome of what our Lambda Alpha chapter is all about. It was a great learning experience in an intimate, behind-closed-doors venue where he felt comfortable telling his company’s unedited story. Attendees gained an inside look at his company, warts and all. He felt comfortable as he looked around the room and saw top industry people whom he trusted, who would understand what he was talking about and keep what he said close to the vest. This value of membership in our chapter is a rare benefit.

“What’s Happening in Retail?” was the topic of Donahue’s unbridled presentation that flowed beautifully without notes or visual aids. The firm of Donahue and Schreiber is a leading owner/manager of eighty neighborhood shopping centers, most of which are in California. Patrick refers to them as “necessity centers,” being those that attract repeat customers who return to shop three to four times each week. Theirs are anchored by national grocer and/or pharmacy chain stores that are heavy users of media advertising, as opposed to unanchored “strip centers” that lack competitive drawing power.

Maximizing investment return requires a proper balance between shops and credit anchor tenants. Shops tenants pay higher rents, luring many owners and managers to overbuild shops space, thus risking higher tenant turnover and higher vacancy rates, particularly during downturns in market cycles. Donahue and Schreiber’s results during the recessionary market from 2007-2011 proved their centers suffered fewer vacancies, due to the stronger customer loyalty and stronger financial health of their tenants. Despite many successful years of 95-97% occupancy rates, Donahue and Schreiber felt this recession required a major shift in marketing strategy, which Patrick outlined in some detail. Apparently they hit on the right one, as their West Coast centers have maintained above-90% occupancy throughout this period. I won’t elaborate, as much of their strategy I consider proprietary. I close by suggesting members make every effort to attend our meetings to avoid missing out on the critical insights gained from industry leaders like Donahue and Schreiber.

Wayne Silzel, Orange County Chapter Scribe

New Central Library Champion Honored for Civic Contributions

San Diego New Central Library

San Diego’s long-planned New Central Library was highlighted at the LAI San Diego 2012 Annual Installation Dinner as the group honored one of the library’s principal champions, San Diego attorney James R. Dawe. Dawe is a senior partner at Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek and chair of the firm’s Land Use & Environmental Law Group. He is a long-time LAI member and former member of the chapter’s board of directors. Dawe earned the chapter’s Crystal Globe award for his many professional and personal accomplishments. He was instrumental in garnering political and financial support for the iconic library, which was designed by San Diego architect Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA, and is now under construction near PETCO Park in downtown San Diego.

James R. Dawe LAI San Diego 2012 Crystal Globe Honoree

More than 120 people were on hand at the February event to honor Dawe and welcome the chapter’s new officers and members. Stephen H. Silverman of MW Steele Group, Inc., passed the president’s gavel to Paul C. Marra of Keyser Marston Associates. Other officers include: President Elect Patricia A. Butler of BRG Consulting, Inc.; Treasurer Vicki Estrada of Estrada Land Planning; and Secretary Leslie Wade of Wade Communications. Board members for 2012 include Alexandra Elias, Department of the Navy, NFEC; Suzanne Varco, Opper & Varco LLP; Sherman D. Harmer, Jr., Urban Housing Partners, Inc.; Michael J. Stepner, Stepner Design Group; Alison Whitelaw, Platt Whitelaw Architects; and Linville Martin, Perry CRE.  

The chapter’s March luncheon featured a preview of San Diego’s planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which will include three major routes to be launched between 2014 and 2015. The June 5th luncheon will focus on the future of local land use in the wake of the dismantling of California’s redevelopment system.

Leslie Wade, San Diego Chapter Secretary

RS&H has hired Lambda Alpha International member Phil Hanegraaf as Vice President and National Planning Market Leader for its transportation and public infrastructure programs.

Phil Hanegraaf

CHICAGO – April 17, 2012 – RS&H, one of the nation’s leading facilities and infrastructure consulting firms whose client-centered program structure provides value-added solutions to clients around the world, has hired Phil Hanegraaf as Vice President and National Planning Market Leader for transportation/infrastructure.  Hanegraaf brings more than 30 years of experience managing large-scale transportation, land use and urban design initiatives throughout the U.S. He will lead RS&H’s existing transportation planning services, as well as be responsible for expanding the firm’s client base with local, regional and state planning authorities across the nation.

“Providing quality pre-design and planning services is essential for creating sustainable communities and advancing major infrastructure investments,” said Dave Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Transportation at RS&H. “Mr. Hanegraaf will help our clients anticipate and plan for future growth and investment needs and deliver results-oriented programs necessary for today’s constrained funding environment.”

Hanegraaf is a licensed professional planner and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh. He is active in the the American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, and Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics.

RS&H is one of the nation’s leading facilities and infrastructure consulting firms whose client-centered program structure provides value-added solutions to clients around the world.

Ely chapter member “Pete” Pointner is a semi-retired independent consultant in environmentally based planning and context sensitive design.  With his free time he has been writing articles and giving presentations and workshops. 

Several of his recent publications are:

 “Benefiting from Growth and Change”, Illinois Municipal Review, March 2012, a follow-up to a June 2010 article in the same magazine titled “The Implications of Growth and the Challenge of Change” 

"Learning from the Past -- Historic Pullman and Smart Growth"…Linking Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Revitalization, Pullman Illinois”, October 2011 issue of the Newsletter of the Small Town and Rural Planning Division of APA

“What’s in a Name: Sustainability, Smart Growth and New Urbanism”, N.J. “Pete” Pointner FAICP, ALA, ITE.  American Planning Association’s “The Commissioner”, Summer 2011 issue.

Several of his presentations have been:

Speaker at the APA presentation in Pullman of an award recognizing this historic community as one of America’s Great Neighborhoods;

“Connecting Global and Local Environmental Issues”, Wheaton AM Rotary Club; and,

“Planning and Zoning in a Down Economy”, three hour workshop for the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference.

 For a full listing of his papers and presentations contact Pete via www.petepointner.com.  He will be glad to email copies of articles on request. 

Pete also served as a jury member for the 2011 national planning awards for the American Planning Association.

THE LAND ECONOMICS FOUNDATION IS ON THE MOVE

The Land Economics Foundation (LEF) is progressing on its goal of becoming a significant force in the funding of land economics research. Our goal is to provide annual funding of $100,000 within five years.
We have created three new committees to make sure our organizational structure efficiently carries out our expanded mandate. We have started to populate our new committees and welcome additional volunteers from LAI’s membership to help us:

The Research Committee
The Research Committee is responsible for generating and vetting applications for research funding, recommending applications for approval to LEF’s Board of Directors, monitoring approved projects and ensuring the quality of research undertaken meets a high standard.

• Chair: Frank Clayton (Simcoe), Urban and Real Estate Economic Consultant (email: frankclayton@bell.net)
• Member: Mike Anikeeff (Baltimore), Director of the Edward St. John Real Estate Program, The John Hopkins Carey Business School (email: mikea@jhu.edu)
• Member: David Amborski (Simcoe), Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University (email: amborski@ryerson.ca)

LEF’s Mission and Research Agenda establish the following research priorities for funding:

• Utilization of benefit-cost analysis;
• Sustainable infrastructure and land utilization; and
• Revitalization of obsolete urban centres and subareas.

More details can be found at: http://www.lai.org/docs/LEF_MissionandResearchAgenda.pdf
If you have a research interest in these areas, or have a colleague or graduate student who does, contact a member of the Research Committee to discuss LEW funding.

The Funding Committee
The Funding Committee is responsible for securing financial contributions from donors to fund land economics research projects. These donors include both members of LAI and supporters from the broader land economics community.

• Chair: Ron Buss (Los Angeles), President, Buss-Shelger Associates (email: busshelger@pacbell.net)
• Member: Les Pollock (Ely), Principal Consultant, Camiros, Ltd., (email: lpollock@camiros.com)

 Ron and Les would welcome having a couple more LAI members who have experience in fund raising.

The Communications Committee
The mandate of the Communications Committee is to enhance the awareness of LEF’s research funding initiatives and the research results to the LAI membership and the broader land economics community.

• Co-Chair: Bronwyn Krog (Simcoe), President, Urbanforme Planning Consultants  (email: bronwyn.krog@urbanforme.ca)
• Co-Chair: Bruce Krushelnicki (Simcoe), Director of Planning and Building, City of Burlington (email: krushelnickib@burlington.ca)

Bronwyn and Bruce are eagerly awaiting two or three LAI members with a proclivity to communications and publicity to join them.

Lambda Alpha International (LAI) has recently created a group on Linkedin.com. Linkedin is an online professional network of more than 60 million professionals in over 150 industries. Linkedin is a great place to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Linkedin allows you to:

• Stay informed about your contacts and industry,
• Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals, and
• Control your professional identity online.

Our LAI Linkedin group will provide a means to further promote communication and networking among LAI members. Please join us at LAI’s newest place to network: www.linkedin.com.

Moving? Changing Jobs? Name Changed?

Please visit the Members Only section of the LAI Website and under the Member Services section you can update your profile.

Forgot how to login? No problem.

Please visit the LAI Website at www.LAI.org. On the left hand side click on the Members Only Tab. Here you will need to use your email and the password is lai.