A regional planning study will be conducted as a result of a $15,000 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for Communities by Design grant. Additional support will be provided by the city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and other regional organizations and businesses.

The grant will help fund a regional planning study, providing guidance and direction relating to sustainable growth and quality of life issues as a result of the anticipated growth associated with the location of Volkswagen’s North American Manufacturing facility in Chattanooga.

The study area includes Hamilton, Bradley, and Marion counties in Tennessee and Catoosa, Walker, Whitfield counties in Georgia.

The AIA program known as a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) is a community assistance program that focuses on the principles of sustainability. Assessment teams, made up of volunteer professionals, such as architects, urban designers, planners, hydrologists, economists, and attorneys, work with community decision-makers and stakeholders to help them develop a vision and framework for a sustainable future.

“The Assessment Team has been asked to look at the built environment and the possible affects from the Volkswagen facility locating in our community,” said Steve Haase, SDAT steering committee chairman and local architect with Franklin Architects. “Existing automobile assembly plants such as BMW and Saturn, have us concerned for the future including long range growth issues as they relate to Volkswagen, its suppliers, and community economic development.”

The study is expected to focus on creating and maintaining quality of life and sustainable growth in the region with an emphasis on local zoning ordinances and subdivision rules and regulations.

One of the major concerns is the development of new residential and commercial areas within the region and the related strain on the environment. The SDAT Study will provide guidelines for sustainable growth and expansion of neighborhoods and commercial areas as the community begins to grow.

“Our hope is that the study will recommend community growth policies and possible incentives to help achieve a sustainable, high quality future for the region,” Mr. Haase added.

Officials said the SDAT grant will help the community

· Understand the community structure at various scales and contexts
· Explore interactions between ecological, sociological, economic, and physical systems
· Visualize potential futures
· Articulate the qualities of a place
· Advance the principals of sustainable communities
· Define the role of stakeholders and players in both the public and private sectors

Sustainable growth and community issues

· continuing to allow food to be grown locally
· cleaning surface water and recharge storm water runoff
· water conservation due to recent regional drought conditions
· providing for multiple mass transportation options
· reducing air pollutants
· creating convenient and cost effective recycling solutions
· defining appropriate building zones
· planning for open space and parkland
· and promoting energy efficiency

For additional information on Sustainable Design Assessment Teams, please visit www.aia.org