Talking Freight Seminars

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Integrating Freight and Land Use in the Atlanta
Region

• Talking Freight Seminars
• November 19, 2008

Caroline A. Mays, AICP Atlanta Regional Commission
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Outline

• Overview of the Atlanta Region
• Key Freight and Land Use Challenges
• Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Land Use
  Analysis and Recommendation
• Lessons Learned and Conclusions

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Atlanta MPO Planning Boundary
Former 10 County MPO
2000 Urbanized Area
18 County MPO
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Continued Rapid Growth Expected
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Atlanta Region is the 2nd Largest Inland
Distribution Market in US (tons)
Atlanta Region2nd Largest Inland Distribution
Market in US (tons)
Tons
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Atlanta Region Total Freight Tonnage, 2005
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Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Geography
Truck Terminals Versus Business Location and
Highway Network
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Distribution Business Establishments and Highway
Network
Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Geography
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Manufacturing Sector Establishments and Highway
Network
Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Geography
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Atlanta Region Freight/Land Use Geography
Construction Sector Establishments and Highway
Network
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Key Freight/Land Use Issues

• Increasing the Consideration of Freight Needs in
  Regional Land Use and Transportation Plans
• Conflicts Among Land Uses Constraining
  Redevelopment
• Emerging Land Use Conflicts
• Tools to Support Local and Regional Planners In
  Zoning Site Plan Review
• Methods to Better Consider the Multi-Jurisdictiona
  l and Corridor Impacts of Freight
• Increasing Demands for Modern Warehousing and
  Distribution Facilities in Suburban Exurban
  Areas

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Importance of Freight and Land Use Coordination

• Mitigation Requirements
• Expansion Constraints
• Operating Hour Limits
• Limited Options to Enhance Logistics Efficiency

• Noise
• Light
• Air Quality
• Safety
• Property Values
• Quality of Life

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• Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan Land Use
  Analysis

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Case Study Methodology For Examining Freight/Land
Use Issues

• Conducted Site Visits
• Reviewed Existing Plans and Information
• Examined Interactions Among Land Uses
• Gained Perspectives on Freight Transportation-Land
  Use Connections

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Case Studies
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Freight Access Not Part of Urban/Site Design
Major new mixed-use center with no loading zones,
off-street truck parking or easy rear access
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Residential Influx and Proximity to Intense
Freight Uses
New Housing Adjacent to Large and busy freight
Facilities
Townhomes Backing to Commercial Facility with
Significant Truck Movements
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Preserve Freight Mobility

• Roadway Congestion, Safety and Usage
  Compatibility Issues

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Brownfield Redevelopment Potential
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Greenfield Land Use Coordination
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Coordinate Freight Non-Freight Land Uses

• Incompatible Land Uses

New Subdivision
Overburdened Last Mile Locations
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Summary of Case Studies Results

• Preserve Freight Mobility as Region Continues to
  Develop
• Coordinate Freight Non-freight Land Uses and
  Mobility Needs
• Ensure Adequate Segregation Protection of
  Various Land Uses
• Build Goods Movement Logistics Needs into Land
  Development Site Design

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Key Recommendations

• Plan in an Integrated Manner
• Provide Guidelines for Developers and Planners
• Enhance Local Comprehensive Planning and Zoning
  Processes to Address Freight-related Issues

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Recommendations
Plan in an Integrated Manner - Look at the Big
Picture

• Long-range impacts of logistics activity
  locations
• Planning, zoning, and policy tools to facilitate
  logical and community-sensitive siting of
  freight-intensive land uses
• WD development directed to locations with
  multimodal access options

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines Who
Engage freight operators, shippers and receivers in the local and regional planning processes (go to them) ARC, Counties
Develop requirements for buffers and/or transitional zones between incompatible land uses Counties, Cities
Consider protecting undeveloped land adjacent to freight facilities Future freight expansion Prevent encroachment of incompatible land uses through zoning, easements and/or purchases Counties, Cities
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Recommendations
Provide Guidelines for Developers and Planners

• Delivery/access needs built into site design and
  review process
• Site layout and building design guidelines and
  templates
• Adequate access for deliveries part of design
  standards

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines Who
Develop delivery access and mobility requirements for developers of both existing and new mixed use sites Logistics-supportive Design Guidelines Address loading zones, street geometry, truck routes, etc. ARC (others)
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Recommendations
Enhanced Planning and Zoning Processes Addressing
Logistics-Related Issues

• Integrate freight access needs into process
• Consider community impacts of logistics operations

Examples of Freight-Supportive Guidelines Who
Develop and apply Warehousing Distribution (WD) Zoning Provisions to facilitate smart freight-supportive land use planning Counties, Cities
Develop requirements for buffers and/or transitional zones between incompatible land uses Counties, Cities
Provide training/education for planners and planning zoning boards on logistics and freight issues and needs ARC
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Lessons Learned/Conclusions

• Freight and Logistics Needs Often an Afterthought
  in Planning Site Development Review Processes
• Designing for Goods Movement Improves Overall
  Mobility and Access
• Proactive Freight Planning is Critical to
  Regional Economic Vitality and Quality of Life
• Consider Freight Implications in Land Use
  Planning and Development Review Activities
• Plan and Design Newly Emerging Areas to
  Accommodate Freight Needs

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Lessons Learned/Conclusions

• Reflect Evolving Freight Transportation Needs and
  Practices in Site Plans and Land Development
• Apply Adequate Buffers and Mitigation Strategies
• Design Existing and Future Transportation
  Corridors to Accommodate Freight Needs
• Consider Freight Mobility Needs in Corridor
  Related Plans and Proposed Improvements
• Build Logistics Considerations into Land
  Development

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Thank You
Caroline A. Mays, AICP ARC Freight
Planner 404-463-3285 cmays_at_atlantaregional.com
Additional Information http//www.atlantaregional.
com/freightmobility/