Health Impact Assessment: Threshold Analysis

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Design for Health
Health Impact Assessment Threshold Analysis
Kevin Krizek
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Characteristics of the Threshold HIA

• Level III Most specific in the suite of HIA
  tools provided by Design for Health.
• Informed by synthesizing and digesting available
  research.
• What does the research tells us
• How strong/clear is that research
• How can it be applied to more specific projects
  or plan proposals

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Where to use in the HIA process?

• Most rapidly evolving of the types of HIAs being
  developed
• Best used later in the planning process

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Structure of the Threshold HIA

• Uses same categories of public health categories
  as other tools in the Design for Health HIA suite
• Further breaks these areas down into 20 or so
  specific criteria
• Requires specific knowledge of the plan or
  project (e.g., specific information or
  characteristics about plan element or development
  proposal
• Scoring is based on sliding scale

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Other efforts / comparable products
Distinguishing characteristics -54
categories -Based on Yes/No -Very comprehensive
-Based on select studies -Point based -70
categories -Based on select studies -20 or so
specific criteria -Carefully digests available
research -Focuses on dimensions directly relevant
to planning

• Tool
• -Healthy Development Tool (San Francisco)
• -LEED - ND
• -Design for Health

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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Accessibility
Transit Service (Threshold)
Intent Ensure adequate transit service.
Rationale Transit service not only provides alternatives to auto-travel, but provides means of mobility for the elderly, young and/or financially disadvantaged.
Requirements Residential components of the plan are built at an average of more than seven units per acre
Definitions Need to consider net density.
Submission Site plan with density calculations.
Possible Credits 1 for 7 units per residential acre 2 for 7 units per gross acre
Credits Awarded
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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Accessibility
Transit stops (Threshold)
Intent Ensure transit service that can be walked to conveniently.
Rationale People are not willing to walk more than 1200 m (three-quarters of a mile) for a transit stop, on average. While some people may not be able to walk this far, the figure represents a reasonable average.
Requirements All residential or employment areas are located within 1200 m of a transit stop.
Definitions A transit stop is a bus or train stop with service at least every hour during the daytime on weekdays and weekends.
Submission Site plan showing employment and residential areas and locations of proposed transit stops.
Possible Credits 1 credit for a transit stop within 1200 m 2 credits for a train stop within 800 m or a bus stop within 400 m.
Credits Awarded
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• Need an example of a map

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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Food
Distance to a supermarket or fruit and vegetable
shop (Threshold)
Intent Provide access to fruits and vegetables.
Rationale Studies show distances to supermarkets have the clearest effects on health (compared with, say, access to different kinds of restaurants).
Requirements Supermarkets or fruit and vegetable stores within a mile of each residence.
Definitions A supermarket or fruit and vegetable store is a farmer's market or an establishment with a NAICS code of 445110 or 455230.
Submission Map showing location of proposal and distance to nearest supermarket or fruit and vegetable stores.
Possible Credits 2 awarded if there is a supermarket or fruit and vegetable store within a mile of each home 1 if the distance is 2 miles
Credits Awarded
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Food Stores--NAICS Code Examples

• 445   Food and Beverage Stores
• 4451    Grocery Stores
• 44511  Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except
  convenience) Stores
• 44512 Convenience Stores
• 4452    Specialty Food Stores
• 44521 Meat Markets
• 44522   Fish and Seafood Markets
• 44523   Fruit and Vegetable Markets
• 44529   Other Specialty Food Stores
• 445291  Baked Goods Stores
• 445292  Confectionery and Nut Stores
• 445299  All Other Specialty Food Stores
• 4453    Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores

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1200 Meters
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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Air Quality
Distance from a freeway for residential uses and
uses occupied by children (Threshold)
Intent Prevent respiratory diseases and premature births.
Rationale Studies show decreasing particulates, respiratory diseases and premature births with distance from major roads. Residential areas, schools and playgrounds are key environments for vulnerable groups.
Requirements Residential areas should be more than a specified distance from a major road.
Definitions A major road is defined as having an average annual daily traffic gt 40,000, a freeway or a road with six or more lanes. Uses occupied by children include schools, day-care facilities, playgrounds and sports fields.
Submission Comprehensive plan map or site plan with area within 200 m and 500 m from major roads marked.
Possible Credits 1 credit if all such uses are more than 200 m from a major road 2 credits if more than 500 m.
Credits Awarded
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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Physical Activity
Access to playing areas, parks and trails
(Threshold)
Intent To make it easier for people to engage in a variety of activities, potentially furthering physical activity.
Rationale Different people have different ways of being physically active a variety of environments support such.
Requirements Residential areas located less than 400 m (1/4 mile 1,312 feet) of a neighborhood park, trail or open space, in order to provide options for physical activity and social interaction, particularly for children.
Definitions To come.
Submission Map showing proximity to open space appropriate for active outdoor play.
Possible Credits 1 credit if requirements met.
Credits Awarded
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• Need an example

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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Topic Water Quality
Groundwater and drinking-water quality (Threshold)
Intent Ensure safe drinking water.
Rationale Sources of groundwater contamination include proximity to septic systems, leaking underground tanks, contamination from landfills, and other forms of polluted surface runoff (nitrogen fertilizers, mining, etc.).
Requirements Sensitivity to, and appropriate distance away from, septic systems, leaking underground tanks, contamination from landfills, and other forms of polluted surface runoff (nitrogen fertilizers, mining, etc.).
Definitions To come.
Submission Documents detailing water infrastructure plans.
Possible Credits 1 if developed in a site with existing water and sewer infrastructure or where this is planned to occur with development.
Credits Awarded
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MPCA Whats in my neighborhood Minneapolis
http//pca-gis04.pca.state.mn.us/website/mes/mesfi
n/entry.htm
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Threshold Analysis (Draft)
Score Sheet
Topic, Threshold or Association Potential Credits Credits Awarded
Topic Accessibility
Transit service (Threshold) Credits 2
Transit stops (Threshold) Credits 2
Topic Air Quality
Distance from a freeway for residential uses and uses occupied by children (Threshold) Credits 1-2
Polluting uses (Association)
Air quality mitigation (Association) Credits 1
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Threshold Analysis
Next Steps

1. Refine available guidelines
2. Field test
3. Ensure they are user friendly and robust
4. Produce an available product to employ in late
   summer

Ann Forsyth
(Image centered left to right, 2.5 up from
bottom, 2.0 from top)