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cally when conditions hit a certain threshold
<br />(Elliot 2009). Dynamic zoning provisions let
<br />a community approve a code that fits its cur-
<br />rent conditions but that will change based
<br />on some empirical future condition. One law
<br />expert notes that, "gradual and adaptive regu-
<br />lations ... can minimize harms and takings
<br />compensation requirements" while giving
<br />property owners some certainty about how
<br />they can expect to use their property once
<br />certain thresholds are passed (Byrne 2012).
<br />A floating zone is a zoning classification
<br />that is not tied to a specific area (Blanchard
<br />and Nolan 2013). Developers can request to
<br />have the zone applied to their parcels, per-
<br />haps in exchange for financial or procedural
<br />incentives. Although it is not a floating zone,
<br />Keene, New Hampshire, has a Sustainable
<br />Design and Energy Efficient Development over-
<br />lay zone (§§1o2-1430-1438) that promotes
<br />compact development and energy efficiency
<br />and could be a model for a floating zone in
<br />other communities.
<br />Local Renewable Energy
<br />Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an im-
<br />portant climate adaptation strategy because it
<br />ultimately reduces our impact on the climate
<br />and thus the amount of change to which we
<br />will have to adapt. Local, clean, renewable en-
<br />ergy resources have well-known greenhouse
<br />gas reduction benefits, but they can also be
<br />valuable in building resilience to disruptions
<br />to the power grid caused by natural hazards,
<br />or energy prices that might become volatile.
<br />Encouraging on -site renewable energy genera-
<br />tion and storage gives people cleaner, more
<br />reliable electricity and can provide backup
<br />power if the grid goes down.
<br />The Department of Energy's SunShot
<br />Solar Outreach Partnership worked with the
<br />American Planning Association to develop
<br />guidance on incorporating solar -friendly
<br />provisions into planning documents and
<br />regulations (Morley 2014). Amending codes
<br />or adopting ordinances that allow solar, so-
<br />lar thermal, wind, and other renewables on
<br />individual properties gives property owners
<br />clear direction on what is allowed, giving them
<br />peace of mind that their investment is legal
<br />and alleviating protests from neighbors. For
<br />example, Aurora, Illinois's Alternative Energy
<br />Systems ordinance defines and clearly il-
<br />lustrates solar, wind, and geothermal system
<br />generation limits, setbacks, permitted system
<br />heights, and noise limits (§4.4-9)•
<br />Solar gardens, small community instal-
<br />lations that serve local customers who buy or
<br />lease shares, productively use lots that might
<br />otherwise be difficult to develop because of
<br />their shape, environmental contamination,
<br />or other factors. By one estimate, about half
<br />of households and businesses cannot install
<br />rooftop solar systems because they do not
<br />own the structure or do not have enough roof
<br />space to meet their power needs (Feldman
<br />et al. 2015). Shared solar installations give
<br />these people and businesses the chance to
<br />buy clean power that can keep running if the
<br />grid is disrupted. Pairing a solar installation
<br />with energy storage improves resilience even
<br />more. Local governments can encourage solar
<br />gardens by defining them as a specific use in
<br />the zoning code (Morley 2014).
<br />Fort Collins, Colorado, worked with
<br />Clean Energy Collective to build the Riverside
<br />Community Solar Array, a solar garden on the
<br />city -owned site of a demolished former pickle
<br />plant. The site lies at the edge of a compact
<br />residential neighborhood, but a railroad
<br />running through it as well as contamination
<br />from its industrial past made it impractical
<br />to develop. Using it for the solar garden and
<br />incorporating public art let the city turn it into
<br />a gateway welcoming people to Fort Collins.
<br />Before ground was even broken on the array, it
<br />was sold out, and its capacity was doubled to
<br />meet demand (Hois 2015).
<br />FLOODING AND EXTREME PRECIPITATION
<br />Green infrastructure techniques can reduce lo-
<br />calized flooding while also beautifying streets
<br />and helping developers meet stormwater
<br />retention requirements. In places that require
<br />elevation in floodplains, design guidelines
<br />can help maintain community character and
<br />ensure access to elevated buildings.
<br />Green and Complete Streets
<br />Green and complete streets design standards
<br />make streets safe and comfortable for pedes-
<br />trians, drivers, bicyclists, and transit users.
<br />Green and complete streets incorporate green
<br />infrastructure such as street trees, permeable
<br />pavement, curb inlets, and planter boxes to
<br />capture, slow, filter, and absorb stormwater
<br />runoff. These green features beautify the
<br />street and cool the air. Green and complete
<br />streets are designed to make walking and bik-
<br />ing easier and more appealing, which reduces
<br />pollution from vehicles, helps people incorpo-
<br />rate physical activity into their daily routines,
<br />and gives more transportation options to
<br />people who cannot drive or choose not to.
<br />Hundreds of communities across the country
<br />have adopted complete streets policies, and
<br />clear guidance on how to incorporate green
<br />infrastructure elements can help ensure that
<br />complete streets also reduce stormwater run-
<br />off. Boston's Complete Streets Design Guide-
<br />lines, for example, have explicit guidance on
<br />ZONINGPRACTICE 2.17
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