The Beavercreek Road Area Financial Impact Report reported a public funding gap for infrastructure, using typical development assumptions. The goal for green community design is to reduce that gap by reducing costs for roads, storm drainage, water treatment and utilities. Future development is likely to have a taxable value that will allow bonding covering a large share of that reduced cost without increasing taxes. A 1998 study of development in Oregon found that developers paid 59 percent of infrastructure costs. Typical developer participation and bonding based on future development thus may cover almost all of the green infrastructure cost.
The plan for the Beavercreek Road Area offers Oregon City the opportunity to demonstrate national leadership in economic development. The vision for Beavercreek Road is of a greener, fully employed Oregon City. Think growth with benefits and long-term savings. In Philadelphia, green infrastructure has saved the city “an estimated $170 million.” (Source:EPA) Another case study: “Johnson County in Kansas saved an estimated $120 million on engineered stormwater…by setting aside $600,000 worth of riparian greenways (river bank greenways).“ (Sandborn 1996). And a study from the University of Massachusetts projects as many as 40 million new jobs by 2030 in renewable energy and efficiency industries, employing everyone from construction workers to high-tech researchers.
So how does Oregon City benefit?
- 480 or more construction jobs per year for ten years.
- Up to 5,000 new permanent jobs in Oregon City.
- Indirect creation of more than 3,500 jobs from new permanent jobs.
- Personal income from direct and indirect jobs -- $213 million at a low estimate.
- Income from construction, new jobs and new households spent at local businesses.
- Compact development with new public parks and public open space.
- Finally, local jobs that are really difficult to outsource
Urban Advisors Ltd.
0 comments:
Post a Comment