Final Solar Village electronic charrette

TUCSON-PIMA COUNTY METROPOLITAN ENERGY COMMISSION

September 7, 1994

For those of you who have previously participated, thanks for your help in
planning Phase 3 of the Tucson Solar Village Program. The responses to the
second cycle have been excellent. For those of you who would like a
compilation
of the verbatim responses please email me:

BCOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In this final cycle Delphi process we'll review responses from the second
cycle
and
further prioritize their importance. In addition, we will identify important
factors in a
couple of specific areas which respondents have indicated as critical for
success. Please return your responses by September 12, 1994

Again, thank you very much for your thoughtful participation.

The Tucson Solar Village Comprehensive Implementation Strategy
Final Delphi Questionnaire Cycle


A. Following is a ranked list of important features of Civano: The Tucson
Solar Village and why they are important as cited by respondents. First, list
all that you think are absolutely essential to Civano's success. Then list
the
three which you think are most critical.

Features: Summary, why important


1. Passive solar design: Logical, easy, cost-effective, viable solution for
desert
2. Pedestrian path system: Emphasis on non-motorized, alternative
transportation
modes reduces fossil fuel energy usage, helps to clean air, adds safety,
reduces living costs, and contributes to sense of community (common to
#s
2, 3, 4, and 5).
3. Connection to public transportation
4. Bicycle path system
5. Walkable village center
6. Clustered building layout with open space: Preserves open space, creates
community identity
7. Sense of neighborhood & place: Marketable, feels good, togetherness,
decreases violence
8. Photovoltaic generation system: Viable, reinforces solar image, energy
efficient, low cost+impact
9. Neighborhoods to support design flexibility: Increases marketability,
allows
experimentation, diversity
10. Community & on-site water harvesting: Attractive, cost-effective, saves
precious desert resource
11. Proximity to on-site jobs: Marketable, reduces auto trips, could promote
environmental technologies
12. Diverse socio-economic inclusion: Creates uniqueness; diversity is
important; broadens market base
13. Access to regional trails system: Good recreational & educational
opportunities
14. Community education program: Empowers sustainable lifestyle; education
important; keeps us grounded
15. Community gardens, orchards: Promotes sustainability; helps sense of
community
16. Reclaimed effluent system: Cost effective for landscaping; helps water
problem; is available close by
17. Community tram system: Environmentally sound; part of alternative
transportation options
18. Recycling options: Should be a way of life to reduce waste
19. Resource conservation area: Open space preservation; education
opportunity;
stainability (related to #6)
20. Sweat equity options: Major impact on affordability, empowerment
21. Permaculture landscaping: Reduces water use; sustainability ethic
22. Passive solar daylighting for commercial & residential (similar to #1)
23. Build in infrastructure for reclaimed water and district heating/cooling
(similar to #16 but more specific)
24. Alternate building materials & technologies
25. Alternate site, landscape strategies (related to #s 10, 11, 16)
26. Integrate 1,8,19,4,10,6,5,18,16--all these make up a system
27. Urban node creation along Houghton Road
28. Safety/security (related to #s 2, 4, 5, 7)
29. Housing is affordable to all who live and work in the community (related
to
#s 9, 11, 12, 20, 30, 31, 40)
30. Neighborhoods are integrated ethnically and economically (related to #s 9,
11, 12, 20, 29, 40)
31. Availabilty of jobs & services (similar to #11)
32. School in Village Center (related to #5)
33. On-site businesses that support Civano values (related to #s 11, 31)
34. Comprehensive electric usage reduction (related to #s 1, 8, 22, 37, 38,
41)
35. Comprehensive water usage reduction (related to #s 10, 16, 21, 23, 25,
41)
36. Visitor center to welcome, educate (related to #14)
37. Energy conservation to reduce consumption by 75% (related to #s 1, 8, 22,
34, 38, 41)
38. Central solar thermal/PV + local energy district heating+cooling system
(related to #s 1, 8, 22, 34, 37, 41)
39. Diversity of resource-efficient building systems
40. Alternative financing (related to #s 12, 20, 29)
41. Adherence to rigorous resource efficiency standards (rel'd to #s 1, 10,
16,
18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39)
42. Noise pollution control
43. Facilities for the special needs of kids & old people
44. Neighborhood social & recreation centers
B. Following is a ranked list of activities and why they are important for
Civano's success as cited by respondents. First, list all that you think are
absolutely essential to Civano's success. Then, list the three which you
think
are most critical.

Activities: Summary, why important

1. Attract a sympathetic developer: This is critical; needs commitment to
principles; only way for quality
2. Offer competitive home value: Cannot sell otherwise; can include
life-cycle
costing; promotes diversity
3. Prepare focused market analysis/strategy: Identify "niche;" need customer
desires; helps developer interest
4. Provide incentives for developers: Helps decrease risk, cost; gets more
good
bidders; assures goals reached
5. Form management/overseeing body now: Need strong "watchdog;" brings people
together; key to success
6. Involve associations, groups & individuals: Need community support; people
are interested & can assist
7. Conduct public info/relations program: Necessary for consensus-building;
helps marketing
8. Use best minds of designers & engineers: Gets best design, technology,
product; this is complicated stuff
9. Integrate environmental education: Important to develop desert
environmental
ethic, educate newcomers
10. Build demonstration program now: Lead the way to demonstrate key concepts
for Civano & other development
11. Committed people on design review: Greater assurance of success; helps
community involvement
12. Prepare strong agency commitments: Continuity, coordination & commitment
important; decreases risk
13. Structural efficiencies built into all phases: Reduces up front & future
costs, energy; good marketing tool
14. Build village center & plaza early: Need focus; good marketing tool; good
place for meetings to promote
15. Define photovoltaic program with local electric utility: Cooperation
essential; broadens power base (some disagreement)
16. Seek additional resources to assure goals: Reduces risk; supports
manager,
education; broadens base
17. Establish a Community Resource Center: Conduct monitoring, education,
outreach; fosters pride
18. Redefine land sale to include all values: Poor developer choice if $ the
only value; unique value to State
19. Include range of uses in all phases: Reduces commuting; helps marketing;
essential to original concept
20. Build office work stations in each home: Allows reduction in commute;
promotes family; reduces cost
21. Integrate with community revitalization: Broadens public interest & power
base; good press
22. Screen buyers for "Civano" values: Gain committed residents; avoid
"yuppie
chic" crowd; (legal?)
23. Keep it diverse: Insure opportunities for involvement by minorities &
less
advantaged
24. Use experiences of other solar home dwellers: (related to #s 8, 9)
25. Ensure employment component--put $, effort into this: (related to #s 19,
20, 27)
26. Reinforce urban node: Co-locate other projects nearby, such as eastside
transit center, city hall
27. Attract business to locate at Civano: (related to #s 19, 20, 25)
28. Just do it--don't plan it to death
29. Focus on available technologies: This is no project for forthcoming
inventions (related to #28?)
30. Provide sweat equity options: (similar to question A, #20)


C. Following is a list of Civano aspects and their rationale, cited by
respondents as important to implement throughout Tucson in the community at
large. First, list all that you think are absolutely essential to pursue
in the community. Then, list the three which you think are most critical.

Aspects: Summary, why important

1. Solar: water heat, passive design, solar thermal, pv systems: Appropriate
use
of local
renewable natural resource; proving technology is most
important;
efficient, effective, available, cost-saving
2. Energy conservation equipment, techniques: Conservation is necessary for
survival, cost
effective; will make big impact; Civano core goal
3. Water conservation equipment, techniques: Same reasons as #1 &2; limited
resource
4. Education re sustainable design principles: Leads to demand for product;
basic community
need5. Develop Civano concepts as infill project: Gives proof
of
concept; smaller project is easier; natural ally of conservation
forces;
work out "bugs" in concept
6. More affordable housing options: Need full spectrum of housing to provide
more amenities
for all.
7. Pedestrian emphasis throughout region: Most practical, beneficial to large
numbers; people
want it; opens more energy-conserving options for accessibility
8. More trees & shade: Can save energy; creates comfort; reduces ambient
temperature; places to gather
9. Apply Civano performance targets to all: Stimulates innovation; reduces
energy, water
consumption
10. Target areas for ped-friendly design: (related to #s 7, 16) Streets
need
to be designed as pedestrian-friendly
11. Build infill demonstration housing: (related to # 5) Perfect for
energy-
& water- efficient designs
12. Focus on getting Civano built as demo: Gives national importance;
demonstrates multiple
values; sets the standard for all of Tucson; must be successful
for others to follow; makes big impact
13. Awards program for exceeding targets: Competition motivates
performance;
serves as
incentive
14. Provide bicycle-friendly design features: People want alternate to
cars;
can work well for 5 miles or less
15. Preserve wash habitat corridors: Keeps habitat for wildlife, peace &
shade; ecological sense
16. Pedestrian access to neighborhood nodes: (related to #s 7, 10) Basic
technique for resource-conserving lifestyle
17. Recycling to the max: Critical to survival
18. Document existing local examples: Best way to determine effectiveness
19. Alternative transportation corridors: Need environmental-friendly
transportation
20. Mix of housing types & prices: Avoids sterility
21. Mixed uses: Makes non-auto trips more feasible
22. Sensible directional orientation of buildings: (related to #1)
23. Pedestrian/bicycle friendly designs: (related to #s 7, 8, 10, 14, 16,
19, 25)
24. Combine 1, 2, 3, 17: all are theme of sustainability
25. Alternate community, public transportation, non-gasoline: (related to
#s
7, 10, 14, 16, 19, 23)
26. Test Civano performance targets: Need to check feasibility before
applying to all (related to #s 5, 11)


D. Following is a list of ways, and why they are important, cited by
respondents to bring the
best people with the right resources together to get the job done.
First, list all that you think are absolutely essential to pursue.
Then,
list the three which you think are most critical.

Methods: Summary, why important

1. Form public-private-nonprofit partnership: Give stakeholders a voice in
managing
their development; participation by utilities, local government
a
"must"; broaden
interest; oversite needs to be provided; partnership is best
way
to achieve success
2. Advertise nationally for "right" developer: Critical for achievement of
goals;
developer needs to be committed to ideals; need developer
experience
3. Let a committed developer manage it: Developer knows the business, can pull
this
together; we have to get on with it
4. Support full time staff to ensure continuity: Need a good manager now for
all
the
tasks necessary, hold the focus & vision, keep this moving;
need
expertise in agencies;
5. Network with inclusive stakeholder groups: All need keep all informed to
build &
continue support; more heads are better than one
6. Convince larger public of economic viability: Successful marketing is key
to
success;
need to gain support for wider implementation; needed for
transferability
7. Aggressive leadership & management: Need focus, forward motion, keep on
track
(related to #4)
8. Consider each retailer, employer, resident as stockholder: Helps develop
commitment; get a better project which is more responsive to
needs
9. Develop a management association: Better guides, reflects values of
inhabitants
(related to #8)
10. Continue getting the word out: The more awareness, the more involvement &
support (related to #s 2, 5, 6)
11. Leverage funding: seek additional grants: Assures continuity; heightens
profile; less
risk to developer; helps pay for 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
12. Task forces to deal with important aspects: Utilizes best talent; breaks
into more
"doable" tasks
13. Let the successful land purchaser manage it: Yes, but requires oversight,
"right"
developer (relates to #s 1, 2, 3)
14. Secure interest of Fortune 500 company: Increases visibility, financial
backing
15. Continue doing what MEC is now doing: MEC and steering committee to
provide
oversight until Civano 50% complete
16. Set up design review entity under CC&R guidelines to help, not rule: can
give
guidance & assistance to developer
17. Form a Civano Association of prospective village residents: (related to
#s
8, 9)
18. Expand search to international: (related to #2, 14)
19. National advisory committee on technical & architectural aspects
20. Local committee of dedicated "visions + values" watchers: (related to #s
1, 12, 16)


E. As evident from many of the previous responses, finding the "right"
developer is very
important to achieve Civano's goals. Given the fact that the State Land
Department is
obligated by state law to maximize its return to the Trust, what ways can
you
think of to
encourage or attract the "right" developer to become involved?




F. Many respondents cited "provide incentives for developers" as a critical
need
in order to
both minimize risk and also assure compliance with Civano objectives.
Please
list some
specific incentives which you feel would be appropriate.




G. Do you know of any buildings or communities planned or built with the same
purposes or
features similar to Civano? Yes_____ No_____ Name and location?

If you answered "yes" to the above, what do you think were the most
critical
factors in the
success or failure of these communities?



H. Please list any other important issues or questions relative to
implementing
Civano and
related projects throughout Tucson which you feel should be addressed.
Partial thread listing: