The urban planning discipline provides a pathway for reviewing, approving, and permitting the EcoBlock model in cities. Through the pilot EcoBlock, we aimed to demonstrate how common or available planning, building, and public works tools and strategies can be applied to facilitate the implementation of EcoBlock projects. Recommendations focus on regulatory and governance tools and codes specific to each municipal function. This work is specific to the laws and standards used in California, but the principles can be applied outside of California as well.
Planning Context: General Plan
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During Phase 1, the research team developed multiple scenarios for the microgrid design, for energy efficient retrofits, and for water efficient scenarios. The Community-Scale Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Retrofit Master Plan is a synthesis of the selective application of Energy Efficiency Retrofits, refined by estimates acquired from the detailed energy audit in Phase 2, and the application of Water Scenarios. See the Phase 1 Report (PDF) for full details.
The Oakland EcoBlock
The EcoBlock project worked closely with the City of Oakland to develop the pilot block, with the ultimate goal of helping Oakland meet its policy goals.
- AB 32 (2006): California Global Warming Solutions Act
- SB 375 (2008): Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act
- SB 100 (2018): CA Renewables Portfolio Standard Program
- ECAP (2020): Oakland 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan
Fast facts about the Oakland EcoBlock:
Units Participating
0
Buildings Participating
0
%
Average Lot Size
0
ft²
Lot size ranges from 2,300-10,500 sf
Individual dwelling units range in size from from 850-1,600 sf
Most are one- and two-story wood-frame construction
40% houses purchased in the past 10 years
The original EcoBlock design consisted of community-owned assets such as a block-scale solar microgrid with shared battery storage; a shared electric vehicle (EV) and EV charger; and electric bikes and scooters. The plan was to equip each participating home with an inverter that would connect to the microgrid from the existing load center, as well as provide individual battery storage and new electric appliances. Not all of these assets—specifically the microgrid, shared and individual battery storage, and shared EV and EV charger—were implemented given the time and funding available during the pilot project.
Lessons Learned
- Both short and long timeline permits are needed, so it is important to know the local planning/regulatory environment. Whenever possible, projects should try for department/staff/ministerial level approvals (Building Department). For projects that have ambitious goals, planning approvals may be unavoidable, so the second bullet point becomes necessary.
- A typical EcoBlock project will require more than over-the-counter permits. The pilot Oakland EcoBlock involved obtaining stream permits (Water) and right-of-way encroachment permits (EV Charging, Water) that demanded agency coordination and hearings that spanned many months.
- It is critical to develop political will at both the city and utility levels.
- Both cities and utilities are large bureaucratic organizations with unique timelines and priorities. The successful implementation of the EcoBlock concept hinges on securing buy-in from leadership (elected officials) as well as professional/departmental staff.
- Work proactively with staff to identify policy solutions that expedite permitting and approvals. Help develop and pass these solutions–such as approaches to rezoning, planning interpretations, the establishment of overlay zones, and other local tools–in advance of permit requests.
- The majority of the project budget will be used to navigate the regulatory, permitting, and inspection pathways of each institution.
- Build trust and cultivate participation with the community.
- Development and redevelopment projects typically start from a position that is lacking in trust, and the timing of this engagement (before the project is publicly announced) is key. It is important to show tangible progress and address ancillary topics to build trust.
- Engage the community in joint decision-making. Community members—including residents, local leaders/advocates/messengers, and trusted representatives of the EcoBlock—are a key constituency and part of the project team.
- Understanding place-based factors (such as climate characteristics, building demands, and utility services) is critical to project implementation, but they must be relative to local regulations, political will, and stakeholder participation.
- Each EcoBlock site as well as the internal and external forces that affect it, are different. These place-based factors impact the types of technical strategies the project can undertake, and can change the nature of the problem and solutions.
- Technical feasibility alone does not guarantee project success. Future teams must allocate the same—if not more—amount of time and resources to the social dimensions of the project, investing in stakeholder management and engagement as they do in engineering and development.
- Technological change is slow and difficult. Technology is rapidly advancing, and some innovations are still expensive and/or not quite market ready. Many regulatory barriers, legal structures, and insurance requirements favor existing and known solutions and processes.
- Scaling the EcoBlock concept may require transitioning from a project- to a program-based model that supports long-term viability and broader municipal adoption.
- While short-term, localized pilot projects like the Oakland EcoBlock serve as a valuable proof of concept, their impact is often limited by a fixed scope and timeline. Transitioning EcoBlock into a program-based model may provide the long-term institutional framework as well as the financial flexibility and longevity to replicate the concept across multiple municipalities.
Explore other EcoBlock strategies:
