Yesterday the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a new ordinance meant to better tie planning for the county's unincorporated areas to positive public health outcomes.
James Brasuell reports on the new Healthy Design Ordinance (HDO), which comes out of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Project RENEW (Renew Environments for Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness) initiative, "which is working to 'implement policy, systems and environmental changes to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and reduce obesity, especially in disadvantaged children.'"
Other Project RENEW led efforts include the "Model Design Manual for Living Streets", published last year, and an ongoing effort to increase access to transit and healthy resources in communities along Metro's Blue and Green rail lines.
"Here are some things the HDO will do: 1) Streamline the process required to establish farmers' markets and community gardens...2) Require pedestrian and bicycle access to 'cultural, recreational, and lifelong learning facilities,' and 3) Propose other changes, such as wider sidewalks, bicycle parking, and shade tree plantings..."
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