Why Does Planning Matter in Microclimate Management and Urban Heat Mitigation?

Abstract

In this paper, we examine two mixed-use redevelopment projects in the United States, including both regulatory and procedural contexts, to assess how decision-making processes affected microclimate outcomes. We investigate Belmar in Lakewood, CO and 29th Street Mall in Boulder, CO. Measurements and simulations of microclimate show that Belmar mitigates urban heat more effectively. Policies including building height, street patterns, and landscaping standards were key variables in this outcome. Through interviews and content analysis, we found five main factors shaping those policy choices: (1) urban vision, (2) land use and form controls, (3) design guidelines, (4) public financing, and (5) ownership/condemnation factors.

Why and How Do Cities Plan for Extreme Heat?

“…Other strategies "green" the urban environment, ranging from green roofs to expanding urban tree canopies (Berke and Stevens 2016;Burgess and Foster 2019;Mahlkow and Donner 2017;Stone et al 2019;Stone et al 2014). 3 Additional strategies range from enhancing building and transportation energy efficiency to designing urban forms that increase thermal comfort (Burgess and Foster 2019;Heris, Middel, and Muller 2020;Heris, Muller, and Wilson 2019;Stone et al 2019).…”

Multidisciplinary Understanding of the Urban Heating Problem and Mitigation: A Conceptual Framework for Urban Planning

“…To overcome the limitations of Stone Jr. et al’s [ 13 ] scenario, Heris et al [ 164 ] suggested a framework wherein they approach microclimate management as development management. They found five main factors shaping the policy choices taken to mitigate urban heating: (1) urban vision, (2) land use and form controls, (3) design guidelines, (4) public financing, and (5) ownership/condemnation.…”