Elements of a Leap Town

There is a variety of open spaces within the town and the town is surrounded by open space. The town has a definite edge. Animal and grain production occurs in the surrounding open space, otherwise it is free of development. Nature is respected in all actions throughout the town. In town are parks, trails, playgounds and sports facilities, and natural open space. The town uses its attributes to enhance a distinction about the town with its buildings, streetscapes, and landscaping.

The grid of street networks took humans a couple of thousand years to develop. Your town is a grid because it was platted before the automobile. The grid provides the best connectivity for all non-fixed transportation options. The town preserves the grid and fills from within with new buildings. It is wasteful to build on the edge of town while there is still an inventory of vacant parcels or buildings in the community. Line the streets with drought tolerant trees in rain gardens to create a shaded environment.

The buildings of the town help form the physical character and identity of the community. When practicable, the old buildings should be restored and put back in use. There is an embodied energy in all of the components that make up the building and they have a value. If there is no demand for the previous building use, then make it livable as part of affordable housing. Insure new buildings match the form of the existing buildings by adopting a form based zoning code. This insures a perception of change being minimal and more acceptable with incremental implementation.

Join forces and start investing in buildings and local businesses in your town. Create an investment group that can catalyze investment from others. It is hard to expect outsiders to invest in a community if the local residents are not willing to. Also, ask yourself if you have invested to the extent the original town founders did when they were starting your town. Investments are nothing more than ways for money to earn money with a potential gain or loss that will be determined by risks. Prudent investment in vetted local projects that keep profits in town can make more sense for a resident than investing in Wall Street where the business profits leave town.

The schools have a unit in their curriculum for K-12 students that includes elements of community development, passion identification and development, and personal goal and growth development for all students. Adults have access to a variety of programs that meet their needs, whether it be English as a second language or training in a marketable skill. Every resident has access to a program of passion identification and personal growth to allow that passion to produce a livelihood.

Greenhouse grown, high quality organic food production is developed as an industry. Growing and exporting food is a fundamental industry that can be implemented everywhere. The growing market for high quality food will continue to expand. Food production helps feed the town, gives the town a resiliency, and brings outside money into the community. Residents can earn extra income growing packaging, and distributing produce. Additional economic layers can be added such as farm to table restaurants to help serve a tourist population.

Walking, bicycle, and electric vehicle travel will be used for local transportation needs. The ability to eliminate the cost of owning and operating an automobile is a basis of affordability for a Leap Town. The city needs to adopt ordinances allowing those vehicles on public right of way and needs to adopt new street standards to benefit non-automobile travel, to reduce the cost of street maintenance, and to increase the attractiveness of the community with shade from trees planted in rain gardens.

Buildings can be built that require no outside energy to operate. Plumbing systems can be used that allow recycling of the graywater. It will be up to the community to decide the extent of requirements it will adopt. Solar panels and wind can supplement or replace existing energy sources. The town should become self sufficient in fulfilling energy requirements.

In addition to retaining existing businesses, small micro businesses will develop as a result of community food production, building remodeling, and new construction. Passion identification will surface additional products the community can produce and export. There will be employment and self employment opportunities in these efforts. Arts and other creative endeavors can expand into businesses. Most towns already have business start-up opportunities. Recruit people to help fill those needs if no one in town will take advantage of them.

People are healthier when they are happier. People are healthier when they eat right. Those who have healthcare needs and can, will pay for it. Those who cannot pay, and have no other options, will receive healthcare services from funding provided by local philanthropic sources. The key to healthcare is to create opportunities for healthier lifestyles and attitudes. There may be creative ways a community can get healthcare coverage that allows everyone access.

When one of us is in need, we are all in need. There is no reason for someone to go hungry, or without shelter, or without an opportunity to change their circumstances. Those at risk can be sponsored by other community members or organization until they are on their feet. Rehabilitation homes for certain populations can be a safety net for vulnerable individuals as well as catalysts of change in some smaller towns. Residents ultimately have a responsibility to be self sufficient in meeting their lifestyle practices.