Planning and Health
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Evidence Base
Improved health and well-being outcomes, including access to food and jobs, active transportation and recreation, physical activity and chronic health conditions
Improved social connection and sense of community
Improved air quality and reduced GHG emissions
Improved medium- and long-term health and well-being outcomes, including access to food and jobs, active transportation and recreation, physical activity and chronic health conditions
Increased belonging and civic muscle
*Adapted from The Pew Charitable Trusts Health Impact Assessment Can Inform Planning to Promote Public Health
Featured Resources
Health Impact Assessment Can Inform Planning to Promote Public Health
Kern County’s Land-Use and Transportation Plan
HIAs in Planning
HIAs often examine planning decisions and their impact on community health and well-being.
Many HIAs that pertain to planning are focused on a specific kind of plan (general or comprehensive plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans); others look at a planning-related policy or consider implementation of a project or policy. HIA can inform a broad range of planning-related issues, including land use, development regulations, public finance, disaster mitigation and climate change. HIAs can add value to planning by improving data, promoting community engagement and cross-sector collaboration, and reframing issues around shared health goals.
EXAMPLE HIAS
St. Louis Park Comprehensive Plan
Gateway Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit: A Closer Look at Health and Land Use
West North Avenue Streetscape Plan
Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project
Tampa Brownfields Redevelopment Plan
Shared-Use Roosevelt-School Properties as Community Space
More Related Resources
The State of Health Impact Assessment in Planning
Health Impact Assessment Toolkit for Planners
Intersections: Health and the Built Environment
Toolkit to Integrate Health and Equity Into Comprehensive Plans
Leveraging the Built Environment for Health Equity
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