Planning

Paced Growth

Develop regulations and guidelines for paced growth that are incremental, where growth can be limited and absorbed in a way that retains or enhances the community character (e.g. growth caps; square footage restrictions; limits on building permits).


Placed Growth

Support the maintenance of open space and preservation of rural ranching character while preventing sprawl. Encourage urban density tied to existing transportation corridors. Use existing tools, such as design standards, urban growth boundary and transfer of development rights to achieve these goals.



Possible interest groups/stewards

City(s) and county planning departments/ code enforcement/compliance personnel; county commissioners; city councils; planning commission.

• Identify and promote location and direction for growth by innovative zoning and urban growth boundaries throughout the county and four municipalities.

• Research, design and implement growth management processes and tools that are deemed proven successes in similar communities and regions.

• Ensure city and county officials collaborate on growth control tools and implementation.

• Cultivate better regional collaboration among municipalities regarding growth issues.

Improve communication and pursue participation in the public process, encouraging citizens to become directly involved in the planning and decision-making process of growth-management with the intent to build mutual trust and respect between citizens and decision-makers.



Possible interest groups/stewards

City; county planning departments; elected officials; citizens committees; newspapers

• Develop awareness of the existing participation tools (phone, radio, television and webcast use).

• Research and implement tools and technology to increase public awareness and participation in managing growth (community kiosks, websites, advertising and new, innovative techniques).

• Establishment of a weekly newspaper insert (i.e. Development Activity This Week) that publishes weekly development applications, informing the public as to major planning decisions and encouraging involvement ahead of time. Create a funding line item in budget for cost of insert or negotiate with local newspaper for insert subsidized by ad sales. Cost could be offset by hybrid of both.

Decision-makers must recognize that citizens expect master plans to be upheld and enforced and that plans need to be regularly updated with specificity and clarity to minimize interpretation.



Possible interest groups/stewards

City/county planning staff;elected officials; citizens

• Require timing and scheduled updates of city, county and area plans and identify responsible parties for updating plans.
  
  
  • City and county review plans annually;
  • Plans are updated every five years.

• Enforce existing municipal and county planning regulations.

• Use annual “State of the City” and “State of the County” planning forums as tools for citizen input and measures of accountability.