HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-18-2009 - 4qORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 18, 2009
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Proclamation Re ardin Quality Growth Initiative
DEPARTMENT: BOCC PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Proclamation
Reality Check -One Page Summary
Draft -Reality Check Action Plan Craig Benedict, Planning - 245-2592
Triangle Tomorrow's `Reality Check' Report
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation endorsing and adopting the Reality Check Report
Guiding Principles for Quality Growth.
BACKGROUND: On February 24, 2009, approximately 280 regional stakeholders and leaders
gathered at the Raleigh Convention Center. The purpose was to take part in the Research
Triangle Regional Reality Check exercise. The project was hosted by the Triangle District
Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Triangle Tomorrow, a community and business
action organization.
The Reality Check Project analyzed three growth scenarios fora 15 county region. The
consensus amount participants during the reporting phase (i.e. results summit) was to support
the following guiding principles:
• TRANSIT
Improve regional transit, matching land use decisions with transit investments
• VIBRANT CENTERS
Reinvest in city and town centers, promote compact development, density and mixed use,
including a balance of jobs and housing
• SUSTAINED GREEN SPACE
Define appropriate growth and preservation areas to protect areas to protect open space,
agricultural land and resources, especially water supply and quality.
As the Triangle responds to the impending growth in the future, communities (i.e. cities, small
towns, counties, rural areas) may address the challenges and opportunities in different ways but
it was suggested that certain actions should be an integral part of the growth response including:
/ Maximizing existing infrastructure including open space
Addressing community resistance to emerging types of development and transportation
modes with education, workshops, and public awareness campaigns
/ Promoting effective regional cooperation and collaboration by adopting the Reality Check
Guiding Principles.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time. However, how a region grows affects the quality of life
and cost of living, so growth decisions will ultimately have a fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends the Board approve the
proclamation.
a
DRAFT PROCLAMATION
ENDORSEMENT & ADOPTION OF THE REALITY CHECK
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR QUALITY GROWTH
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina, plan for the county
needs, enact local ordinances, establish new programs and departments, among other duties,
and
WHEREAS, Orange County, North Carolina, is a county of the Research Triangle Region, the
Research Triangle Regional Partnership economic development region, and the Reality Check
visioining 15-county region, and
WHEREAS, the Research Triangle Region has a projected growth of 1.2 million new residents
by 2030 and an increase to over 700,000 new jobs by 2030, and
WHEREAS, a collaborative vision for growth and land use for this region, Reality Check, was
initiated by a joint partnership between Triangle Tomorrow and Urban Land Institute Triangle,
and
WHEREAS, the Reality Check visioning exercise and results summit established consensus
among participants and attendees on the following Guiding Principles for Quality Growth:
TRANSIT
Improve regional transit, matching land use decisions with transit investments
VIBRANT CENTERS
Reinvest in city and town centers, promote compact development, density and mixed use,
Including a balance of jobs and housing
SUSTAINED GREEN SPACE
Define appropriate growth & preservation areas to protect open space, agricultural land and
resources, especially water supply and quality, and
WHEREAS, a Reality Check Action Committee led by Triangle Tomorrow will lead a Quality
Growth Initiative whereby each city and county of the 15-county Reality Check region will be
asked to adopt and endorse the three Guiding Principles for Quality Growth, and
WHEREAS, cities and counties in this region will be encouraged to and supported in using
these Guiding Principles to make future decisions about growth in their cities/counties.
Now therefore, be it resolved to approve, adopt and endorse the Reality Check Guiding
Principles for Quality Growth by the Orange County North Carolina Commission, this
day of , 2009.
Signatures:
Near-Time :Home [Reality Check)
Reality Check -One Page Summary
ay NT Community Manager
Page 1 of 2
RESEARCH TRIARIGLE REGIONAL REALITYCHECK:
KEEPING OUR FUTURE BRIGHT WITH REGIONAL PLANNINGAND VISIONING
WHY DO WE NEED A REALITY CHECK?
Two reasons: to grow well and to remain competitive in a global ecenomy. The Research Triangle region is growing and will
continue to grow well into the future. A generation ago, in 1970, the region was home b~ 763,254 people. Today, it holds 2.03
million people, and in. 2030, the region is projected to be the home of over 3.2 million people -larger than present-day Charlotte,
San Antonio, Orlando or New Orleans regions. This growth makes sound planning imperative, particularly in the areas of local land
use dedsions, livability and environmental sustainability.
Also, regional cooperation has emerged as a key to success in rnmpeting on the work! stage. According to the Urban Land
Institute, "those regions with a dear plan for how they are going to grow, a plan that has broad-based support from the private,
nonprofit and public sectors, will have a key competitive advantage:' Rea/fty Check will allow the Triangle area to use regional
visioning as a dynamic and important tool for building consensus related to growth issues.
WHAT IS REALITY CHECK?
Reality Check is a process that engages leaders from around the region in discussions about growth and how to compete in a
global economy. The actual event is a half-day visioning exercise that allows particpants working in diverse groups to discuss and
make suggesstions about where housing and jobs should locate around our region over the next 25 years.
The Rea/ityCheck exercise is a program of the Urban Land Institute. In the Triangle region, tl~ process is a joint initiative of
Triangle Tomorrow and the Triangle District Council of ULI. The co-chairs of the Research Triangle Regional Reality Check are:
Fred Day ,retired President and CEO ~ Progress Energy Carolinas
. John ). Healy, Jr ., Principal, Hyde Street Hoklings, LLC
• Ride Weddle ,President and CEO of The Research Triangle Park
• Dr. Phaii Wynn 3r. ,Vice President of Durtwm and Regional Affairs for Duke University
The Steering Committee also includes chairs of various Reality Check committees, and representatives from the boards of Triangle
Tomorrow and the Triangle District Coundl of ULI.
About 300 participants will be invited to the half-day Rea/ityCheckexerdse, which will be held on February 24, 2009. Results will
be presented at the summit to a larger group of about 1,000 interested stakeholders ~ the morning of February 27, 2009.
Workshops will be held ahead of the exercise to give the partidpants a better understanding of how the exercise will work, and of
economic and demographic trends, infrastrudure needs and other growth issues and chal~nges in our region.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD?
The results of the exercise will be used to kids off along-range planning and implementation process designed to help leaders and
residents envision alternative growth scenarios.
7utie Paul is no longer with the project.
For more information, please contact Pam Wail, Executive Director, Triangle Tomorrow
Office. 919-840-7372, ext 24
Ceti. 919-457-6750
http://www.realitycheck2009.org/r~viki/print/reality-check-one-page-summary7autoprint=true 8/4/2009
Near _Time :Home [Reality Check] Page 2 of 2
Email. pwali@researchtriartgle.org
Categories: Urtcategorized
http://www.realitycheck2009.org/wiki/print/reality-check-one-page-summary?autoprint=true 8/4/2009
S
DRAFT
REAi_1TY CHECK ACTION PLAN
Reality Check provides a platform to promote quality growth in the region. Organizations can
build on the consensus from the Reality Check exercise and summit, guiding principles and
barriers and solutions.
About 300 people gathered on February 24 to create visions of how the Triangle could
accommodate the 1.2 million people and 700,000 jobs expected to be added to the region over
the next generation. A follow-up summit on February 27 reported on the results of the exercise
and surveyed the summit participants about their top principles for guiding future growth. A
summary• report on the Reality Check exercise and summit is available from Triangle Tomorrow.
Although each of the 28 tables mapped a unique vision, by placing Legos to indicate preferred
locations far future housing and jobs, three general scenarios emerged.
/ CLUSTERED: A scenario that placed growth density along new and existing transit
corridors, creating jobs and housing balance with more roads, encouraged a diversity
of housing choices, reinvestment in urban centers and water protection (mid-range
Lego stacks spaced along tmsit corridors),
/ COMPACT: A scenario that concentrated growth in areas with existing development
within city centers and small nodes scattered throughout the region with more and
improved transit, encouraged mixed use, with equitable amounts of development,
and water protection as a priority. (taller Lego stoacks in fewer select locations),
/ DISPERSED: A growth scenario that placed mare new development on currently
undeveloped areas adding more roads, encouraged mixed use, comprehensive
transportation, preservation of open space, transportation and land use sink (shorter
Lego stacks dispersed across the region).
The attendees of the Results Summit were asked to vote on the one scenario they thought was
the best example of quality growth for this region. The Clusters scenario received the mast votes,
followed by Compact, then Dispersed. Taken together, these scenarios, and the individual table
results they represent, present a "big picture" to help people understand various options available
for quaiity growth. But despite differences in scale, scope and location, the three scenarios all
have common elements that can help guide an action plan:
• the need for improved transit;
• more well-designed compact and walkable mixed-use development;
• sustaining important green spaces and natural resources; and
• jobs/housing balance.
K/
REALITY CHECK GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Participants in the Reality Check Summit selected three top guiding principles:
• TRANSIT: Improve regional transit, matching land use decisions with transit investments
• VIBRANT CENTERS: Reinvest in city and town centers, promote compact development,
density and mixed use, including a balance of jobs and housing
• SUSTAINED GREEN SPACE: Define appropriate growth & preservation areas to protect
open space, agricultural land and natural resources, especially water supply and quality
These principles match what was observed at the Reality Check exercise, where tables typically:
1. Identified green places that should be sustained for agriculture, forestry and resource protection;
2. Created vibrant centers of employment and housing; and
3. Connected these centers to one another and communities throughout the region with transit.
The following picture shows a simplified spectrum of places within a community; the regional
interests identified through Reality Check are most pronounced at the two ends of the spectrum:
region-shaping green space such as watersheds, and centers of employment, housing, education and
entertainment, such as downtowns, the Research Triangle Park and university campuses.
....._.~
Green Space
• Regional
• Community
• Neighborhood
Vibrant Centers
Regional
Community
Neighborhood
These centers and green spaces are found at the regional, community and neighborhood scales.
The Really Check Action Committee's goal is to help people and decision-makers sustain the green
places they value, create vibrant centers in al! our communities where people can live, work, team
and play, and use transit to connect these centers to one another and to communities throughout
the region.
Natural WONclhg Suburban Town Centers Cores Special
Areas Lands Areas Neighborhoods Areas
1
To do this, the Action Committee proposes to seek endorsement of the guiding principles, and form
groups around each principle to pursue four aspects critical to success:
/ Definition and identification of the areas of critical regional interest
/ analysis of the areas
/ visualization of the areas
/ engagement of those with interests in the areas.
A fourth group wi11 help "tell the story" about these principles in straightforward, compelling terms
and coordinate the endorsement of the guiding principles. Listed below are ftrst drafts of what these
groups might do, starting with basic framework issues, then indicating what the subcommittees can
do to define, analyze, visualize and engage people on each Guiding Principle.
BARRIERS & SOLUTIONS The barriers and solutions matched up in a way that says our region
understands how to approach these challenges and opportunities, and should be an integral part
of action plans developed by the task forces:
• maximizing existing infrastructure including open space
• Addressing community resistance to emerging types of development and transportation
modes with education, workshops and public awareness campaigns.
• Adopfiing the RC guiding principles as a mechanism to heap communities move forward
together to promote effective regional cooperation and collaboration.
TASK FORCES LEADING QUALITY GROWTH INITIATIVES
ENDORSEMENT AND MESSAGING: [Task Force leadership to review and revise]
• Contact the cities in the 15-county Reality Check region.
• Develop acity-by-city, county-by-county, ar group approach to make Real'fty Check
presentations, assisted by local Reality Check participants and Action Committee members.
• These presentations might be hosted by local Chambers of Commerce or the Economic
Development Commissions.
• Follow up with a request to present the guiding principles to their council/commission for
adoption. This is going to take support from action committee members.
• Provide an opportunity for councilors/commissioners to be rewarded as progressive public
officials and also promote Reality Check branding.
• Follow and publicize "best practices" as they relate to the RC and GP's.
Timeframe: 18 months - 2 years with progress review every 3 months
Leadership: Ken Eudy, Sig Hutchinson, Rosemary Waldorf, all members of Reality Check Action
Committee, Triangle Tomorrow board and ULI Triangle
TRANSIT: [Task Force leadership to review and revise]
• Develop a Reality Check Action Committee subcommittee focused on transit and related
land use, engaging participants among others.
• Identify organizations currently addressing transit, haw they work together and if Reality
Check can serve as a forum for transit supportive land use dialogue and education.
• Support the STAC recommendations for regional transit.
• Support the local option funding source as the primary transit funding source, with State
funding complementing local sources.
• Assist the development of regional citizen based coalitions to support transit referenda.
• Assist Triangle Transit in marketing and messaging as needed to secure support for
improved transit options and funding.
• Education -ULI Triangle
Timeframe: 18 months to 2 years. Task Force to set milestones.
Leadership: Joe Miiazzo, David King, Jeff Merritt
VIBRANT CENTERS: [Task Force leadership to review and revise]
• Develop a Reality Check Action Commiti~e subcommittee focused on the ingredients of
vibrant centers: well-designed compact and walkable mixed-use development. (Compact
walkable development is defined as existing and new development at intensities that can
make a center "transit-ready" as defined by the region's station area deveiopment
guidelines}
• Identify organizations that are currently addressing walkable mixed-use development, haw
they work together and what gaps Reality Check can help fail.
• Define regional, community and neighborhood centers and identify existing centers,
centers proposed in existing plans, and possible centers indicated by Reality Check results.
• Undertake tasks that help answer such questions as, "how intense are the different
proposed centers? What is the mix of housing and jobs? How much of the region's future
jobs and housing could be accommodated in centers?"
• Undertake tasks that help answer such questions as, "what might these different types of
centers look like."
• Host forums in partnership with communities and regional organizations to address the
ingredients of walkable mixed-use development in their cities.
• Support community plans, standards, incentives and educational efforts that support
existing and new Weil-designed compact, mixed use walkable development in designated
regional, community and neighborhood centers.
• ULI Triangle host forums and workshops that work with developers to focus compact
mixed use development in appropriate centers.
Timeframe: 18 months - 2 years. Task Force to set milestones.
Leadership: Jim Anderson, John Hodges-Copple, Liz Rooks, Rosemary Waldorf
SUSTAINED GREEN SPACE: [Task Force leadership to review and revise]
• Develop a Reality Check Action Committee subcommittee focused on green space and
natural resources.
• Identify organizations that are currently addressing green space, water resources, and
other environmental issues, how they work together and what gap Reality Check can fill.
• Update Triangle Land Conservancy's "Greenprint" with assistance from Reality Check
participants from all counties.
• Lead on the future of our water sources -partner with NC Division of Water Resources to
create regional awareness about the quantity of water available and its source in our
region.
• Create awareness and/or dialogue about the coordination, or lade thereof, of water source
management in our region.
• Education -ULI Triangle
I
Timeframe: 18 months - 2 years. Task Force to set milestones
Leadership: Kevin Brice, Sig Hutchinson
Note: Task Forces should include Rea/Ity Check participants and Summit attendees, along with
others who are interested in these qua/ity growth topics
Noi-~h C~zro~i~za Ti°~aig~e Regtorz
io
I s ,._
~-
Guiding Principles'
Participants in the Reality Check Results
Summit selected three top guiding
principles:
Transit: Improve regional transit, match
land use decisions with transit
investments
Vibrant Centers:
Reinvest in city and
town centers,
promote compact
Pl+aa-
development, density
and mixed use, including a balance of
jobs and housing
~ OVERVIEW OF THE REALITY CHECK PROCESS ~
n February z4th, zoo9,
aPProximately z8o regional
stakeholders and leaders
gathered at the Raleigh Convention
Center to take part in the Research
Triangle Regional Reality Check exercise,
hosted by ULI Triangle and Triangle
Tomorrow These participants gathered
around z8 tables to create models of the
future of the region, based on their
values and projected regional growth by
zo3o.
l ~--'
Each table was given a set of Legos that
represented future growth in jobs and
housing that will be necessary to
accommodate i.z million new residents
and 700,000 new jobs. Table members
discussed various strategies and issues as
they decided how to place the Legos on
their maps. Each table also placed
transit lines, road improvements, and
areas of preserved open space.
~~`~~
After the exercise, each table's maps
and Legos were entered into an analysis
tool called Community~z. This tool
allowed the Reality Check organizers to
determine where there were areas of
agreement and disagreement among
tables, and to do analysis of three themes
that emerged with respect to several
indicators. The results were presented
on February z~th to a group of about Soo
stakeholders, and are summarized here.
~/ Green Space and Natural Resources:
Define appropriate growth and
preservation areas to protect open
space, agricultural Land and natural
resources, especially water supply and
quality
These principles match what was observed
at the Reality Check exercise where tables
typically:
Identified green places that should be
sustained for agriculture, forestry, and
resource protection
Created vibrant centers of employment
and housing, and
Connected these centers to one
another and communities throughout
the region with transit.
Page r
Next Steps: Translating Ideas into Action
he results of Reality Check,
including the polling, will be
used to kick off a long range
planning and implementation process
to help leaders and residents envision
alternative growth scenarios for the
future. A plan for implementing the
results of the Reality Check exercise
and Results Summit is outlined below
Please contact ULI Triangle or
Triangle Tomorrow if you are
interested in being involved in the
implementation phase.
;'~_J
I. Form Reality Check Action
Committee. The Committee will be
led by Triangle Tomorrow with close
participation of ULI Triangle. The
Committee will advise the Triangle
Tomorrow board about what needs to
be done throughout the first stages of
implementation and beyond. Guiding
Principles, based on the Reality Check
exercise and Results Summit, will be
presented to cities and counties in
the region for endorsement and
adoption.
II. Create a "Reality Check
Quality Growth Initiative" of
Triangle Tomorrow The Reality
Check Quality Growth Initiative will
organize a diverse and representative
group of government, business, and
civic leaders to:
Address the three top guiding
principles for quality growth
based on the Reality Check
exercise and the Summit voting
results.
Organize a task force to address
each of the three priorities over
the next year. Alternatively, they
could collaborate with existing
organizations whose missions
address one of these growth
priorities. They would develop
recommendations to the Triangle
Tomorrow board and create
action steps to be implemented
by city/county government, with
business, civic and citizen support
to help this implementation.
.~~ The Reality Check Action
Committee will agree on and
address barriers to, and solutions
for, quality growth (from the
Reality Check exercise and
Summit) through educational and
outreach initiatives. ULI Triangle
will present workshops, forums
and other educational programs
which address the barriers.
The Action Committee will seek
endorsement of the Guiding Principles
and form three task forces around each
principle to pursue aspects critical to
success in achieving the principles:
I. Definition and identification of the
areas of critical regional interest
II. Analysis of these areas
III. Visualization of these areas
IV. Engagement of those with interests
in these areas.
A fourth task force will focus on
communicating the principles in
straightforward, compelling terms.
The Reality Check Action Committee
will help citizens and decision-makers
sustain the green places they value,
create vibrant centers in our
communities where people can live,
work, learn and play and use transit to
connect these centers to one another
and communities throughout the
region.
Please visit ww~vrealitycheckaoo4.org
or contact ULI Triangle or Triangle
Tomorrow (listed below) for more
information or to become involved.
F"OR MORE I1`IFORMATION,
ULI TRIANGLE
TRIANGLE TOMORROW
P: 919.840.7372 x24
WWW.TRIANGLE.ULI.O RG
JULIERPAUL@EARTH LINK.NET
WWW.TRIANGLETOMORROW.ORG
PWALL~RES EARCHTRIANG LE.ORG
#~-~ .~
~, 3 f..
~~
Page 4
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The Three Scenarios:
Strategies for Connecting the Region
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lthough each of the 28 table
groups created their own
unique map, common themes
and strategies emerged. For
example, many tables focused on
centering development around transit
nodes and corridors. The Reality
Check organizers identified three
scenarios that represented similar
strategies employed by other tables.
Some analyses and comparisons of the
impacts among the three scenarios are
presented in the charts on this page.
The three tables showed some
differences. For example, the
Dispersed scenario placed more
transit, while the Clustered scenario
added more roads (see below). The
Dispersed scenario placed more new
development on currently undeveloped
areas, whereas the Compact scenario
concentrated growth in areas with
existing development, increasing
density in developed areas compared
to the other two scenarios.
The Results Summit attendees
voted on the one scenario that would
be the best example of quality growth
for the region. The Clustered Scenario
received the most votes, followed by
IMPROVED ROADS 8r TRANSIT
$2U ~,
~~
Road Costs ~ Transit Costs (billions)
Suggested transportation investments overlapped with
recent recommendations from the Special Transit
Advisory Commission on improving transit in the region.
Compact, and then Dispersed. These
scenarios help the region understand
various options available for quality
growth. Taken together, the three
scenarios have common elements that
will help guide future action:
Improved Transit
Well-Designed Compact, Mixed-
Use Development
Green Spaces and Natural
Resources
n;~ Jobs/Housing Balance
ANNUAL REDUCED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
PER HOUSEHOLD
Clustered Compact Dispersed
Transportation investments and density affect the number of vehicles
miles traveled (and therefore greenhouse gas emissions) per household
in each scenario. This graph shows VMT reduction from the current
average.
Page3
Clustered Compact Dispersed
l3
Synthesis of Tables:
Areas of Consensus and Areas of Challenge
fter the Reality Check
exercise on February z4th, the
results of all z8 tables were
synthesized and pulled into
CommunityViz. This provided a
method for analyzing areas of strong
agreement (where most tables placed
Legos) and areas of less agreement
(where few tables placed Legos). Areas
where there was not as much
agreement will warrant additional
conversation and analysis.
._~~
A high level of agreement was
evident during the brainstorming
exercise on guiding principles and how
these translate into jobs and housing
Legos being placed on the map.
Eighty-six percent of the tables picked
transit as one of their top three
guiding principles. Fifty-seven percent
of the tables had mixed-use
development as a top principle,
emphasizing the desire for
communities that are walkable,
bikeable and safe; and enhance the
character of the region. Half of the
tables listed protection of resources
(water, farmland, and open space) as a
top priority with access to these
n February 27th, a Results
Summit was held to gather the
Reality Check participants and
additional interested
stakeholders to see the results of the
exercise and vote on priorities.
Over 500 participants attended from t 5
counties (at right) and across-section r+f
the region's population (see graph belo
An analysis summarizing the results of
exercise were presented. nth this
knowledge, participants were then asks
to vote on, items such as: the guiding
principles identified by the tables,
barriers to regional visioning and
planning, as well as solutions to addre~
these challenges.
Voting results showed that the Summit
participants largely agreed with the tap
guiding principles identified during
the Reality Check exercise.
amenities also mentioned. In
addition, fifty percent of the tables
emphasized the importance of
reinvesting in urban centers, utilizing
existing infrastructure, and looking for
opportunities for infill. There were
common patterns of development at
most of the tables with people placing
In addition, several barriers emerged as
priorities to address--Lack of Funding for
Infrastructure and Lack of Regional
Cooperation and Collaboration. Transit-
Oriented l~evelopmeni and Education were
well-supported solutions for quality growth.
Who Participated?
50% -- ~ ~ ~,,~,, .- ,_..w~
38% ~ _
25% -
r
0
RURAL
SMALL TOWN
CITY
Participants in the Summit represented a
cross-section of the region, with people
from rural, small town, and urban areas,
as well as a diversity of professions and
interests.
Barriers and Solutions
jobs and housing in existing areas of
development and along major
transportation corridors. Furthermore,
there was considerable overlap where
tables placed green string representing
areas to preserve open space.
The barriers and solutions identified match up with each other in a way that
indicates that the region understands how to approach challenges and
opportunities. They also indicated what actions should be an integral part of plans
developed for the future, including:
Maximizing existing infrastructure including open space
~' Addressing community resistance to emerging types of development and
transportation modes with education, workshops, and public awareness
Campatgns
Promoting effective regional cooperation and collaboration by adopting the
Reality Check Guiding Principles
Page a