why plan? gsmsummit 2014, jane lafleur

Why Plan? GrowSmart Maine Summit

October 21, 2014

Augusta Civic Center

Jane Lafleur

Friends of Midcoast Maine

The Community Institute

Where do you

want to

?

live

Anywhere?

Or Somewhere?

How do we keep

somewhere

from becoming

anywhere?

Why Plan? Moving beyond regulations!

Comprehensive Planning

Heart & Soul Planning

Action Planning

Walkability Audits and Place-Making

Form Based Codes

The most important part of a comprehensive planning process is trying to reach consensus about how your community should grow and change. Where should growth occur and what should it look like? What is your collective VISION for the future?

Comprehensive Planning Heart & Soul Planning Action Planning Walkability Audits and Place-Making Form Based Codes

Belfast, Maine: Then and Now

• Comprehensive Planning

• Heart & Soul Planning

• Action Planning

• Walkability Audits and Place-Making

• Form Based Codes

Storytelling

Festivals and Events

Making it Fun!

What Makes Damariscotta Special?

0 50 100 150 200 250

The Shell Middens

Parking Lot on July 4th

Excellent Schools

Unique Business Community

Vibrant Arts Community

Wonderful Restaurants

Abundant, Fresh Seafood

Award-Winning Library

Historic & Vibrant Downtown

Great Place to Raise a Family

Waterfront, Waterways & Water Activities

Friendly People

Data source: Pumpkin Fest Candy Corn Voting, Damariscotta, ME

10/2008 # of votes

We value working locally and growing locally owned businesses.

We value living locally, being able to afford to live and shop in Town.

We value community involvement where people participate in schools, organizations, churches and community events and festivals.

We value an accessible community where we have easy access to goods and services, to local government and information.

We value having culture and nature in close proximity, where we might see a seal or a moose but we also have restaurants, art galleries, local theater and a library, all within walking distance.

We value a strong sense of community where people trust one another and feel safe.

Damariscotta Values

Adopting the Town’s Values

Town-wide Charrette

Developing a Community Vision

A Concept for Downtown

A Concept for Piper Common

A Concept for Business Route 1

• Comprehensive Planning

• Heart & Soul Planning

• Action Planning

• Walkability Audits and Place-Making

• Form Based Codes

• Comprehensive Planning • Heart & Soul Planning • Action Planning • Form Based Codes • Walkability Audits and

Place-making

Boothbay Harbor Camden Thomaston Rockland Belfast Wiscasset Lincolnville Center

The Power of Ten

* The layering of uses to create synergy is essential (Triangulation)

Your region

Your Town or City

Main Street

10+ major destinations

10+ great places

10+ things to do

Create destinations

Allow for a Mix of Uses

Image & Identity

• Showcase local assets

• Historic highlights

Triangulate Uses and Places

Amenities

Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper…

Park(ing) Day

Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper…

Open Streets

Guerilla Gardening

Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper…

Temporary Demonstration Project of Curb Extensions, Camden, Maine

Form-based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks.

• Comprehensive Planning

• Heart & Soul Planning

• Action Planning

• Place-Making and Walk Audits

• Form Based Codes

2 Breakwater Marketplace, Church, Residences

Holding the street edge • Parking • Scale • Views • Interconnections

2 Breakwater Marketplace, Church, Residences

Holding the street edge • Parking • Scale • Views • Interconnections

Pkg. Deck

Liner Blg.

2 Breakwater Marketplace

Parking

Liner Blgs

Setbacks

Medians

Plantings

2 Breakwater Marketplace

Outdoor

Spaces

Scale

Plantings

2 Breakwater Marketplace

Outdoor

Spaces

Scale

Plantings

2 Breakwater Marketplace

2 Breakwater Marketplace

2 Breakwater Marketplace

Liner Bldgs

Street Line

Median

Plantings

Complete Streets

2 Breakwater Marketplace

2 Breakwater Marketplace

Why Plan? Because…

• All good businesses plan for their future

• It makes economic sense

• It strengthens your community

• It prepares you for ups and downs in the economy that are beyond your control

• It ensures that there are enough resources for the future generations

• It engages your citizens to be stewards of your community, now and in the future

• It is fun!

Thank you!

Jane Lafleur, Executive Director

Friends of Midcoast Maine

5 Free Street

Camden, Maine 04843

www.friendsmidcoast.org

www.communityinstitute.org