VISIONING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Remember:

unique needs

capabilities

of YOUR community

Stick to the budget and listen to community residents

The Oregon Model

Copyright 1997 Ames

Scenarios

Single: most possible future, preferred alternative to the present situation

Multiple: exploration to determined pros and cons of each possibility

Scenarios help define the “products” that are desired such as: community profile, values statement, trend statement, vision statement and action plan.

Simplified visioning: requires less resources, time and public participation

Comprehensive visioning process: requires more resources, time, and public input

So…Why get your community involved?

Community Engagement

Participatory Depends on consensus Action-oriented process Results in more “products”“Visioning is, by nature, community-based.”

-Ames*Community and political support are crucial to the success of the plan.

Ways to involve the community Community Surveys Community Tours Planning Workshops Publications Social events/activities Charrettes

Trends in Visioning: Charrettes Meeting or series of meetings for the public to directly contribute to the vision by: Making decisions (usually about land use/design) for changes, zoning, neighborhood plans

Implementing public visions into the products

Charrette guides:National Charrette Institute: http://www.charretteinstitute.org/

Charrette Center (Urban Design):http://www.charrettecenter.net/charrettecenter.asp?a=spf&pfk=7&gk=261

Trends in Visioning: Organic Planning After the Community Action Program of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, government was involved in pushing communities to organize.

Twenty years later, public discontent with the program led to civilians creating their own organizations, implementing policies unique to their own communities while shunning government support.

Organic Planning (continued) Started with community visioning and community—not government—initiated activities that are process (in dealing with future) oriented.

Efforts are also inclusive and collaborative

Desired outcome is tangible through deliberation Organic planning is usually rooted in one situation at one point in time—rarely a long-term commitment.

Organic Planning & the Institutions Govt.-efforts to reconnect citizens with the government

Community-coalitions & mobilizations to access decision-making venues to influence policy

Organic Planning works when… … people are informed and/or when information about the issues at hand are available.

…it proceeds from process oriented (for the future) to sustaining participation within community infrastructure.

2016

Why didn’t the vision work out for Chicago?

Who would have benefitted? Who would have been disenfranchised?

Trends in Visioning: Links and Resources

Community Visioning & The Oregon Model:

http://www.design.asu.edu/apa/proceedings97/ames.html Community Visioning model from Iowa State University:

http://www.communityvisioning.org/slater.html Urban Community Visioning from Bend, OR:

http://www.bend2030.org/ Community Visioning from Office for Smart Growth:

www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/.../communityvisioningstandards.pdf