COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LAUNCHES
Amy Tarce, AICP
Rober Wagoner, FAICP
On a crisp Saturday morning in May, 2005, a team of experienced planning professionals met with stakeholders interested in improving downtown Sultan for the first Washington Chapter APA community planning assistance project. Thanks to the local organizers, everyone came prepared to dream, visualize, and brainstorm about the future of downtown Sultan. At the end of the day, the community had the beginning of a framework for the Downtown Sultan Vision. It was a productive and exciting start to our program and a rewarding experience to the team members.
The goal of the Community Planning Assistance Program is to provide problem-solving expertise to small communities with limited resources. These assignments have to be short-term and "do-able" since all the planning professionals are volunteers and can only commit themselves for a limited amount of time. Communities receiving assistance are expected to commit to follow through with the assistance team recommendations and provide the facility, supplies and community outreach for the event.
This initiative would not be possible without the passion of an ad hoc group of planners that came together in 2003 when John Owen broached the idea in an urban design session at the annual Chapter conference. As the concept evolved, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and the planning schools at the University of Washington and Eastern Washington University became staunch partners. The group met several times in 2004, formulating the business plan, clarifying its goals, and identifying the selection criteria for team projects. A similar program of the Illinois Chapter helped to shape our concept. In early 2005, CTED sent out the Request for Proposals to qualified communities. Three communities responded with excellent proposals, and Sultan was chosen because the ad hoc group felt that it presented the most realistic scope of work for launching the program.
With encouragement from Michael Katterman, then the Chapter President, the workshop was scheduled for May 21st. We worked with the Sultan stakeholders to organize the event. John Owen of MAKERS, Ben Frerichs, an economist, Jerry Schutz, a transportation expert, and Heather McCartney, Planning Director of Mukilteo joined us to form the team. The keynote speaker was Sheri Stuart, the western U.S. Program Officer of the National Trust Main Street Center®. The event was well-attended by over forty business people, parents, a high school student, city officials and planning commissioners. The Team produced a Vision report to the community that includes a record of the discussions and conclusions.
On October 27, the Sultan workshop participants met again to see the final Vision report and discuss the community's "next steps". Roger attended on behalf of the team. He was amazed at the level of progress the community has accomplished in a short period of time. The stakeholders formed committees to explore the ideas that emerged and committed to reporting back in a few months. The CPAT Vision report provided them with a foundation to guide them in creating an organization for planning, building, and marketing.
Eventually, it is hoped that the planning assistance program will expand to provide a wider range of services like research, coordination with UW or EWU student studios, or "on-line" consultations. Recently, the task force identified the next steps, some of which are:
- Formalizing the ad hoc task force as a Chapter Committee in 2006, with more active participation from the universities;
- CTED to continue with the vetting of potential "client" communities. The invitation for assistance requests will be issued in early 2006;
- Compiling a data base of volunteers for future events who will work with client communities to scope events and organize teams, participate on teams, and/or manage the packaging of the event products.
- Conducting outreach and forming partnerships with other related professional organizations like the AIA, ASLA, NTHP, etc. so that we can offer a full "menu" of expertise; and
- Requesting the Chapter Board to allocate financial resources to cover incidental expenses for future projects.
What can you do? Think about towns or neighborhoods that could use some help. They should be places with very limited staff, if any, that are facing community issues or problems that can be effectively addressed by a one-day event or a few hours of consultation. Let them know about the program by contacting CTED, the Chapter office, or the web site. Although team events may be limited to two or three a year, there may be other opportunities for providing help through online questions and answers, phone calls, etc. And think about your own interest in participating. What are your skills? How much time are you willing to give? What contexts (downtowns, parks, economic development, transportation, conflict resolution, rural communities) are you most comfortable with? Check the Chapter web site frequently and look out for the details for participation, whether as a recipient community or a volunteer.
CHAPTER LISTSERVE EXPLAINED
Andrew L. Estep, Office Administrator
office@washington-apa.org
As many members know, the chapter has an email discussion group (listserve) that is used to pose and answer planning related questions. If you are not a member of the listserve, it is easy to join. Simply visit www.washington-apa.org/listserv.shtml and enter your email address. In the Comment to Owner box, enter your name and any organization name. Your name will be used to verify your membership. The listserve is restricted to current chapter members. If you have trouble with this or have any questions, contact the chapter office at (206) 682-7436.
GETTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVED: EMPOWERING LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO IMPLEMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES
Ben Gitenstein, Chair, State Legislative Committee, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Advocacy Director, Housing Development Consortium
Throughout Washington State, nearly 319,000 households do not have a safe, decent and affordable place to live. In order to meet the need in King County alone, nonprofits and housing authorities would have to increase their production levels by nearly 400%. At the same time, rising development and operating costs have reduced the amount of affordable housing produced using public subsidies. What can be done to bridge this gap?
One essential part of the solution is to increase the involvement of private housing developers in the affordable housing market. Private developers bring financial resources and development capacity. In addition, when affordable rental or ownership housing is built as part of a market-rate housing development, low-income families benefit from living in buildings and neighborhoods with a mix of family incomes.
Around the country, local governments are expanding efforts to entice private developers to help develop housing affordable to low income people by offering a package of affordable housing incentives tailored to the local community and housing market. In Washington State, however, cities and counties that wish to add incentives to their affordable housing toolkit face uncertainty in state law. This uncertainty has caused many to hesitate in creating new programs which would take advantage of the incredible level of development activity in today's housing market.
In the coming 2006 legislative session in Olympia, a coalition of low income housing advocates including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, and cities represented by the Association of Washington Cities, are working together to pass legislation that would clarify the affordable housing incentives available to local government, empowering them to more effectively harness the power of the private sector.
The legislation clarifies that local governments may provide incentives for the development of affordable housing for those with incomes at or below 80% of median income. The legislation does not mandate that local government establish incentives or that it throw out incentives currently on the books. In order to bring in the private sector, the incentives should reflect the profit lost by the designation of certain units as affordable.
Many examples from around the country - in urban and suburban areas - show how cities and counties can effectively incentivize private developers to become affordable housing partners. Commonly used tools include density and height bonuses, relaxed parking requirements, impact fee waivers, and fast track permitting. In exchange for these rewards, local governments can ask for developers to either build or pay for the building of new affordable housing.
Olympia lawmakers are poised to move forward affordable housing incentive legislation. In particular, Rep. Springer of the House Housing Committee has been a key player in developing the principles behind the legislation and will be critical in ushering the bill through the Legislature. As the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and the Association of Washington Cities continue to craft a bill and to work with legislators to get it onto the floor, it will be important to hear from those who know the development and affordability challenges faced by cities and towns throughout the state. If you would like become a part of the coalition to offer local governments the tools they need to meet these challenges, please visit www.wliha.org or email ben@housingconsortium.org to find out how you can get involved.
INLAND EMPIRE SECTION
Upcoming Events
Please mark your calendars and try to participate in the many events that the APA - Inland Empire Section has organized - a little something for everyone. This winter, the Section is focusing on AICP preparation with two half-day Saturday sessions (dates are not firm yet) culminating in a day-long Ethics Workshop with renowned planner, Carol Barrett. Brown Bags are usually scheduled a month in advance, so please let Chaz know if you have a topic you would like to see discussed.
Saturday, January 21 or 28, 2006
AICP Preparation Session
9:00 a.m. - Noon
EWU Riverpoint Campus, Room 225, Spokane
More information: Susan Winchell or 477-4237
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
APA Hockey Night with the Spokane Chiefs
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Spokane Arena, 700 West Mallon, Spokane
Ticket information: Mike Basinger or 688-0045
Saturday, February 4 or 11, 2006
AICP Preparation Session
9:00 a.m. - Noon
EWU Riverpoint Campus, Room 225, Spokane
More information: Susan Winchell or 477-4237
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Mardi Gras Fundraiser
7:00 p.m. - ?
The Big Dipper, 171 South Washington Street, Spokane
Tickets: Gideon Schreiber or 477-4237
Friday, March 10, 2006
Planning Ethics Workshop
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
EWU Riverpoint Campus, Spokane
Register: Susan Winchell or 477-4237
Saturday in April, 2006
Walla Walla Downtown and Winery Tour
Help plan this one!
Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2, 2006
Annual Conference
Elkin's Resort, Priest Lake, Idaho
Join in on the planning for the conference: Susan Winchell or 477-4237
CHANGES NAME, BEGINS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
The former Intergovernmental Affairs Division of the American Planning Association (APA) is now the Regional and Intergovernmental Planning Division. The name change was approved at the 2005 APA National Conference held in San Francisco, March 19-23, 2005. According to Division Chair, Lee Schoenecker (AICP) of Washington, DC, the new name better reflects the primary mission and work of the Division. Schoenecker states: "Early in the Division's life, there was a major focus on tracking major federal programs that had implications for state and local planning. While there continue to be federal projects and efforts that involve state and local governments as partners, a major focus of interagency and inter jurisdictional planning and coordination is now at the regional level - in rural as well as major urban areas."
This direction has been reflected in the increasing number of regionally themed presentations at national APA conferences. In recent years, the Division has sponsored sessions that showcased successful regional and metropolitan cooperative planning projects and strategies - including innovative planning efforts in San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Tampa, Sacramento and San Francisco. During the ending plenary at the 2005 conference it was noted that the "regional scale had returned to planning and was the next step beyond the now somewhat old, new urbanism."
As part of this renewed regional focus, the Division is taking steps to strengthen relationships with the other organizations and efforts, including the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO), the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), and the Brookings Institution. At the same time, the Division plans to take advantage of new initiatives that expand traditional thinking about regional and intergovernmental solutions, such as the Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS), the PolicyLink Regional Equity Movement, and Regional Community News.
Chairman Schoenecker is sending out a loud call to those APA and AICP current members, as well as others in the work who should belong to APA, to join and contribute their experience and energy to a 21st Century course of action for integrated regional planning among and between local, state, tribal and national governments, and the many multi-jurisdictional, interstate and international agencies and organizations that serve them.
For additional information on the Division and its program, visit its web site at: www.homestead.com/intergovernmental. To join the Division, visit the American Planning Association's membership web site at preplanning/joinapa/index.htm or contact membership services at (312) 431-9100 or email JoinAPA@planning.org. You may also contact Lee Schoenecker, Division Chair, at (202) 686-8864 or email leeschoenecker@aol.com.
CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM 2006 CHARTER AWARDS
Sponsored by the Congress for the New Urbanism, the annual Charter
Awards set the gold standard for urban design and development. Instead
of recognizing projects in isolation, the Charter Awards honor
exceptional designs that complement, enhance or even repair their built
and natural environments. Winning projects serve as powerful examples
for future development.
Each year CNU convenes a jury of the highest caliber to review
submissions and select the winning entries that best embody and advance
the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism. In 2006, jury
members include foremost urbanists such as designers Leon Krier, Jacque
Robertson, and Barbara Littenberg, and development analyst Todd
Zimmerman.
CNU is now welcoming professional submissions in three categories:
- The Region: Metropolis, City, and Town
- The Neighborhood, District, and Corridor
- The Block, Street, and Building
Student/faculty submissions are welcome in all three categories.
Submissions deadline: January 31, 2006.
Visit www.cnu.org/awards2006 for further information and entry
forms. Visit www.cnu.org/awards2006/students.html for
information on the student/faculty awards.
The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading organization
advancing human-scaled walkable neighborhoods, cities, and towns. In
its 13-year history, CNU has helped shape a national conversation about
the consequences of formless growth and has advanced an alternate
vision for community development and regional sustainability based on
the Charter of the New Urbanism.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Have a project you want to highlight for planners across the state? An issue you think more planners need information on? Planning Northwest is always looking to highlight projects and research of our members. If you are interested in having an article published feel free to contact the editor. Upcoming issues will focus on tribal planning, emergency management/planning, annexations, state legislative agenda, and transportation. In January a detailed month by month topic list will be on the chapter listserv and in the newsletter.
The deadline for the newsletter is the first of every month. Please submit all newsletter articles to Angela Brooks, AICP at angela.brooks@seattle.gov and angeladiane@gmail.com. Please include Planning Northwest in your subject line.
VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2006
