Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region

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Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
The Portland metro region

                     Global challenges
                     Regional strategies
                     Homegrown solutions
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
The Portland metro region

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                                                                                                            MARION
                                                                                                                                                                                        Canby
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
2 This treasured place
 4 A legacy of stewardship
 6 Urgent challenges
                                         Over the years, the diverse communities of the Portland
10 Aspirations and choices               metro region have taken a collaborative approach to
                                         planning that has helped to make our region one of the most
   12 Downtowns and main streets			      livable in the country. We have set our region on a wise
   16 Jobs and economic vitality			      course – but times are changing. Climate change, rising
                                         energy costs, economic globalization, aging infrastructure,
   18 Homes and neighborhoods			         population growth and other urgent challenges demand
   20 Community infrastructure			        thoughtful deliberation and action.

   22 Transportation					                The following pages frame the challenges and choices that
   25 Trails and greenways 				          lay before us in the context of our history and our place.
                                         Wherever you live in the region, you have a stake in the
   26 Nature in neighborhoods 			        future of this place and can be a part of the solution.
   28 Farms, forests and natural areas   Together we can make this the greatest place for generations
                                         to come.
30 Homegrown solutions
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
What do you love?   When someone asks you why you live here, what         Over the decades, we’ve built upon this
                        do you say? Is it the nearness of a peaceful walk     foundation, growing communities as diverse
                        in Forest Park, a bike ride on Powell Butte or a      as Gresham and West Linn, Beaverton and
                        berry picking outing in fields outside Hillsboro?     Milwaukie, Cornelius and Portland. We’ve built
                        The direct flights to Frankfurt, Tokyo and Mexico     roads, bridges, schools and parks. We’ve started
                        City? Perhaps what you love most is the thriving      businesses, created art, hosted conventions,
                        coffee shop or brew pub in your neighborhood.         preserved public land, invested in transit and made
                        Or maybe it’s the simple pleasure of strolling to a   difficult choices along the way.
                        local park for a picnic with your family.
                                                                              We’ve made this a place where we can make a
                        Chances are you love the Portland region – and        living, raise a family, enjoy the outdoors and
                        choose to live here – for many reasons. Whether       celebrate culture. So it’s no wonder that more than
                        your roots are generations deep or newly planted,     1.4 million of us make our home here – each a
                        you are part of a community that treasures            part of this place, and each with a responsibility to
                        the nature around us, the neighborhoods and           help preserve the things we love and chart a wise
                        businesses that sustain us and our shared             course for the future.
                        commitment to preserving our quality of life.

                        What are the elements that create “quality of life”
                        in the Portland region? The natural environment
                        is certainly the foundation upon which everything
                        else is built. It supports the commerce that moves
                        along the Columbia and Willamette rivers, the
                        thriving network of farms that supply our tables
                        and the recreational opportunities that draw us
                        outside to play.
2
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
1,400,000 residents living within the urban growth boundary
                                                           65,600 businesses
                                                           33,229 acres of public parks and natural areas
                                                              830 miles of rivers and streams
                                                               25 cities
                                                                3 counties
                                                                1 region                                the Portland metro region

                                                                                                            Opposite page, top: Swimmers at Oak
                                                                                                            Grove Beach on the Willamette River.
                                                                                                            Opposite page, bottom: Mary Howell
                                                                                                            pedals along the Clackamas River
                                                                                                            with the Gladstone streetcar bridge in
                                                                                                            distance, circa 1900. This page, above:
                                                                                                            Berry picking, circa 1920.

We Oregonians are a contrary lot. The vast majority of those on the Oregon Trail in the mid-nineteenth
century turned south to the California gold fields. A few headed north, marking the beginning of the
state of Oregon as we know it now. They took the road less traveled…Oregon, in the words of its deeply
missed laureate Terence O’Donnell, is a “time-deep land.” The land itself and the history upon it are
unique to Oregon. Considering all that we face today, how well we manage this land can continue to set
us apart from, and put us ahead of, the crowd.
— Chet Orloff, director emeritus, Oregon Historical Society

                                                                                                                                                      3
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
What par t do you play?   It’s easy to take for granted the things we love          The results? Compact development inside our cities
                              about living here. But it’s important to understand       prevents sprawl and allows people to live close to
                              that our quality of life exists because many people       the places where they work and play. An integrated
                              have worked together to plan ahead, make choices          transportation system provides travel options. A
                              and invest in those choices.                              network of natural areas is protected for wildlife,
                                                                                        people and clean water.
                              We enjoy a legacy of visionaries – citizen leaders,
                              business owners and elected officials – who               We’ve accomplished great things together. But
                              recognized the importance of shaping Oregon and           maintaining our quality of life in the face of
                              our region with intention and acted to make it            growth and emerging challenges is a dynamic
                              happen. We can thank them for Oregon’s public             process. It’s a job that is never done. Whether you
                              beaches, revolutionary land use planning and              are a citizen, a neighborhood representative, the
                              recycling legislation, networks of parks and natural      owner of the corner grocery store or the mayor of
                              areas, and urban growth boundaries that protect           your city, the future of the region depends on your
                              farmland. They’ve transformed freeways into               involvement.
                              parks, parking lots into neighborhoods and rails
                              into trails.                                              If you’ve had a hand in making your neighborhood
                                                                                        or community a better place, you are continuing
                              The tradition continues today, carried forward by         our region’s legacy of stewardship. You are helping
                              a new generation of leaders and voters who realize        to answer the question, “What kind of place shall
                              that we must maintain what we’ve inherited. They          we leave to our children?”
                              roll up their sleeves and pull ivy, plant street trees,
                              serve on local planning commissions, renovate
                              historic buildings and create business improvement
                              districts. They vote to fund urban renewal, light
                              rail lines and new libraries, parks and schools.
4
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
80                                                     83                                                     83
Eighty percent of metro area residents mention the     Eighty-three percent of metro area residents believe   Eighty-three percent of metro area residents agree
environment when asked what they enjoy most about      that land use regulations are an essential tool to     that maintaining the area’s quality of life will bring
the quality of life in the region.                     protect the area’s quality of life.                    jobs to the area.

                                                                                                                         a high quality of life

What a great state motto, “She flies with her own wings.” Translation? We march to the tune of a              Above top: Clam diggers on the beach in Gearhart. Above
                                                                                                              bottom: The Columbia Gorge and Rooster Rock, shown here
different drummer! Think about it: the beach bill, bottle bill, and land use planning. Remarkable, some       in 1935, still remain a source of natural beauty today. Congress
                                                                                                              designated the gorge a National Scenic Area, the first in the
would say visionary, pieces of the Oregon experience. And they didn’t just happen…These were carefully
                                                                                                              nation, in 1986.
crafted elements, which set a direction for Oregon…Now, fast forward thirty plus years. Oregon has
changed: new folks, new economies, new ways of doing things and thinking about things. But I believe
the “old” Oregon is still here… People still want to be engaged. They want to be a part of something
positive in and for Oregon.
— Jack McGowan, former executive director, SOLV

                                                                                                                                                                                 5
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
26
                                                                                                 Americans constitute less than 5 percent of the
                                                                                                 world’s population, but consume 26 percent of the
                                                                                                 world’s energy.

                 How do we respond?       This treasured place and the planet we inhabit face    Global marketplace Despite a growing “buy
                                          formidable challenges. How we respond to these         local” movement, most of the products we
                                          challenges today will set the course for generations   buy come from someplace else. And many of
                                          to come. Locally and globally, pressing issues         the goods we produce in Oregon move on to
                                          require swift and creative solutions. Our decisions    markets in other states and countries. In today’s
                                          and actions will determine how and where we live       global economy, our region’s ability to move
                                          and work, how we travel and what we eat, drink         products to far-flung markets depends on an
                                          and breathe.                                           efficient transportation system. As a critical West
                                                                                                 Coast hub and global gateway, the Portland area
                                          Climate change The planet is warming and               must maintain well-functioning river ports, rail
                                          we have less and less time to act. But our ability     connections and highways.
                                          to respond will have unprecedented impact on
                                          our lives and our survival. As one of five states      Deteriorating infrastructure In the last
                                          participating in the Western Climate Initiative,       decade, the federal government has invested
                                          Oregon has signaled a long-term commitment             less in infrastructure than ever before. While
                                          to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.      budgets are shrinking, aging roads and bridges
                                          This comprehensive regional effort aims to reduce      are operating beyond capacity, and our transit
                                          greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below           systems lack funding to expand. Outdated state
                                          2005 levels by 2020.                                   and federal transportation policies, remnants of
    In the 1930s, Gilmore Oil Company                                                            an era of cheap oil and deep pockets, subsidize
    claimed their Blu-Green gas could     Volatile energy costs Fluctuating energy               sprawl and induce congestion. Traditional
    remove carbon and increase mileage.
                                          prices are also creating pressure to reduce our        approaches to financing transportation projects
                                          consumption of fossil fuel and make rapid changes      are not only failing to maintain existing
                                          and investments in our transportation system.          infrastructure, they are wholly inadequate to
                                          Unpredictable costs are having a significant impact    build new systems to accommodate growth and
                                          on household budgets and corporate bottom lines.       keep our economy moving.
6
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
10,000,000,000                                     500                                                      60
Our region will need approximately $10 billion     In an average week, the greater Portland area gains      More than 60 percent of households in the Portland
over the next few decades to repair and rebuild    more than 500 new residents. About half of the new       region consist of just one or two people, according to
our existing infrastructure. To meet the demands   residents anticipated in the region during the next 20   the 2000 census.
of anticipated growth in jobs and housing in the   years will be born here.
region through 2035, we will need as much as $31
billion in additional funding.
                                                                                                               planning for our future

                                                                                                            View of the Vancouver Line bridge at Oregon Slough.

Population growth The world’s population           After years of warnings, the reality is settling in:
is growing, and here at home our population        there is an energy crisis. High gas prices, “peak
is expanding rapidly. New forecasts show that
                                                   oil” and a failure to invest adequately in new,
within the next 25 years, the population of
the Portland metro region and adjacent cities      clean energy technologies has started to affect
will increase from 1.4 million people to about     every part of our lives. The question is no longer
2.4 million. While this growth brings jobs and     whether we should respond, but what choices
opportunity, it also creates new challenges.
                                                   we will make.

                                                   — Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Oregon’s 3rd District

                                                                                                                                                                     7
Global challenges Regional strategies Homegrown solutions - The Portland metro region
Shifting demographics As our population
    grows more diverse, as the Baby Boom
    generation ages and as we live and work longer,
    employment patterns, lifestyles and housing
    needs are changing. Increasing numbers
    of single-parent, childless and multifamily
    households have joined traditional nuclear
    families in our communities. As a result, the
    nature, location and price of housing needs to
    evolve to provide a broader range of options.

    Public health concerns Inactive lifestyles
    are fueling an alarming increase in obesity in
    U.S. adults and children, and health experts are
    warning us about the resulting long-term health
    implications. At the same time, population
    growth puts added pressure on our air and water
    quality, which directly impact public health.

    What’s next? How do we make sense of all
    these challenges and set a new course for the
    future? How do we make regional choices
    that protect our quality of life at home and
    contribute to global solutions? It won’t be
    easy. We must weigh competing needs, generate
    creative solutions, make difficult choices and
    invest in the solutions. Our success will shape
    the future of our neighborhoods, our economy
    and our environment.

8
1910                                             19 4 0                                          19 6 0                                                            2000

A million changes
Between 1968 and 2006, the Portland Metro region             TriMet didn’t even exist in 1968, and a private bus         Since then, confronted by rapid growth, a generation
grew by one million residents.                               company called Rose City Transit teetered on the            of civic leaders demonstrated foresight by creating
                                                             edge of insolvency. In 1968, the local economy was          statewide land use planning laws, the urban growth
The world looked very different at the start of that         dominated by forest products, transportation and            boundary, Metro and TriMet. They built new roads
period with the median sale price of a single-family         public utilities. None of the top 10 largest employers in   and light rail lines, community colleges and hospitals.
home only $16,200 and the median household income            1968 are among the top 10 largest employers today.          They created entirely new neighborhoods and cities,
at $7,700. A loaf of bread cost 25 cents and gasoline                                                                    and they protected historic neighborhoods from
was just 34 cents per gallon. In fact, an entire barrel of   What did a million new residents do to the face of          destruction. They revitalized downtown Portland and
gasoline in 1968 cost only $6.23.                            the region?                                                 adopted a long-range plan, the 2040 Growth Concept,
                                                                                                                         to curb suburban sprawl.
Traffic congestion was not a problem in 1968. There          For starters, the built environment changed
was no rush hour traffic on the only two freeways in         dramatically with vertical growth in the cities and         Looking to the future rather than the past, one
town: the Banfield Freeway and Interstate 5, which           outward growth in the suburbs. Gresham was even             thing is clear: one million new residents will have
had opened two years prior with the completion of            smaller than Hillsboro in 1968 with just under 9,000        a transformative impact on the region tomorrow
the Marquam Bridge. It would be another seven years          residents. Lake Oswego had a population of 7,500 and        just as it did yesterday. And it will require similar
before the Fremont Bridge was installed to complete          Beaverton was 16,000. There were farms and open             transformational leadership to overcome the challenges
I-405 and 12 years before the completion of I-205.           spaces between most communities and it was probably         that lie ahead.
Ninety percent of the funding for these projects came        unthinkable to the residents of Hillsboro that one day
from the federal government.                                 there would be continuous urbanization between their        Brian Newman, former Metro Councilor and Milwaukie City Councilor,
                                                             city and Beaverton.                                         shared this historic perspective of the region at the 2006 New Look Forum.

                                                             Aerial photo shows long
                                                             lines of vehicles that
                                                             brought crowds of visitors
                                                             to the grand opening of
                                                             Somerset West in December
                                                             1963. Visitors toured five
                                                             sample homes, part of a
                                                             planned “satellite city” 10
                                                             miles west of Portland.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       9
What are the trade - of fs?   From the Columbia to the Clackamas, Mt.                                              In 1995, more than
                                   Hood to the coast range, neighborhood café                                           19,000 people
                                   to family farm, our surroundings offer daily                                         across the region
                                   inspiration to do the hard work to preserve what                                     worked together
                                   we love and build for the future.                                                    to create the 2040
                                                                                                                        Growth Concept, a
                                   With 1.4 million people and 65,000 businesses in                                     long-range plan to
                                   25 cities and three counties, we’re a diverse urban                                  guide growth for
                                   and rural mix of varied needs and interests.          the next half-century. This innovative blueprint
                                   Setting a course that serves the region requires      for the future is based on a set of shared values:
                                   that many citizens, governments, businesses and       thriving neighborhoods and communities,
                                   organizations work together. Thoughtful choices       abundant economic opportunity, clean air and
                                   and coordinated action can foster economic            water, access to nature, preservation of farms
                                   vitality, preserve our natural resources and          and forestland, and a sense of place.
                                   ensure that people and neighborhoods thrive.
                                                                                         The 2040 Growth Concept acknowledges
                                                                                         population growth as a fact of life, but expresses
                                                                                         the region’s aspiration to incorporate growth
                                                                                         within existing urban areas as much as possible
                                                                                         and expand the urban growth boundary only
                                                                                         when necessary. Implicit in the plan is the
                                                                                         understanding that compact development is
                                                                                         more sustainable, more livable and more fiscally
                                                                                         responsible than low-density sprawl, and will
                                                                                         reduce the region’s carbon footprint.

10
People live and work           Current and future         People have safe and      The region is a leader in   Current and future        The benefits and
in vibrant communities         residents benefit from     reliable transportation   minimizing contributions    generations enjoy clean   burdens of growth and
where they can choose          the region’s sustained     choices that enhance      to global warming.          air, clean water and      change are distributed
to walk for pleasure           economic competitiveness   their quality of life.                                healthy ecosystems.       equitably.
and to meet their              and prosperity.
everyday needs.
                                                                                                  hallmarks of a successful region

Our region has already started to incorporate
new growth in existing communities rather
than sprawl outward. Virtually none of the
land added to the metropolitan area through
expansion of the urban growth boundary in the
last decade has been developed, largely because
of the lack of funding for new roads, water lines
and sewers to serve these sites.

In spite of these trends, rapid population growth         To respond effectively, we must understand the
and other challenges make it necessary to revisit         building blocks of our communities and the key
how we are implementing our vision, make                  components of our region’s long-range plan. We
course corrections, and find new strategies               must also reflect on what’s working and what’s
and resources to create the future we want for            not working today and the underlying dynamics
ourselves and our children. Together, we must             that will affect our future. The pages that
answer some pivotal questions:                            follow describe the aspirations set forth in the
                                                          2040 Growth Concept, examine our collective
What are our highest priorities?                          successes and challenges in implementing this
How do we weigh the trade-offs between                    shared vision to date, and highlight potential
                                                          strategies that can help us build a thriving and
competing values?
                                                          livable region.
How do we square our vision of the future with
the realities we face today?

                                                                                                                                                                   11
Downtowns and main streets
     Aspirations Promoting quality                major transportation corridors.                                                  Realities Malls, big box stores
     infill development in downtowns,             They combine offices, retail and                                                 and strip commercial developments
     on main streets and along key                housing with quality streetscapes,                                               have proliferated over the years,
     transportation corridors is an               parks and plazas, fountains or                                                   changing retail patterns in our
     effective way to accommodate                 other amenities.                                                                 communities and weakening many
     growth within our existing                                                                                                    once-thriving downtowns and
     communities.                                 Like downtowns and main streets,                                                 main streets. Cities across the
                                                  transportation corridors offer a                                                 region are working to revitalize
     Successful downtowns, centers                mix of businesses, activities and                                                their historic commercial districts,
     and main streets are authentic,              attractions. They typically have                                                 which remain the iconic centers of
     dynamic, walkable places that                excellent transit service and are                                                their communities.
     have a concentration of businesses,          often characterized by existing
     shops and entertainment, strong              low-density commercial properties      population or market area served.         The success of recent mixed-
     transit service and easy access to           that can be revitalized by infill      Higher-density development                use projects and downtown
                                                  redevelopment.                         can be carefully designed to              developments from Gresham
                                                                                         complement the character of the           to Lake Oswego to Hillsboro,
                                                  Station areas along light rail lines   existing community and blend              as well as inner-city Portland,
                                                  are also ideal locations for mixed-    harmoniously with adjacent                demonstrates that many people
                                                  use, transit-oriented development.     neighborhoods, parks and                  want to live in compact, urban
                                                  Generally, station communities are     natural areas.                            neighborhoods. This local and
                                                  hubs of commercial and residential
                                                  development concentrated within
                                                  easy walking distance of a light       The regional efforts to develop and implement the principles of the 2040
                                                  rail station.                          plan have been amazing. The active participation in its development and the
                                                                                         results in our greatly improved downtowns, communities and neighborhoods
                                                  Centers, main streets, corridors
                                                  and station areas can be               have made this effort an outstanding success. Now we have the opportunity
     Broadway in downtown Portland, circa 1925.
                                                  developed at varying scales and        to build on these accomplishments far into the future.
                                                  intensities based on the wishes
                                                  of the community and the               —Judie Hammerstad, mayor of Lake Oswego

12
3 to 18                                   31,000                                 33
Values of homes within walking distance   In 2003, there were 31,000 acres       In a nation-wide study, compact
of urban amenities such as specialty      of vacant, buildable land within the   communities were shown to reduce
grocers, cinema cafés and bookstores      urban growth boundary, a combined      average driving by as much as 33 percent.
have been shown to be 3 to 18 percent     area roughly 70 times the size of
higher than average.                      downtown Portland.

                                                                                                 thriving, compact communities

                                                                                 Downtown Hillsboro has great bones and an authenticity that you can’t
                                                                                 recreate from scratch, and it’s still the civic center of the community. In
                                                                                 revitalizing downtown, we’ve focused on arts, culture and entertainment
                                                                                 as a major thrust to create a sense of place. The renovated Venetian Theater
                                                                                 and the Walters Cultural Arts Center are among the places that draw people
                                                                                 to Hillsboro rather than some generic place. And our Civic Center and Pacific
                                                                                 University, located downtown on light rail, contribute to the rich mix of uses
                                                                                 that create vitality.
                                                                                 — John Southgate, economic development director, City of Hillsboro

                                                                                                                             The Venetian Theater, shown in this 1956
                                                                                                                             photo, was once a popular attraction on
                                                                                                                             Main Street in Hillsboro. Later renovated
                                                                                                                             and renamed the Town Theater following a
                                                                                                                             fire, the cinema was eventually closed in 1996
                                                                                                                             and remained vacant for a decade. The theater
                                                                                                                             and an adjacent building have recently been
                                                                                                                             renovated into a theater, bistro and wine bar
                                                                                                                             (far left) and are a key component in the city’s
                                                                                                                             strategy to use arts and culture to draw new
                                                                                                                             life and activity downtown.

                                                                                                                                                                                13
national trend is rooted in a desire      added value in the long run, they
for a strong sense of community           can be more expensive to build
and easy access to amenities such         than traditional projects. Elevators,
as grocery stores, coffee shops,          underground parking and
restaurants, specialty retail and         structural components of multi-
other services.                           story, mixed-use buildings can
                                          significantly increase design and
Despite the growing popularity of         construction costs. Redeveloping
urban lifestyles, infill development      older buildings to accommodate
and mixed-use building projects           new uses requires upgrading
can be challenging. This is               them to meet current codes and
especially true in suburban areas         standards, which is also costly.
where local development codes,
policies and incentives may not           Attracting enough successful
support compact development               businesses to reinvigorate
patterns. While higher-density            downtowns and main streets is
and mixed-use infill developments         an added challenge in this age
will reduce public costs and create       of internet shopping and big box

Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market has been a gathering place for residents
of Milwaukie and surrounding neighborhoods for the past 10 years. Every
Sunday between May and October, the streets are alive with customers
carrying bags of local produce, plants and garden crafts fresh from the market.
Our farmers market has become the centerpiece to a revived downtown and
will continue to be an energetic force in Milwaukie, inspiring more business
and commerce along our changing Main Street.
— Brendan Eiswerth, manager, Milwaukie Farmers Market
You look at the West Coast in post-World War II: it was go out and buy your
                                                                                car, get the top down, get out on the freeway and let her rip. I think that’s
                                                                                pretty much a dead model…you get up in the morning, you go out in the
                                                                                garage, you get in the car by yourself, you back out, you listen to the radio,
                                                                                you pull into another garage or an office park – it’s a solitary experience. But
                                                                                the thing I see in the Pearl again and again, almost anywhere downtown,
                                                                                is that you’re always late for meetings because you’re always bumping into
                                                                                somebody. That social interaction is what people are looking for. People are
                                                                                looking to feel that they belong as part of something bigger than themselves.
                                                                                — Mark Edlen, principal, Gerding Edlen Development Company

                                                                                                                           Above: Auto-oriented retail
                                                                                                                           along Southeast 82nd
retail. In a commercial district         Strategies                                                                        and King Road in 1967.
that is not a known “destination”        • Increase public investment in                                                   Left top: Commercial
that draws clientele from a wide           downtowns, on main streets and                                                  district and streetcar along
                                                                                                                           Southeast Belmont at 34th,
area, it’s a stretch for many small        along transportation corridors                                                  circa 1908. Left bottom:
businesses to pay the higher rents                                                                                         Women board the trolley
associated with newly constructed        • Pursue public-private partnerships                                              bus in Hollywood’s thriving
or renovated buildings. This is                                                                                            shopping district, 1941.
particularly true if the surrounding     • Develop new financial incentives
neighborhoods are not sufficiently         and tax abatements
dense to create a solid base of
local customers. As a result of          • Increase building height limits
these barriers and chicken-and-egg         and reduce or remove other
dilemmas, many downtowns and               development barriers
main streets throughout the region
are only just beginning to turn the      • Streamline permitting and
corner and have not yet developed          project approval
to their full potential after years of
stagnation and decline.
                                                                                                                                                                   15
Jobs and economic vitality
     Aspirations Smart land use             the region is a key distribution       industrial areas are distributed in          Realities The Portland
     policies and public investments        hub for domestic commerce and          communities throughout the region            metropolitan area’s economic
     in transportation and other            a gateway for international trade,     to help balance the number and               growth relies heavily on highly
     infrastructure create the underlying   providing access to markets for        wage level of jobs in each area with         mobile traded-sector businesses.
     conditions for a prosperous and        businesses statewide. The Portland     the availability and cost of housing         These companies can choose to
     resilient economy. The Portland        International Airport provides         for employees.                               locate or expand here or elsewhere,
     metropolitan area’s worldwide          important linkages for tourism and
     reputation for livability attracts     business travel.                       There were many reasons to come to Oregon…the facility itself is perfect
     talented people and private                                                   for our needs, the State of Oregon supports us with property and business
     investments that infuse our            To foster continued economic
                                                                                   energy tax credits, and we will find highly skilled workers in the area.
     communities with energy and help       growth in the region, land that is
     us all thrive.                         most suitable for employment and       Also attractive were vendors and suppliers who are familiar with the
                                            industrial development is reserved     silicon industry, existing initiatives in Oregon that support a green work
     The region is the cornerstone of       for those uses and is protected from   environment, and an excellent public transportation system.
     Oregon’s economy, and the region’s     encroachment by incompatible types
                                                                                   — Boris Klebensberger, COO of SolarWorld Group and president of SolarWorld Industries
     businesses generate a majority         of development. Complementary
     of the state’s economic activity.      businesses and industries are
     Located at the confluence of major     clustered to create efficiencies
     waterways, highways and rail lines,    and synergies. Employment and

16
40                                         844,000,000                                   38.4                                          2
Of the 100,000 new Portland-area           Failure to invest adequately in               The Portland metropolitan region              Additional regional transportation
jobs expected in the next five years,      transportation improvements that              encompasses less than 5 percent but           investment would generate an economic
more than 40 percent are projected         relieve congestion will result in potential   is home to 38.4 percent of the state’s        benefit of at least $2 for each $1 spent.
to be in the professional, financial and   economic losses valued at $844 million        population and nearly half of its jobs.
information service sectors.               annually by 2025.

                                                                                              expanding access and opportunities

                                                                                         In today’s world of global competition, the reliability and speed of this
                                                                                         region’s transportation system is the determining factor for business
                                                                                         expansion and job creation. More than one in five jobs in Oregon are trade
                                                                                         and transportation dependent. Oregon must invest in a strong transportation
                                                                                         system, particularly infrastructure that supports the movement of freight, to
                                                                                         maintain our business competitiveness and quality of life. Without a strong
                                                                                         transportation system that has the capacity to move people and goods quickly
                                                                                         and efficiently, our economy will suffer.
                                                                                         — Bill Wyatt, executive director, Port of Portland

depending on how the region                A supply of suitable sites for                Strategies
supports their needs for land,             regionally significant employment             • Integrate institutions and other
infrastructure, labor, supplies and        and industrial uses is designated               large employers in downtowns
access to markets. This heightens          in cities across the region with                and corridors
the importance of ensuring that the        regulations that protect them and
region’s land use and transportation       allow for designation of new areas.           • Improve workforce access to
systems provide a solid foundation         Though land has been specifically               industrial and employment areas
for economic opportunity.                  set aside for industrial uses,
                                           industrial development has been               • Upgrade access between                      Opposite page: Ships and wharves along the
The region is highly dependent             constrained by conflicts between                intermodal terminals, industrial            waterfront in downtown Portland, circa 1900.
                                                                                                                                       This page, above: Tektronix, Inc., shown
on a smoothly functioning                  state land use laws, business                   areas, commercial centers and the           here in October 1954, was one of many new
transportation network.                    needs and the different desires of              interstate system                           businesses seeking good sites that moved into
However, investment in planned             individual communities. Even when                                                           the Tualatin Valley in the 1950s, shifting the
transportation projects has failed         land is available, serving these areas        • Expand use of traffic monitoring            economic base of an area that had once been
                                                                                                                                       primarily agricultural land.
to keep pace with population and           with roads, sewers, schools and                 tools such as web-based real-time
freight traffic growth. The result         other facilities is a costly process            traffic reporting programs that
is congestion that is expected to          and may not occur in the necessary              help truckers and other motorists
increase, which will threaten the          time frame to attract business.                 avoid delays
region’s economic vitality.
                                                                                                                                                                                        17
Homes and neighborhoods
     Aspirations Planning for                affordable units of housing within     There is a critical shortage of affordable housing in the Portland metro area,
     resilient, prosperous and vibrant       walking distance of transit, retail    impacting close to 40 percent of the population. Meeting this need is essential
     communities is not about narrow,        areas and medical facilities are
                                                                                    if we want healthy, diverse and inclusive communities. Safe, decent affordable
     prescriptive formulas but about         ideal for many senior citizens who
     fostering distinctive places with an    may have decreasing incomes and        housing provides the platform for families and individuals to thrive, to
     array of housing options to meet        mobility options but who want to       perform well at school and work, and to invest in the health of the larger
     many needs. The region’s long-          remain in their communities close      community. An adequate stock of well-priced and well-designed homes should
     range plan seeks to preserve and        to family, friends and the lifestyle
                                                                                    be our highest infrastructure priority – this is the essential building block for
     enhance the unique assets of our        they enjoy. Affordable housing
     neighborhoods, towns and cities         located close to jobs, schools,        strong communities.
     and support a wide range                shopping, transportation and other     — Sheila Greenlaw-Fink, executive director, Community Partners for Affordable Housing
     of lifestyles.                          services is ideal for younger people
                                             just starting careers and families,    greater range of housing types due           types or multi-family projects in
     Providing a range of housing            improving their quality of life and    to market-driven infill development          existing neighborhoods. However,
     choices for people of all incomes,      reducing their cost of living.         projects allowed under existing local        many well-executed infill projects
     household sizes and stages of life is                                          zoning regulations.                          have transformed neighborhoods,
     a key component of livability and       Realities Existing residential                                                      added new vitality, and enhanced the
     a regional priority. Smaller, more      neighborhoods are not specifically     In some communities, poorly                  value of neighboring properties.
                                             targeted to accept new development     designed infill projects have
                                             under the region’s long range          undermined support for efficient             There is an acute need for increased
                                             plan, but many neighborhoods           development and have created                 housing choices for families and
                                             are experiencing development of a      apprehension about new building              individuals of modest means.

18
264                                     62                                       27                                                111,000
Between 1990 and 2007, the median       Sixty-two percent of households in the   The average household in the region                Since 2000, the Portland region has built
price of a single-family residence in   tri-county Portland metropolitan area    spent 27 percent of their monthly                  more than 111,000 new dwellings, of which
the tri-county area increased 264       own their own home.                      income on housing and 14 percent on                69 percent were single-family residences
percent while the median household                                               transportation in 2006.                            and 31 percent were multi-family units.
income for the greater Portland
metropolitan area rose only 206
percent during the same period.
                                                                                 diverse and affordable housing choices

                                                                                 Some people want to live in the suburbs and feel strongly that their quality of
                                                                                 life, their American dream, is a house and a yard and a fence…Others want to
                                                                                 live in a vital city where they’re a regular at the coffee shop down the street.
                                                                                 It’s not that one is better than the other, but it is a fact that within this region,
                                                                                 you can choose either, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve – not that
                                                                                 everyone chooses the same, but that people can find what they want.
                                                                                 — Ethan Seltzer, director, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University

                                                                                                                                    Opposite page, left to right: Early residence
Changing demographics, such             As the region grows, demand              Strategies                                         in Forest Grove. View of early Oregon City
as decreasing household size            for new housing of all types             • Improve affordable housing                       neighborhoods, circa 1925. Mid-century
and the region’s growing elderly        will increase. Decisions about             policies and incentives                          residences in east Beaverton. Aerial view of
population, point to the need for       where and how much to expand                                                                Southwest Portland neighborhoods near
                                                                                                                                    Canyon Road, 1947.
more varied and affordable housing.     the urban growth boundary to             • Integrate affordable housing into
Gentrification in the central parts     accommodate new residents could            market rate residential projects
of the region has increased housing     have major effects on home prices,
prices, forcing lower-income            neighborhood densities, the range        • Construct affordable housing
households to move away from            of available housing choices,              near jobs, services and transit
the city center. These locations are    infrastructure costs and housing
often farther from their jobs and       demand outside the region in
not as well served by transit and       neighboring communities.
other services, increasing household
transportation costs for those who
can least afford it.
                                                                                                                                                                                     19
Community infrastructure
     Aspirations To be successful          Realities Despite widespread             confronting communities across the     for major improvements or capacity
     and healthy – with thriving           recognition that sound infrastructure    region. As a result of insufficient    expansion can be difficult. Unless
     downtowns and neighborhoods,          is critical to maintaining and           funding, many cities and service       we identify new funding sources, the
     economic opportunities, clean         enhancing regional economic              providers have neglected and           region will be unable to upgrade and
     air and clean water – our region      growth and quality of life, current      postponed maintenance of existing      replace deteriorating infrastructure
     must be supported by robust           approaches to the planning,              facilities. Approximately $10          systems and provide services to new
     infrastructure. Great communities     development and financing of critical    billion is needed over the next two    urban areas.
     are served by transportation          community support systems are            decades to repair and rebuild our
     networks, energy, water,              not working. Currently, the region       existing infrastructure. In order
     stormwater systems and sewers,        has multiple service districts for       to accommodate employment
     plus civic buildings, parking         water and sanitary sewers, and a         and housing growth in the three-
     structures, schools, libraries,       lack of coordination between these       county Portland metropolitan
     public plazas, parks and trails.      many entities results in missed          area through 2035, as much as
                                           opportunities to achieve efficiencies.   $31 billion may be needed to
     Community investments that                                                     build additional public and private
     improve public infrastructure         Local and regional leaders have          facilities. Traditional funding
     and build new facilities              identified inadequate infrastructure     sources would cover only about
     provide both quantitative and         funding as a key challenge               half that amount.
     qualitative returns, including
     higher tax revenues, improved                                                  Development impact fees, gas
     housing choices, more economic                                                 taxes and other revenue sources
     opportunity and more livable                                                   are not keeping pace with rising
     communities. Public investments                                                infrastructure costs, and voter-
     in infrastructure improve                                                      approved tax limitations and other
     individual lives and the quality of                                            ballot initiatives have crippled the
     life of cities and neighborhoods.                                              ability of communities to fund
     Public investment makes private                                                these services. Rate-funded services
     investment possible and profitable,                                            tend to enjoy more stable and
     which ultimately builds strong                                                 predictable funding, but obtaining
     communities.                                                                   large amounts of up-front capital
20
27                                           8,000
Since 1965, government spending              Based on population projections, the       Oregon ranks last in total auto taxes
on transportation, sewers and water          region will likely need 5,000 acres of     collected compared with other Western
systems has declined from 38 cents to        new urban parks and 8,000 additional       states (Arizona, California, Idaho,
27 cents for every dollar spent on private   acres of open space by 2035.               Montana, Nevada, Washington and Utah).
residential construction.

                                                                                                         public assets and investments

Strategies
• Identify new funding sources for
  infrastructure investments

• Promote compact development
  patterns that focus new
  development in areas already
  served by existing infrastructure
  and facilities

• Explore public-private
  partnerships

• Consider a regional approach to
  coordinating basic infrastructure

• Explore demand-management
  and public education strategies                                                                                                A crowd of more than 200 people attended
  to manage consumption and                  Existing funding mechanisms are broken but there is great potential for             the July 26, 1966 dedication of two newly
  improve resource conservation                                                                                                  created parks in Portland’s South Auditorium
                                             innovation, creative solutions and ideas that reflect Oregon’s values. Talk to      urban renewal area. The parks, between SW
                                             your elected officials, your business and community leaders, your colleagues        College and Mill streets and 2nd and 3rd
• Use a return-on-investment                                                                                                     avenues completed the first phase of the South
  analysis when making public                and neighbors. We are at the forefront of a revolution that transports us 50        Auditorium Urban Renewal Project, begun in
  investment decisions                       years forward – where future generations will reflect on and benefit from our       1958 and completed in 1974.

                                             willingness today to connect our needs with our values, and to put our money
• Facilitate implementation of
                                             where our mouth is in meeting the needs of our changing communities.
  emerging technologies that increase
  the efficiency and sustainability of       — Lynn Peterson, chair, Clackamas County
  infrastructure systems

                                                                                                                                                                                  21
1

         Transportation
         Aspirations Transportation             management, high-capacity transit
         shapes our communities and our         and regional freight movement
         daily lives, allowing us to reach      guide future investments and
         our jobs and recreation, access        strategies to keep people and
         goods and services, and meet daily     commodities moving throughout
         needs. An integrated approach          the region. Together, these
         to transportation and land use         coordinated efforts provide for
         planning promotes compact              mobility and accessibility in a way
         communities served by a robust         that saves tax dollars, supports our
         transportation network that moves      economy, promotes public health
         people and products efficiently.       and safety, protects air and water
                                                quality and enhances our quality
         The regional transportation plan       of life.
         establishes policies for all types
         of travel – motor vehicles, transit,   Streets, sidewalks and trails are
         walking and bicycling – as well        key components of the region’s
         as the movement of goods and           transportation network and
         freight by many means. Strategic       are essential public spaces that
         plans for transportation system        enhance quality of life in our

                                                                                       Decisions about where and when we make transit investments are some of
                                                                                       the most important decisions facing our community today. Our choices will
                                                                                       influence land development, travel patterns, the economy, public health and
                                                                                       our very quality of life.
                                                                                       — Fred Hansen, executive director, TriMet

                                                                                       Far left: In the early 1900s, streetcar service ran from downtown Portland to Troutdale, Estacada,
                                                                                       Forest Grove and Oregon City. Left: The advent of the automobile led to more dispersed urban
                                                                                       development patterns.

    22
70                                                  34                                         20                                            9,200,000
More than 70 percent of the region’s                Transportation activities are the second    Congestion on our region’s freeways           9.2 million rides by bus and MAX were
residents live within 1/4 mile of public transit.   largest source of greenhouse gases in       increased 20 percent between 2000             taken during July 2008, a 13.3 percent
                                                    the state, accounting for approximately     and 2005.                                     increase over July 2007.
                                                    34 percent of the state’s carbon dioxide
                                                    emissions.

                                                                                               integrated networks and travel options

                                                                                                When we walk out our front door, we should be able to choose a travel
                                                                                                mode that suits our destination, our mood and our budget. A bike commute
                                                                                                to downtown may become a bus ride in the early winter hours. Hauling
                                                                                                seven boxes to the Rebuilding Center requires a car. Having transportation
                                                                                                options make us feel smart and green and thrifty. Public investment in transit,
                                                                                                sidewalks and bike lanes in our city centers or providing access to parks and
                                                                                                open spaces knits people into a community.
                                                                                                — Karen Frost, executive director, Westside Transportation Alliance

                                                                                                year. Greenhouse gas emissions in             will also be necessary to reduce the
                                                                                                the city of Portland have remained            region’s impact on climate change
                                                                                                virtually flat since 1990. And                and improve air quality. Current
                                                                                                between 1990 and 2000, regional               transportation activities are the
                                                                                                transit ridership grew at twice the           second largest source of greenhouse
                                                                                                rate of population growth.                    gases in Oregon. The I-5 corridor
neighborhoods, towns and cities.                    commutes and traffic congestion                                                           and the Pacific Northwest have
Innovative approaches to street                     more successfully than comparable           However, more work is needed.                 unacceptable levels of benzene and
design help to reduce negative                      urban areas and the region has              Growth has brought opportunity                other toxic pollutants.
environmental impacts of paved                      reduced the number of vehicle miles         and prosperity to the region, but
surfaces that increase runoff to                    traveled per person in recent years.        it has also brought growing pains.
rivers and streams.                                                                             Uncertain energy supplies and the
                                                    Air quality has also improved               rising price of petroleum products
Realities The region has                            dramatically. In the 1960s, the             affect transportation project costs
successfully implemented policies                   region had 180 days of air quality          and household transportation
to expand transportation choices                    violations every year, but today            expenses. Increasing costs will
and reduce dependence on the                        we average zero annual violations.          make travel more difficult for
automobile as the only way to                       In the Portland metro region,               those of modest means and make it
travel. Through a combination of                    savings from shorter commutes may           imperative that our transportation
land use planning and a strong                      contribute as much as $2.6 billion          system provides affordable
regional transit network, the                       of consumer purchasing power                transportation choices across the
Portland region is fighting long                    into the regional economy each              region. Expanded transit service
                                                                                                                                                                                       23
We must consider economic           Federal and state transportation      to inflation and rising material              Strategies
     globalization as we maintain        funding has not kept pace with        costs. The region’s infrastructure            • Integrate land use and
     and expand our transportation       needs. Oregon relies heavily on       is deteriorating and requires more              transportation more rigorously
     systems. Freight transportation     gas taxes (24 cents/gallon) and       maintenance than ever before.
     needs are expected to more than     weight-mile fees on heavy trucks      Although maintenance consumes                 • Upgrade the efficiency and safety
     double the quantity of goods that   to fund road maintenance and          most funds, a backlog of projects               of existing transportation system
     will travel to and through the      expansion. The state last increased   is growing rapidly. Current sources
     region, and Oregon’s economy will   the gas tax in 1993. The federal      of transit funding are not enough             • Improve connectivity between
     depend on a transportation system   highway trust fund is teetering on    to support system expansions                    modes
     commensurate with our pivotal       the edge of insolvency and state      needed to serve the region’s rapidly
     role as a gateway for commerce      and local government purchasing       growing ridership.                            • Expand transportation choices in
     and tourism.                        power is steadily declining due                                                       more areas of the region

                                                                                                                             • Identify new funding mechanisms
                                                                                                                               and public-private partnerships

                                                                                                                             • Incorporate sustainability
                                                                                                                               and green design features in
                                                                                                                               transportation networks

                                                                               Fred T. Merrill proprietor of bicycle shops
                                                                               in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane,
                                                                               sold more than 50,000 bicycles during the
                                                                               bicycle boom of the 1890s. He served on
                                                                               the Portland City Council from 1899-1905
                                                                               and ran unsuccessfully for mayor on the
                                                                               “keep Portland wide open” ticket. (Photo,
                                                                               circa 1893)

24
28                                       2.94                                          3.4
                                       Overall bicycle use in the city of       For every $1 invested in developing trails,   In the Portland metropolitan region, 3.4
                                       Portland increased by 28 percent in      there is an equivalent medical benefit of     percent of residents walked to work and
                                       2008. This is the biggest single-year    $2.94 related to their use.                   1.7 percent bicycled to work in 2006.
                                       increase since the city began counting
                                       cyclists in the early 1990s.

                                                                                               linking communities and nature

Trails and greenways
Aspirations Regional trails            Realities The growing popularity         What we really want to do is think about trail development in the
and greenways enhance our              of outdoor recreation activities,        bigger picture of transportation…We know that when people use public
communities by linking                 such as walking and running,
                                                                                transportation, they tend to be more physically active. So the more you
neighborhoods and schools to           cycling, skateboarding and
parks, employment, shopping            wildlife observation, has increased      can connect trails to public transportation, the more you’re providing that
and other parts of our daily lives.    the need for quality regional            opportunity…This is potentially going to be a major public health tool to
Greenways serve as key walking         trails. Higher gas prices and road       encourage people to get physical activity into their daily lives.
and cycling corridors for people       congestion have motivated more
                                                                                — Philip Wu, MD, clinical pediatric lead, Kaiser Permanente, and member, Blue
and habitat corridors for wildlife,    people to walk or bike rather than
helping people to stay healthy         driving their cars. Greenways are        Ribbon Committee for Trails
and connect with nature and            a key component of a complete
each other.                            network of walking and cycling
                                       corridors that reduce energy
From the Willamette Greenway to        consumption and contributions to         been constructed. As development              • Continue development of the
the Springwater Corridor, trails       climate change.                          occurs and land prices rise, it                 regional Connecting Green
and greenways vary widely and                                                   will become increasingly costly                 Alliance, a consortium of citizens,
meet a range of needs. Some, like      When originally conceived 100            or difficult to reclaim the region’s            advocacy groups, government,
the I-205 Corridor Trail, support      years ago, Portland’s trail system       natural corridors for use as trails             nonprofits and businesses,
bike commuters. Others provide         was going to be 40 miles long,           and greenways. Completion of                    with a focus on creating an
access to natural areas.               circling the city and linking            the regional trails and greenway                integrated parks and trails system
                                       public parks. Since then, park           system will require cooperation                 throughout the region
When complete, a 930-mile              providers, cities and citizens have      between jurisdictions and
regional network of trails and         worked to establish a regional           accelerated investment.                       • Act on recommendations of the
greenways will put more than           network of trails that link parks                                                        Blue Ribbon Committee on Trails,
one million residents and 34 of        to local communities and other           Strategies                                      a regional advisory group which
the region’s 43 downtown areas         area attractions. This broad             • Increase the current annual $5                assessed the regional trails system
within one-half mile of a trail.       effort aspires to connect local            million investment in regional
This will help to achieve a regional   trails in a 930-mile network               greenways (20 cents per month
goal of 20 percent non-motorized       throughout the region. To date,            per resident)
travel by 2038.                        180 miles of these trails have
                                                                                                                                                                         25
Nature in neighborhoods                                                                                                  further steps are needed to
     Aspirations As the region focuses          mimic nature’s processes, reducing                                            fully encourage restorative
     new development in existing urban          the impact of development on                                                  design practices in all types of
     areas, public investment in parks          wildlife and adjacent natural                                                 development.
     and natural areas helps ensure             resources. Integrating nature and
     that communities remain livable.           habitats with development enriches                                            The need to provide for housing
     Access to public open spaces –             communities with the beauty of                                                and jobs through infill development
     from ball fields to forests to rocky       plants, wildlife and greenspaces,                                             of vacant urban lands will test
     buttes – is a key priority for all         while preserving clean water and                                              our current strategies to improve
     communities within the region as           healthy ecosystems.                                                           watershed health and maintain
     our population grows.                                                                                                    access to nature. Land availability
                                                                                       Realities Regional funds are           and cost are the most significant
     Beyond traditional parks and open                                                 invested in parks and natural area     barriers to ensuring adequate parks
     spaces, innovative approaches                                                     acquisitions, grassroots community     and open spaces for a growing
     to building communities help                                                      projects, and ecological restoration   population. As density increases
     keep ecosystems healthy and                                                       of neighborhoods, natural areas        in urban communities, park
     cities and neighborhoods green.                                                   and backyards. Citizens of all ages    space becomes more necessary
     Nature-friendly development                                                       and backgrounds are working            and more expensive. While we’ve
     practices look beyond the walls                                                   to restore and enhance wildlife        been successful in funding new
     of buildings and focus on land                                                    habitat in their communities for       parks and open spaces, funding
     development and site design that           Bathers at Oswego Lake, 1923.          this generation and for the future.

     Much of America has caught “green fever” around recycling, water and energy       The region is a leader in green
     conservation, and reducing carbon footprints. Yet, it is important to remember    design, and developments that
                                                                                       integrate nature and habitat-
     that sustainability also means designing our houses and buildings to embrace
                                                                                       friendly practices demonstrate
     nature so that people will want to live here. Not just today, but in a hundred    the viability of these approaches.
     years. We need to build cities according to our need for nature and reverse the   Cities in the region have removed
     trend of pushing the natural environment yet farther away from our doorstep.      code and policy barriers to
                                                                                       implementing habitat friendly
     — Jim Winkler, president, Winkler Development Corp.
                                                                                       development practices. However,
26
64                                         53                                       10
Sixty-four percent of metro area           Approximately 53 percent of the          About 10 percent of the region’s
residents live within 1/4 mile of a        region’s park land and 60 percent of     floodplains are developed, substantially
public park, greenspace or regional        land within 50 feet of streams and       degrading ground and stream water quality.
trail. Ninety-seven percent of Boston’s    wetlands are deforested.
children live within 1/4 mile of a park.
                                                                                      integrating habitats and greenspaces

                                                                                    The City of Gresham and the entire Portland metro area is blessed with a
                                                                                    spectacular natural setting. We find ourselves living within a breathtaking
                                                                                    array of rivers, wetlands, stream corridors and forested hillsides. The
                                                                                    successful integration of people and development within this natural setting
                                                                                    is what has set us apart from many other regions of the country...To the
                                                                                    extent that we continue this tradition of wise stewardship of resources,
                                                                                    we will ensure that future generations enjoy the same quality of life, and
                                                                                    appreciation for the natural bounty around us.
                                                                                    — Mike Abbate, urban design and planning director, City of Gresham

for maintenance and operations is          Strategies
scarce. Park providers around the          • Adapt local building codes to
region have identified more than             encourage and facilitate nature-
100 projects to be prioritized for           friendly design practices
regional funding.
                                           • Pursue public-private partnerships
A region-wide reporting system               to fund habitat restoration projects
that monitors the health of area
watersheds every two years                 • Increase assistance and incentives
through the year 2015 will assess            for green building and integrated,
our success in protecting water              nature-friendly design
quality and natural areas for fish,
wildlife and people. Published             • Continue developing the regional
as the State of the Watersheds               Connecting Green Alliance, a
Report, this monitoring effort               consortium of citizens, advocacy
reports the conservation efforts             groups, government, nonprofits
of cities and counties, watershed            and businesses, with a focus on
councils, nonprofits, citizens               creating an integrated parks and
and other natural resource                   trails system throughout the region
organizations.
                                                                                                                                                                   27
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