Published by Staff on September 10, 2008
The recent issue of FarWest Neighbors News includes a story on the Moving Forward Together conference:
What are the changing trends in housing, economic development and transportation—and what do these mean for the future of Lane County?
Published by Staff on August 10, 2008
About the same time as the Lane County Moving Forward Together conference, the somewhat analogous 2008 Regional Livability Summit was held in Portland. Read what the co-directors had to say about that event and possible next steps. Continue Reading »
Published by Staff on July 8, 2008
In a recent commentary in The Register-Guard, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and Lane Metro Partnership executive director Jack Roberts describe the work of the West Eugene Collaborative and invite the public to a series of public forums:
What can people accomplish when they put differences behind them and look for solutions together? Perhaps they will be able to solve the serious long-term traffic and transportation problems in west Eugene.
Published by Staff on June 27, 2008
On Your Mark, Get Set, Plan!
The cities of Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, and Lane Council of Governments (LCOG)—all co-sponsors of Lane County Moving Forward Together—are partnering on a number of different regional planning processes. Each will answer critical questions about this region’s future growth. These plans include:
A public open house will be held July 9, 2008, to introduce these projects. The open house will introduce these projects to the general public, describe opportunities for public involvement, ask for general input, and to ask how people prefer to become involved. The open house, which will feature an informal, drop-in format, will be held at:
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
4:30–6:30 PM
Eugene Public Library
Bascom-Tykeson Rooms
100 West 10th Avenue, Eugene
This event will be an informal, drop-in session. Come as you are, and come and go when you need to. This meeting is wheelchair accessible. For the hearing impaired, FM assistive-listening devices are available or an interpreter can be provided with 48 hours notice. To arrange for these services, contact the receptionist at 682-5481. Telecommunications devices for deaf assistance are available at 682-5119.
If you have questions, please contact one of the agency representatives below:
Published by Staff on June 23, 2008
Twila Jacobsen, host of “Focus on Community,” recently interviewed John Hoops and Rob Zako about the Lane County Moving Forward Together conference. John Hoops is the past president of the Eugene Association of REALTORS®; Rob Zako is an adviser to the Oregon Transportation & Growth Management Program. The interview aired on KRVM radio on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Listen to a recording of the interview:
Published by Staff on June 20, 2008
We want your feedback on the Lane County Moving Forward Together “smart growth” conference:
Please post your comments below. Please provide your full name and email address so that we can contact you if questions arise. We will keep your email address confidential.
Published by Staff on June 19, 2008
The Slant column in the latest Eugene Weekly opines:
The Moving Forward Together conference on “smart growth” took place June 11, and urban planning consultant John Fregonese’s talk was of particular interest to us. Since his days as Ashland’s city planner, Fregonese has been a strong, clear voice for sanity in urban planning nationwide, and we liked what he had to say about how cities can take control and shape their built environments for livability, efficiency and aesthetics. Is Eugene in control of its built environment? We remember the chaos and frustration of Eugene’s Land Use Code Update a few years ago. Most of the best and brightest reforms in LUCU got watered down by a weak Council under Mayor Torrey’s leadership, pressure from developer interests, and a city planning staff resistant to change. What did we end up with? More big box stores on the outskirts, more movement toward expanding our urban growth boundary, more development of resource lands, less affordable housing, more car-oriented housing development, a struggling downtown, not even a meaningful solar access code—in short, more “stupid growth.” It’s not been all bad, of course, but clues to our lack of progress include vacant buildings downtown, cutbacks in LTD bus routes and fewer people biking to work than 20 years ago.
So where do we go from here? The conference did shed light on the link between our environment and our economy and pointed us in the right direction. But overcoming inertia requires action and tough decisions. So-called “Green” Eugene is actually many years behind Portland, Corvallis, Ashland and many other cities in progressive planning. Let’s take these good concepts from the conference and put them to work. Nothing less than the future vitality of our city is at stake.
Published by Staff on June 10, 2008
A recent story in The Register-Guard describes efforts to visualize Springfield’s future:
SPRINGFIELD—City officials agree that their city is going to grow—the question is how and where.
With sights set on expanding the urban growth boundary, members of the City Council and Planning Commission on Monday discussed their vision for the city’s economic future.
One year after the state Senate approved a bill that will allow Springfield to set and expand its growth boundary without the approval of adjacent Eugene, a joint work session began identifying just what kind of industry they’d like to have in a potentially larger city.
What are your ideas for the future of Springfield? Is Springfield better off taking charge of its own destiny, or would it make more sense to link its future to those of neighboring communities?
Published by Staff on June 10, 2008
According to a recent story in The Register-Guard, Lane Transit District is considering cutting service:
Lane Transit District will consider cutting the equivalent of four large routes next year as it deals with rising gas prices, a sputtering economy and other factors driving up costs, officials said Monday.
The magnitude of the cuts and the routes affected won’t be finalized until the end of the year. General Manager Mark Pangborn said the board has set a conservative course, and can re-evaluate as the fiscal picture becomes clear.
“This is probably the most reasonable worst-case scenario,” Pangborn said after a four-hour strategic planning session with the LTD board.
The district blames its budget crisis on rising fuel prices, weak payroll tax receipts in a poor economy and the growing cost of Ride Source, a bus service for people with disabilities that the federal government mandates but does not fund.
The board is considering trimming service by 15 percent next year, which would mean dropping more than 45,000 hours of operation annually. A typical large route runs for 12,000 service hours annually, spokesman Andy Vobora said.
Do you think LTD should live within its budget, even if that means cutting service at a time when ridership has been increasing? Or do you have ideas for how LTD might maintain or even expand its service?
Published by Staff on June 6, 2008
In a guest viewpoint in the Register-Guard, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and Eugene Association of REALTORS® president Marie Due call for seeking common ground for moving forward together:
Challenges offer opportunities for people to talk and work together, and to do things better and smarter. We in Lane County have the opportunity to choose how we manage the challenges confronting us.