Vibrant Communities in a Robust Region

1. Vibrant Communities in a Robust Region Centralina Council of Governments

2. CONNECT Our Future – Start with Video http://youtu.be/xwfuVdK8q_M 2

3. Challenges We Face Today Our region’s rapid growth over the last decade made it the fastest growing of all U.S. regions with more than 1 million people. Our population is expected to continue to grow by 50 percent in the next two decades and double within four decades. It will be important to match growth with good quality jobs, necessary transportation, quality housing that is affordable, clean water, improved air quality and other social and physical infrastructure. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we need to ensure we have vibrant communities that benefit from being party of a healthy, robust region. 3

4. Our Regional Geography • Two-State Region includes: • 14 Counties with about 2.43 million population (NC 2.06 million; SC .37 million) • More than 100 municipalities 4

5. Why is Regional Cooperation Important? Growing economy and jobs to match population growth is critical and regions without growth framework cannot compete effectively for major new developments Planning appropriately for dramatic growth within the region while maintaining community character Meeting infrastructure needs – sewer, transportation – while controlling cost of government Unemployment; need for jobs and housing that attract/retain young people Difficulty attracting businesses, need for worker training Sharing limited water resources Lack of regional information and tools for decision-making

6. Working Together on Solutions — “CONNECT Our Future” • Working together to grow jobs and the economy, improve quality of life, control cost of government • Engages local governments, other public and private partners, and local residents across the 14-county grant area • Extensive community engagement and built on identified needs, existing plans and strategies • Funded by a $4.9 million HUD Sustainable Communities Grant and $3 million committed local in-kind match; three-year process • Based on the Region’s “CONNECT” Vision (2008)

7. Collaborating to Solve Challenges — Benefits Realized by Other Regions • Kansas City region identified more than $2.5 billion in infrastructure savings (pop. 1.92 million) • Salt Lake City region identified more than $4.5 billion in infrastructure savings (pop. 1.57 million) • Chattanooga region (pop. 336,463) and Knoxville region (pop. 558,696) revitalized urban cores • Sacramento’s infrastructure growth scenario would save $9.4 billion over a 50 year period (pop. 2.32 million) • Birmingham region developed more affordable housing (pop. 1.12 million) • Most regions reduce growth in vehicles miles • More effective use of limited federal dollars

8. CONNECT Our Future – The Project and Process 8

9. What is a Regional Framework? • It is a guide for how we agree to grow as a region and how we use resources to ensure we match growth with good quality jobs, housing and infrastructure. • It is a toolkit for local governments to use in addressing shared problems that includes recommended, non-binding strategies andpolicies. • It is developed through extensive community engagement, and will have broad regional support. • The adoption of policies and strategies by individual communities will be voluntary.

10. Who is Involved in “CONNECT Our Future?” More than 100 local governments, private businesses, educational institutions, non-profits and others interested 30+ Communities and 20+ others (MPO, RPO, Private, non-profits etc) have signed the Consortium Agreements and appointed elected/staff to serve as decision-making body Elected Official are the Champions of the Process and are leading the effort

11. How will the work get done? • Consortium Work Teams • Develop technical content for Regional Growth Framework • Provide overall project support • Consortium Forums • Program (staff) Forum integrates Team work • Policy (elected) Forum addresses policy implications • COGs • Advise on recommendations for local government

12. CONNECT Our Future – 3 Year Process

13. Scenario Planning 101 13

14. Scenario Planning – What is it? Role in the Project: Scenario planning will be used throughout the project to test regional goals and community values, as well as explore alternatives for growth, development, and investments in the region. Community-Based Regional Initiative: • Roles of CCOG / CRCOG as project enablers • Roles & expertise of each state, regional, and local government agency in the scenario planning process • Validate the planning process • Better balance conflict & collaboration • Regional vision, local implementation

15. Prepare for Growth How big do we want to be? Where do we want to grow? Are we growing sustainably? Can we pay for growth? Are we still proud of where we live?

16. Prepare for Growth ULI Realty Check Community Work Sessions Consensus-Building Growth Brainstorming Session General Growth Themes Pop. & Emp. Centers Hot Spots for Growth Character How do we want to grow as a community? Influenced by Community Plans / Citizen Vision Build Alternative Growth Scenarios Evaluate Growth Scenario Report Card Public Feedback & Polling Scenario Planning Initiative

17. Scenario Planning – Our Software Engine

18. Scenario Planning Process Map

19. Bottom-Up Approach The buildable area for the parcel represents land available for development after the removal of site constraints and application of a site efficiency factor. This would be similar to theoretically subdividing lots within the larger parcel. The development yield for each parcel in the model is calculated based on the preceding steps. These rules and factors should theoretically approximate a site plan or development program for the parcel that would be feasible based on the specific place type category and previous development patterns and intensities observed in the study area. A site efficiency factor is applied the parcel to remove a percentage of land that would theoretically be dedicated to on-site infrastructure (e.g., internal streets, storm water management, etc). A building envelope represents the gross floor area for one or more buildings on the lot after the application of parking requirements and/or the removal of common space associated with the building or buildings (e.g., public plazas, outdoor seating, etc.). Information for parking requirements and/or common space dedication is tied to the specific place type category. The developable area of a parcel represents land remaining for development after the removal of assumed development constraints. The zoning envelope for the lot represents the three dimensional space available for constructing one or more buildings. It is affected by maximum floor area ratio, building height, etc. assigned to the specific place type category. A composite map aggregates all of the physical or policy conditions affecting the parcel into a single development constraints layer, which is used to avoid double counting in subsequent steps of the modeling process. The zoning footprint on a lot would be some shape and size smaller than the lot itself to account for yard setbacks, maximum lot coverage, watershed protection rules (if applicable), etc. associated with the location of the parcel and the specific place type category assigned to it. The original, undeveloped parcel showing physical or policy conditions present on the land.

20. Measuring the Trade-Offs

21. Get It Right for Your Community Development Status Assignments Place Type Assignments General Development Lookup Table Committed Development Inventory Service Delivery Rates & Equations Calibration Activities

22. Get It Right for Your Community

23. Constant Contact Strategy Project technical team Blueprinting Workgroup Other workgroups / sub-workgroups Focus group meetings Sub-region coordination activities Lots of e-mails Even more telephone calls

24. Moving Beyond CONNECT Our Future Capacity building initiative Database management tool Evaluate local decision / regional impacts Start stretching the model Next project? CommunityViz Models / Training:

25. Moving Beyond CONNECT Our Future Land suitability analysis Comprehensive plan update Water resource plans Development policy testing Fiscal impact analysis Site development performance visualization Some Popular Software Applications:

26. Your Involvement 26

27. Your Involvement Provide input through your consortium representatives Provide GIS data layers, plans, zoning ordinances, growth policies, etc. Help us build a scenario planning model Advertise and participate in open house meetings throughout project Choose the tools and strategies that work for your community Serve as quality control for our work

28. CONNECT Sub-regions

29. Open House Meetings…. Your Assistance Needed: Talk to your department head and staff, community leaders and residents about the CONNECT Our Future – Invite them to be involved Advertise Open House Meetings – Posters in City/County Admin Buildings, Chambers, festivals, etc. Coordinate with CCOG on meeting logistics; meeting facility, refreshments, etc. Staff support during the Open House events

30. Project Communication Tools Monthly project updates to be sent through e-newsletter Advance notice and communication about the Open Houses and other Public Engagement events in your area Information available on website www.connectourfuture.org Like and follow us on Social Media like Facebook and Twitter

31. Get Involved! • This is YOUR process and it is focused on finding solutions to the challenges communities share in the 14-county region. • It will only be successful if cities, counties, businesses, educators, non-profits and others work together on strategies for our future.

32. Questions or Comments? Website: www.connectourfuture.org Follow us on 32