Ellen Wyoming Promoted to Associate

Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC is delighted to announce that Ellen Wyoming has been promoted to Associate as a full-time colleague with the firm beginning January 1, 2013. Ellen brings experience, creativity and passion for equity in urban and community planning, authentic community involvement with diverse groups of people, and culturally-appropriate organizing and facilitating.  She is keenly focused on the intersection of planning and economic opportunity, and looks forward to continuing to increase her capacity as a planner in her work related to creating vibrant, sustainable, and healthy communities.

In her capacity as Associate, Ellen will be managing projects including a Tsunami preparedness guide for Oregon coastal communities. She also is working on research of trends over time that will affect estuaries along the Oregon coast. Both projects are for the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. She is assisting with the public involvement process for a voluntary annexation strategy for South Hillsboro and has been working with the Tulalip Tribes in Washington on a neighborhood and green infrastructure planning project. Most recently, she was project manager for the development of the Portland Mercado, an initiative of Hacienda Community Development Corporation for a new Latino-themed public market to serve more than three dozen new low-income Latino entrepreneurs.

Ellen was awarded the American Planning Association Award for Application of the Planning Process for her work on the Portland Mercado as a graduate student in Portland State University’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. She also was awarded the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association’s award for Student Achievement in Planning for the Portland Mercado project. She can be reached at 503-278-3462 or ellen.wyoming@coganowens.com

Oregon Passenger Rail Project Study Underway

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is conducting a study to examine ways to improve rail service along the Oregon portion of the Pacific Northwest rail corridor, specifically between Portland and Eugene

COC is assisting as a subconsultant to provide public involvement services in connection with this High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Project. Current public outreach includes providing project information and soliciting input on the project’s purpose and need, and alternative alignments to evaluate. COC assisted with a series of community open houses and informational presentations as part of this “scoping” phase. Scoping input will help inform what alignments, if any, are analyzed in detail in an environmental impact statement, as well as issues such as station locations and other system improvements.

Oregon City Here We Come!

Cogan Owens Cogan is delighted to be leading a team of consultants to assist the City of Oregon City in developing a concept plan for the South End Urban Growth Expansion Area.  The 478-acre area is located in the southwest corner of Oregon City along the Canemah Bluffs.  Kirstin Greene and Steve Faust will lead COC’s efforts.  “We are excited to apply our appreciative approach with residents of Oregon City and the South End area in particular,” said Kirstin. “We aim to preserve the things that make South End special while working with area and city residents and businesses to identify new amenities that will benefit current and future South End residents.”

Community engagement is a main focus of the Concept Plan process.  COC will work closely with the City to design and implement a broad and inclusive strategy that helps community members articulate what they like about South End today and what will make it an attractive place to live in the future.  When complete, these core values will help guide development of the Concept Plan. COC Senior Planner Steve Faust will be facilitating a community based Citizen Advisory Team, comprised of diverse interests and stakeholders. Stay tuned!

Summer Intern Assists with Tulalip Tribes Project

Cary Watters has joined COC this summer as a community engagement intern as a key project partner with our Tulalip Indian Tribes Lower Quilceda Neighborhood Plan project. She is a member of the Tlingit Indian Nation and is passionate about natural and cultural resources. Her perspective will continue to provide valuable insight into our community and youth engagement strategy and the neighborhood plan. Cary just completed her first year in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program (MURP) at Portland State University, specializing in environmental planning. She graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2008 with a focus on natural resource science and public policy, and has worked as Policy Assistant for Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz between college and graduate school. Her previous interview, survey and facilitation work with the Portland Youth and Elders Council, along with her commitment to equity and social justice in the planning process, is a great fit for COC and our other planning and community engagement project work.  Welcome Cary!