How Do Local Land Use and Transportation Plans Influence Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs)?

Did you ever wonder how existing and future local government plans impact greenhouse gases?  Cogan Owens Cogan, working with Good Company, recently assisted the City of Lake Oswego with its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Analysis.  For the first time in Oregon, the Good Company/COC team conducted a review of Lake Oswego plans and their likely GHG impacts.  We looked at the City’s 2035 We Love Lake Oswego vision, comprehensive plan elements, the 2035 preferred growth scenario, economic development and the plan for updating the City’s transportation plan.

View the report. Let us know what you think! Contact Bob Wise or Kirstin Greene for more information.

COC Celebrates OAPA Awards

Shout out to COC Associate Ellen Wyoming for taking state as well as national awards for her Mercado project. Ellen and her fellow teammates Abigail Cermak, David Ruelas, and Bridger Wineman are awarded at OAPA last week for Student Achievement in Planning with the Portland Mercado.

COC also cheers for the recognition of Councilor Sally Moncrief in Lake Oswego for her leadership of the www.welovelakeoswego.com comprehensive plan update effort. This process is integrating sustainability, comprehensive land use and transportation planning as well as robust community engagement. We couldn’t do it this well without Councilor Sally’s tireless leadership. Go Sally!

City of Palm Springs Sustainability Master Plan

COC recently assisted the City of Palm Springs to develop a Sustainability Master Plan, which is currently under review by the Resource Conservation Commission and the City Council.  The plan, initiated by the Mayor and City Council, addresses sustainability from a comprehensive community perspective. It includes goals, actions and metrics for the following critical areas: city management, economic vitality, urban development and mobility, climate change, energy, ecosystems, waste and water. The team used multiple types of outreach to neighborhoods, school, businesses and other stakeholder groups as well as an online questionnaire.  The Master Plan includes a working definition of sustainability for Palm Springs including a vision and guiding principles.  It summarizes past and current sustainability initiatives, major trends and state policy, and elements of the City’s General Plan.  To support development of the Master Plan and mobilize local organizations to address sustainability challenges, the Mayor formed a city-wide Leadership Council composed of government, academic, business, institutional and nonprofit organization leaders.