Arnold Cogan Speaks on the Future of Land Use Planning

Arnold is at it once again!  He spent the early parts of his career advocating and building support for the Oregon land use laws and he’s back out there building support for a plan to chart the future of Oregon.

Arnold presented a paper that he and Nohad A. Toulan co-authored, The Next Forty Years: A New Approach to Planning for the Future of Oregon, at the Seventh Annual Conference of the International Academic Association on Planning, Law and Property Rights. An audience of planners, academics and attorneys from around the globe attended the conference, held at Portland State University.

During his talk he covered a brief history of how Oregon got to where it is, in terms of regional planning, and in looking forward suggested that “where and how we grow is probably more important than how much we grow.”

Historically and today most Oregonians live in the Willamette Valley (82 percent) and unless something changes, this trend will continue. Not including potential climate refugees, the population of Oregon is expected to double in less than 50 years and 10 million people will live in the state by 2100.

Continuing with current policies and actions, we will not be prepared to deal with the negative consequences that accompany that growth: pressure to expand urban areas onto farm, forest and natural resources areas and large infrastructure costs.

In order to accommodate this additional growth, Arnold concluded with proposals that he and Nohad wrote in their paper:

• The creation of a new State Planning Office (SPO) and The Commission for the 22nd Century (Commission).
• A State Planning Director housed in the Governor’s Office, appointed to work with the Commission and supervise the SPO.
• Within two years, these groups be required to create a state strategic vision for the next 40 years and beyond.
• The SPD and Commission would work with affected state agencies, regional entities and local governments to achieve concurrence with the visions identified above.

In making these recommendations, Arnold shows a commitment to the future and ensuring that Oregon stays livable while ensuring continued economic prosperity and a healthful natural environment. As Arnold pointed out during the discussion after his talk, “for any planning initiative to move forward, it must have the support of the people.”

Healthy farms, healthy people, and a more vital community – what is not to like?

Bob Wise, Associate Principal of Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC spoke at the October 12 Coalition for a Livable Future on the released Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. SARE funded a comprehensive regional food systems study (http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/pdx-foodshed) and report for the Portland region and other related work on the relationship of food to health.

The Sustainable Portland Metropolitan Foodshed report examines the regional food system through the lens of Civic Ecology – an integrated web of energy, resources, goods, services, capital, and information resource flows – and sustainability principles. The report identifies challenges and opportunities created by global and national agriculture trends and environmental conditions. It also recommends strategies to strengthen the local food economy.

Bob addressed the relationships of food equity and access to the overall regional food economy and suggested specific steps that could be taken by the agricultural industry, planners, policy makers and citizens to create conditions where local healthy food can be substituted for imported unhealthy food.

Oregon Global Warming Commission in Portland June 9

COC FOUNDING PRINCIPAL HELPS DESIGN COMMUINITY LIVABILITY FORUM MARCH 29

How can Planners, Architects and Landscape Architects meet the “livability challenge” of the 21^st century?  Arnold Cogan, FAICP has been meeting with a group of Fellows of these three disciplines to discuss how they can contribute to the creation of more sustainable communities.  The first in a series of interactive conversations on the subject will be held March 29 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. at the Center for Architecture, 403 NW 11^th in Portland.  All are welcome to attend. See http://bit.ly/fzC6Ei for more information.

The panel discussion, moderated by David Siegel, Fellow, American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), will include Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association President Brian Campbell, FAICP; James Hencke, ASLA, President, Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects; and Paddy Tillett, FAIA, FAICP for the American Institute of Architects.

A follow up discussion with Arnold on the panel will come in October this year at a joint conference in Portland sponsored by the Oregon and Washington Chapters of the American Association of Planners.

Hope to see you there!