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!

OPJ Article on SB 1059

(As written for the upcoming issue of the Oregon Planners Journal, the newsletter of the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association)

SB 1059 Passed to Begin to Implement MPO Recommendations on Greenhouse Gas Reductions

“SB 1059 lays the groundwork for communities to plan for future population and employment growth while reducing greenhouse gases….” – Senator Jackie Dingfelder

Responding to the State of Oregon’s policy on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions passed in 2007, and House Bill 2186 of the 2009 session, legislators passed Senate Bill 1059 during the final days of the 2010 legislative session. Introduced by Senator Courtney at the request of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Greenhouse Gas Task Force, the bill contains these primary elements:

1. Directs the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to collaborate with MPOs, other state agencies, local governments and stakeholders to adopt a statewide transportation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as set forth under ORS468A.205. As background, ORS  468A.205 establishes Oregon’s policy on greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals:
   • By 2010, arrest the growth of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions and begin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
   • By 2020, achieve greenhouse gas levels that are 10 percent below 1990 levels.
   • By 2050, achieve greenhouse gas levels that are at least 75 percent below 1990 levels.

   ORS 468.205 further declares that “it is the policy of this state for state and local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individual residents to prepare for the effects of global warming and by doing so, prevent and reduce the social, economic and environmental effects of global warming.”

2. Directs the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation and Development Commission (DLCD), after consultation with MPOs, other state agencies, local governments and stakeholders shall establish guidelines for developing and evaluating alternative land use scenarios that may reduce GHG emissions.
3. Calls for development of a toolkit for use by local governments to reduce transportation sector GHG emissions through land use and other means.
4. Directs LCDC in consultation with the OTC, local governments and MPOs to identify a reduction target for the transportation sector for GHG emissions for vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less in each MPO area.
5. Directs ODOT and DLCD to work with other state agencies and the Oregon University System on public outreach and education associated with the need to reduce GHG emissions and associated costs and benefits of GHG emission reductions.
6. Asks local governments within MPOs to consider whether any immediate action should be taken to reduce transportation-sector GHG emissions, and to consider how Regional Transportation System plans outside the Portland Metropolitan area could be altered to reduce GHG emissions. [The Portland Metropolitan area has specific and related task it is working on per the 2009 HB 2001 Jobs and Transportation Act.]
7. Requires DLCD and ODOT to report on the above actions to the 2011 Legislature.

Credit goes to OAPA chapter Vice-President Brian Campbell for testifying on the bill, and to members of the emergent OAPA Sustainability Steering Team for their work – particularly Richard Ross and OAPA Legislative Liaison Stephen Kafoury.  For the full text of the bill, see: http://www.leg.state.or.us/10ss1/measpdf/sb1000.dir/sb1059.b.pdf

- Kirstin Greene, AICP, Managing Principal, Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC

January 2010: New Beginnings

Cogan Owens Cogan Celebrates 35 Years!
Passion drives our work at COC. We are inspired by our clients, the communities with whom we work and all our partners and friends.

While we are encouraged that 2010 has started off with a bang, it will continue to require efficiencies in our work, creative partnerships and innovation.  Through professional development and work with our clients, we continue to advance and refine our integrated practice areas of planning, community engagement and sustainability. We have had the good fortune to continue to be able to stretch our professional wings in broadening our creative and strategic partnerships in energy, climate change, urban design, asset management, community engagement, social media, strategic planning and process facilitation.

We hope to have the chance to work with you this year. Please continue reading for a sample of what we are up to!

~ Kirstin Greene, Managing Principal

Welcome Ric Stephens!
We are pleased to welcome planner and urban designer Ric Stephens to COC. Ric’s practice on local and national levels helps us stay on the cutting edge of public engagement and community building.  In addition to his work in Chehalem, Urban Reserves projects, the Dominican Republic and Haiti recovery planning, Ric is closely involved with community initiatives such as the recent urban design charrette in Beaverton. The Oregonian gave impressive coverage to this event. It attracted elected officials, experienced urban design and planning professionals, and agency staff to work with 70 high school students to design attributes and uses for the long neglected Westgate Theater site.

Building on his extensive expertise creating meaningful and memorable communities, Ric continues to inspire us all with his ideas and creativity in youth engagement, innovative community planning and urban design.

Climate Action Planning
As part of our 2010 commitment to continuing work on helping solve our most challenging problems, COC hosted a brown bag on Climate Action Planning on January 7.  Twenty committed professionals doing work in this field enjoyed a presentation by former COC planner Damian Pitt, PhD, on his recent research on climate action planning at Virginia Tech. The discussion that followed was intense and enlightening.  We were fortunate in 2009 to work on various aspects of climate change and greenhouse gas reduction strategies, and look forward to a continued focus in this area in 2010.  Let us know if you would like to be apprised of our next gathering on this or related topics. Please email us at coc@coganowens.com.

Community Renewal
In Oregon City, we are helping the community decide how to maintain and enhance the iconic Carnegie Center, a community asset that has been vacant for more than a year.

For the Office of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, we are facilitating meetings of a group of veterans for their perspective on how to revitalize and reuse the historic Memorial Coliseum.

In Rainier, COC assisted business owners, elected and appointed officials, railroad and ODOT representatives to reach consensus on a vision for A Street that will guide public investments to attract redevelopment along the city’s main downtown thoroughfare.

In Clackamas County, we are wrapping up an update to the County’s economic landscape project. The strategy will help decision makers and the business community guide investment, policy and regulatory decisions to maximize the benefits from both public finance and land use decisions.  Also in Clackamas County, we are facilitating Lake Oswego’s review of its sensitive lands ordinance to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, increase flexibility for property owners and simplify the permit process.

Internationally, we are initiating a new project to develop an eco-city master plan for Langfang, China, near Beijing.  COC is part of a team that includes the Woo Group, HOK Hong Kong, CW Group of San Francisco and others selected to develop a master plan to add to and redevelop an existing city of four million people.  The plan will focus on all aspects of urban development and redevelopment. Our firm will focus on the public policies necessary to implement and advance the eco-city vision and master plan.

Continuing our precedent-setting work in Asia through Team Oregon, we have completed work with Origin International on an Eco-City Plan for the City of Taipei, Taiwan.  See Net Green News’ coverage of this planning effort.  Bob Wise’s presentation on this  groundbreaking initiative given to the Natural Step of Oregon and other organizations is available here.

Sustainability Plans Roll On
Our 2008-2009 sustainability plans in Corvallis, Palm Springs, Clackamas County and Taiwan continue to gather momentum.  In Corvallis, volunteers created action teams to implement top community-based recommendations in the areas of transportation, energy, food, land use, natural areas, waste prevention and water. The Coalition is comprised of more than 130 community groups. COC designed and facilitated meetings with over 600 participants at three key points during the planning process.

Community Engagement
Individuals at COC remain personally committed to community involvement and participation. We volunteer our time to the Oregon Environmental Council, Urban Land Institute, Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association, Hands On Greater Portland, International Society of Japanese Gardens, Three Rivers Conservancy and others. Karen Beal with Hands on Greater Portland had this to say about COC’s Alisha Dishaw:

“…This is exactly the kind of experience that we hope for on MLK Weekend of Service.  I am grateful that you stepped up as you always do.  Being a good leader is all about relationship and inspiration and you’ve accomplished both with intention and grace.”

~ Karen Beal, PhD, Hands On Greater Portland

Recent Projects

Planning

• Civic Engagement and Land Use Framing Paper, Intermountain West Funder Network
• Floodplain Zoning Ordinance Update, City of Stanfield
• Stafford Triangle Infrastructure Cost Inventory and Analysis, Clackamas County Business Alliance
• Salem-Keizer Regional Economic Opportunities Analysis, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments

Sustainability

• Sustainability Planning Assistance, Metro
• Eco-City Master Plan, Langfang, China

Facilitation

• Listening Sessions, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
• Marine Reserves, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Memorial Coliseum Veterans Focus Group, Portland Development Commission and Portland Mayor’s Office
• Multnomah County Initiative Food Summit, Multnomah County
• Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act, Section 18 Implementation Project, Oregon Consensus and Oregon Department of Transportation
• Board Facilitation, Lewis & Clark College

Public Engagement

• Planning and Community Engagement, City of Damascus
• Junction City Transportation System Plan Update, Oregon Department of Transportation
• Complete Communities Healthy Communities Implementation, Clackamas County

Be in touch!
www.coganowens.com
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