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Past News January, 2004
Dear Friends: We hope 2004 is happy, healthy and peaceful for us all. As this new year begins, we are pleased to share some current news from Cogan Owens Cogan (COC), in particular, interesting work in housing, strategic planning and land use. Housing —According to Beaverton Mayor, Rob Drake, our recent affordable housing report is a “model for other local jurisdictions to follow in meeting Metro’s housing planning guidelines.” We appreciate the Mayor’s remarks and hope the results of our extensive study give Beaverton specific ways to meet its affordable housing goals. These are among our 17 significant recommendations: land banking; deferral of permitting or development fees; employer-assisted housing; and establishment of a housing trust fund.In yet another housing endeavor, Matt Hastie is leading our effort to update Washington County’s Consolidated Housing Plan. He is managing a consulting team analyzing the housing market and needs of the homeless for housing, related community services and facilities that may be eligible for Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Strategic Planning —When we work with our clients on strategic plans, the results are used and useful. Elaine Cogan recently completed facilitating meetings of 11 work groups representing the many facets of administration and faculty at Marylhurst University. Their exciting and creative ideas are helping make the campus-wide strategic planning process relevant for years to come. Clackamas County Libraries, PacifiCorp Foundation, Water Environment Services of Clackamas County, and the Oregon Symphony also have benefitted from dynamic strategic plans COC has designed and managed.Land Use —Nearly every year, we seem to have a project in Alaska. In 2002-03, we designed and managed the public involvement process for a major transportation project in Juneau. This year, we are managing an update of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Comprehensive Plan. This past fall, Matt Hastie and Suzanne Roberts held more than 45 community meetings in three weeks, walking, flying and driving over this vast area. We have developed and are maintaining a Web site that provides a more detailed description of the project and is a major communication link among the widely spread communities in the Borough.Closer to home, COC helped the City of Canby successfully rezone areas of downtown from low to high density residential. The open public process resulted in unanimous approval by the City Council, with no testimony in opposition. COC Closes Out Year with Other Exciting Work Public Policy —How do you help citizens deal with sensitive matters related to keeping Portland’s public schools healthy and flourishing? Elaine Cogan, Bob Wise, Damian Pitt and Suzanne Roberts recently managed an open public process that resulted in a recommended boundary policy for westside public schools. They coordinated the work of an energetic 27-member citizens task force, conducted extensive research and held public forums attended by nearly 800 concerned citizens.Parks Planning —During their epic journey, the Lewis and Clark expedition first viewed the Pacific Ocean at what is now Cape Disappointment State Park in Illwaco, Washington. To respond to increased numbers of visitors expected with the bicentennial celebration of the Corps of Discovery, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has commissioned a comprehensive master plan for the park. Jim Owens is managing the SEPA and NEPA processes, natural and cultural resource inventories and assessments, regulatory compliance issues, and public and agency involvement activities.Project Management —Jim also is project manager for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s $2.4 million program for subbasin planning in Oregon. He is overseeing the planning process in twenty-one Columbia River System subbasins, providing statewide coordination, contract administration and process facilitation.Self Governance —We won a national award for our initial phases of Complete Communities for Clackamas County. Elaine Cogan, Kirstin Greene, Pam Pickens and Suzanne Roberts continue to work on additional groundbreaking efforts. Working with the County and volunteer work groups in rural areas, we are developing governance systems that will ensure these communities greater local decision-making without having to incorporate as cities. Factors such as financing, organizational structure, boundaries, and preferred services are being considered. This effort appears to be unique in the Northwest, and possibly the country.Sustainability —We “walk the talk.” Arnold Cogan, Matt Hastie, Bob Wise and Damian Pitt are currently assisting private property owners in Oregon City to plan for an eco-industrial/residential/commercial village on land originally zoned only for industrial use. Bob and Arnold are active in other sustainability efforts in Portland and elsewhere.Intergovernmental Coordination —It has been at least 15 years since the first bypass of Highway 99W in the Newberg-Dundee area was first proposed. Arnold Cogan, Kirstin Greene and Suzanne Roberts represent COC on this multi-million dollar project. We are designing and managing the intricate public involvement and agency coordination needed to address transportation and associated livability problems for the area as the bypass is planned. In addition to the affected public, federal and state agencies, four cities, two counties and other local jurisdictions are involved.Current Planning —And we still find time for comprehensive plan updates, buildable lands studies, and ordinance reviews for Columbia County and the cities of Boardman, Heppner, Ione, Lexington, Ontario, Silverton, St. Helens and West Linn!
Want to Know More? Past News:
January, 2006 Awards | Publications | News |
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