Promote regional settlement patterns in our metropolitan area to better
integrate development with existing urbanized areas and to cultivate
the unique qualities of community places and neighborhoods.
Involve regional planning entities or cooperative coordinating municipal
associations in decision-making about significant land uses affecting
broad settlement patterns.
Promote land use patterns that most efficiently use existing public
infrastructure and community resources without diminishing the social,
economic and cultural values of existing residential settlements and
neighborhoods.
Promote development patterns that help maintain the
viable long-term use of working open lands such as agriculture and
forestry.
CONSERVATION
Identify and protect those natural areas in our metropolitan region
which enhance the quality of our air, water and habitat for wildlife.
Establish a metro-wide system of environmental corridors, greenways,
or landscapes, which establish convenient, non-destructive public use
of our natural environment including bikeways, recreation areas, nature
walks, and scenic preserves.
Promote the cleanup and reuse of vacant and under-utilized buildings
and sites served with public utilities.
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
Facilitate the focused involvement of local citizens, municipal officials,
regional authorities and recognized experts to identify, design and
maintain desirable, attractive and stable neighborhoods.
Make up-to-date information on regional development and planning
widely available over a variety of media including pamphlets, books,
classes, presentations, broadcast, and Internet.
PUBLIC UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Plan and develop timely, orderly and efficient arrangements of public
facilities and services that reinforce local land use plans developed
within a regional framework or perspective.
Promote a single regional sewer, water and stormwater authority charged
with integrating and equitably paying for the provision of these services
within regionally adopted patterns of land use.
Utility development and management should emphasize resource conservation
while assuring environmental safety from contamination.
COMMUNITY DESIGN
Promote the adoption of community design standards by local planning
entities that improve the use and enjoyment of urban and community environments.
Through focused community involvement in the design process, plan
neighborhoods, cities and community centers which exhibit:
A sense of place and community.
Safety and less crime.
Broad diversity of social and economic status.
Respect for cultural and natural heritage.
Educational opportunities and success.
Buildings and routes scaled to human needs for personal access,
safety and aesthetic comfort.
Easy access to natural areas.
Protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
Promote inter-jurisdictional, regional cooperation and collaboration
among communities to work towards quality, efficient, equitable, cost
effective and long- term delivery of government services to all residents
throughout the region.
Further enhance mechanisms for encouraging inter-governmental cooperation
between and among federal, state and local jurisdictions with increased
emphasis on inter-local activities.
EQUITY AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
Strive to protect the interest of all landowners from poor regional
development design, inefficient and costly use of land resources, unbalanced
allocation of regional public resources and unnecessarily restrictive
regulation.
The costs and benefits of regional services and development should
be shared in an equitable manner and on a regional basis.
TRANSPORTATION
Link land use decision-making and the provision of transportation
facilities so as to encourage compact livable communities.
Develop a system of transportation which:
Maintains or improves the level of service for the current system
of streets and thoroughfares
Supports local land use patterns and regional activity centers
as outlined in a regional framework plan
Incorporates where possible mass transit, bicycling Pedestrian
opportunities
