VISIONING IN YOUR COMMUNITY Remember: unique needs capabilities of YOUR community Stick to the budget and listen to community residents

The Oregon Model Copyright 1997 Ames

Scenarios  Single: most possible future, preferred alternative to the present situation  Multiple: exploration to determined pros and cons of each possibility Scenarios help define the “products” that are desired such as: community profile, values statement, trend statement, vision statement and action plan.

 Simplified visioning: requires less resources, time and public participation  Comprehensive visioning process: requires more resources, time, and public input So… Why get your community involved?

Community Engagement  Participatory  Depends on consensus  Action-oriented process  Results in more “products” “Visioning is, by nature, community-based.” -Ames *Community and political support are crucial to the success of the plan.

Ways to involve the community  Community Surveys  Community Tours  Planning Workshops  Publications  Social events/activities  Charrettes

Trends in Visioning: Charrettes  Meeting or series of meetings for the public to directly contribute to the vision by:  Making decisions (usually about land use/design) for changes, zoning, neighborhood plans  Implementing public visions into the products Charrette guides: National Charrette Institute: Charrette Center (Urban Design): f&pfk=7&gk=261

Trends in Visioning: Organic Planning  After the Community Action Program of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, government was involved in pushing communities to organize.  Twenty years later, public discontent with the program led to civilians creating their own organizations, implementing policies unique to their own communities while shunning government support.

Organic Planning (continued)  Started with community visioning and community— not government—initiated activities that are process (in dealing with future) oriented.  Efforts are also inclusive and collaborative  Desired outcome is tangible through deliberation  Organic planning is usually rooted in one situation at one point in time—rarely a long-term commitment.

Organic Planning & the Institutions  Govt.-efforts to reconnect citizens with the government  Community-coalitions & mobilizations to access decision-making venues to influence policy

Organic Planning works when…  … people are informed and/or when information about the issues at hand are available.  …it proceeds from process oriented (for the future) to sustaining participation within community infrastructure.

2016  Why didn’t the vision work out for Chicago?  Who would have benefitted?  Who would have been disenfranchised?

Trends in Visioning: Links and Resources  Community Visioning & The Oregon Model: s.html  Community Visioning model from Iowa State University:  Urban Community Visioning from Bend, OR:  Community Visioning from Office for Smart Growth: andards.pdf