Fwd: Why some communities succeed . . .

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

Subject:     Why some communities succeed . . .
Sent:        7/8/19 3:03 PM
Received:    7/8/99 9:11 PM
From:        Scott Martin, SMartin@POBOX.CI.BOISE.ID.US
To:          DPlum65@aol.com
             smartgrowth@onenw.org


ÔÔ A message from the 'smartgro' discussion list  ÔÔ
Howdy folks,

I throw the following out for a dog days of July  discussion:

Luther Propst of The Sonoran Institute explored a fundamental question: why are some Western communities facing strong pressure for change able to maintain local character and quality of life while others lose the very features that once gave them distinction and appeal?  

He offered a list of nine characteristics some or all of which are displayed by most "successful" communities.  
Admittedly, the weakness here is that how one defines successful is based on ones own values.

Successful communities:

1)  "develop a widely shared community vision to inspire and guide public and private action

2)  identify their assets.  To inform local decisions, successful communities develop an inventory of their unique natural, cultural, historic, and architectural features

3)  build local policies around their special assets.  They make decisions that both protect and capitalize on the cultural, historical, architectural and natural features that make them distinctive.

4)  go beyond regulations.  Successful communities minimize the need for regulations to secure quality development and protect local values by utilizing private-sector tools and market incentives to influence design.

5)  meet the needs of both the landowners and the community.  Smart communities create partnerships with responsible developers, local government officials, and natural area managers to promote local values.

6)   team up with public land managers on initiatives that integrate local and national policies for common resources.

7)   recognize the critical role of non-governmental organizations.  Such organizations provide long-term leadership, promote informed dialogue that goes beyond polarized public hearings and single-issue advocacy, and can help communities implement their ideas and initiatives.

8)  provide opportunities for local leaders to step forward.  These "hometown heroes" are dedicated residents who spearhead local effort to better their communities."( I WOULD ADD THAT SUCCESSFUL CITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZEN TO DEVELOP INTO LEADERS)

9)  "pay attention to aesthetics.  The most successful communities strive for development that is not only environmentally and fiscally sound, but visually pleasing as well." (Propst, 1998, WGA)

How are your communities doing in contrast to these characteristics?  What challenges to meeting these characteristics are you encountering, how can we solve these challenges?  Where are you pessimistic or optimistic about these conditions?  In other words, what are y'all's thoughts on the relevance of these characteristics to your communities and the maintenance of the quality of life factors in your area?

Thoughts, reaction?  One more thing,

Go Boise State Broncos!!!!!



------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com