URBAN GROWTH FOCUS PROPOSAL
History/Need
Many members of the Southeast Uplift Land Use Committee, and other interested citizens, have expressed a desire to explore urban growth issues. In particular, interest and concern has been expressed in the local impacts of urban growth and the Comprehensive Plan's contemplated increase in the urban density. In addition, as the area and the City experience the first real growth in a decade, the need for citizens to be educated and involved in these issues becomes more important.
Resources
Potential resources for a concentrated focus on urban growth issues have increased in recent months and this proposal was developed as a result of that and the level of interest. Resources include: Land Use Committee monthly meeting time, donated video tapes of the AIA lecture series and METRO' s second annual Urban Growth Conference. The proposed use of each of these resources is discussed below.
Proposed Program
During the Spring of 1990 the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects presented a lecture series entitled "Blueprints for Growth.." These lectures were video taped and the AIA generously offered to donate a copy of the tapes to Southeast Uplift. This offered a unique opportunity for the Land Use Committee and a sub-committee was formed to examine ways to make use of these tapes.
The sub-committee decided that a public showing of two of these tapes would be appropriate. The Andres Duany lecture which focuses on urban growth and the traditional town concept and the Daniel Solomon lecture which focuses on urban design issues were selected. These showings would be scheduled for January 10, 1991 and January 29, 1991 in the Southeast Uplift Fireside room. Following the tape an open discussion of the issues raised in the taped lecture would be moderated by a guest professional. For example, Ethan Seltzer and Bob Stacey might moderate the urban growth discussion and local architect and designer would be sought for the urban design discussion.
In order to make this a comprehensive focus additional activities would take place at the Land Use Committee meetings during October, November and January. The agenda for each month would include a special presentation which focuses on an aspect of urban growth. In October, Ethan Seltzer would discuss METRO's Urban Growth Management Plan Goals and Objectives. In November the presentation would focus on transportation issues and in January METRO's Urban Natural Areas Inventory would be presented. In addition, the AIA tapes would be pre-screened for the Land Use Committee members at the October and November meeting so that those individuals would be fully prepared to participate in the public discussions in January.
The final event in this focus is METRO's second Urban Growth Conference which will take place during the first two weeks of February. This is a day long event which features nationally recognized urban growth experts and commentators on the nature of urban living. In order to encourage citizen participation in this event, it is proposed that the Land Use Committee apply for a Neighborhood Self Help grant and provide scholarships for interested citizens. The deadline for the grant application is October 19th.
The approach outlined above is intended to focus the committee members, and other interested citizens, on urban growth as a multifaceted issue. They end result will be better educated citizens and a firmly established communication link between southeast citizens and the government staff who implement urban growth decisions in the region. Perhaps the next step could be a dialogue with the policy makers?