GroWNC: WorkGroup Launch

Land-of-Sky Regional Council

January 19, 2011

Welcome and Review Agenda

Project Overview

OverviewWhat:

• The creation of a regional vision and

strategies for economic prosperity, quality growth, sustainable development

How:

• Build on existing plans and strategies and

ensure extensive public involvement

• Recognize that choices related to land use, energy, natural & cultural resources, health, housing and transportation support

the vision.

Who:

• A Consortium of local governments,

economic development entities, non-profits,

businesses, and other organizations will guide

the process

Where:

• The five county region of Western NC that

includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson,

Madison & Transylvania counties.

Why:

• So that Together, We Create Our Future.

Project Goals

• Gather widespread, unprecedented community input on future scenarios and existing, combined

plans/strategies

• Develop future scenarios and alternatives

• Ensure that planning for transportation, housing, jobs, energy, land use, health, and cultural and natural resources is integrated

• Seek implementation opportunities throughout the

process

• Ensure that the Regional Plan is a “living document”

Project Outcomes

• A regional plan that is a platform for elevating local strategies and needs to a regional level

• A coordinated regional vision for economic prosperity, quality growth, and sustainability that allows the region to achieve more by working together than can be accomplished separately

• Coordination of needs/planning across various subject areas so that limited resources can be used more effectively

• Positions the region well for future funding opportunities (through Preferred Sustainability Status, by qualifying for funds contingent upon completion of this process, and other opportunities this plan will support)

Project Team

Consultant Team

• LandDesign, Lead Consultant

• Allison Development Group, Public Engagement & Outreach

• UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling & Analysis Center, Scenario Modeling & Outreach

• The Little John Group, Housing

• BBP, Economic Development & Job Growth

• Martin Alexiou Bryson, Multimodal Transportation

• ERM, Energy & Natural Resources

Land-of-Sky Team

• Joe McKinney, Executive Director

• Ron Townley, Director of Local

Government Services

• Carrie Runser-Turner, Senior

Planner - GroWNC Project Manager

• Linda Giltz, Senior Planner - Land

Use & Growth Management

• Karen Kiehna, Senior Planner -

Community Development

GroWNC Process

Process Overview

Phase One: Project

Initiation

•Project Orientation

•Kickoff Meeting/

Study Area Tour

Phase Two:

Data Collection & Initial

Assessment

•Data Collection

•Mapping Regional “Snapshot”

•Plan Evaluation

•Draft Goals & Values

•Business- as-Usual Concept

•Technical Memo: Existing Conditions

Phase Three:

Analyses

•Housing

•Economic Development Job Creation

•Transportation

•Energy

•Natural & Cultural Resources

•Health & Wellness

•Land Use

Phase Four: Alternatives

Modeling

•Definition of Alternatives

•Selection of Indicators

•Alternatives-Development & Testing

•Technical Memo: Land Use Model Results

Phase Five: Policy

Framework and Implementation

Strategy

•Policy Framework

•Implementation Toolbox

•Action Plan

Phase Six: Production of

Final Plan

•Land-of-Sky/

•Consortium Review Draft

•Final Regional Plan

•Executive Summary

•Regional Plan Presentation

•Maps and GIS Data

Public Engagement Process

2 months 3 months 4 months 2 months 3 months 2 months

Steering Committee Meeting

Work Group Meeting

Public Meeting

Steering Committee(14 Voting Members, 3 Ex-Officio (Non-Voting) Members)

GroWNC Governance Structure

Local

Governments

City of

Asheville

Housing Transportation

LOSRC staff

support

Federal & State Partners

(3 Ex-Officio (non-voting) members, one from each NCDOC, NCDOT,

NCDENR)

Natural &

Cultural

Resources

Health &

Wellness

Energy Jobs/Economic

Development

Communications

& Outreach

Land Use

Consultants

5 11 representative

per workgroup

Workgroups

Consortium

Steering Committee Formation

• GroWNC process will be led by a 14-member Steering Committee

• City of Asheville and each County appoint 1 member each

• Each workgroup will nominate 2-3 individuals as candidates – LOSRC Board makes appointments

Workgroups

Workgroups Overview

• Form partnerships

• Help identify issues that are

common across the region

• Identify opportunities and

challenges

• Help to synthesize

information and work across

disciplines to find

interconnected solutions

• Develop strategies

• Seek implementation

opportunities

Workgroup Commitment

• Commit to minimum of 3 sessions (note that Workgroups will also hold interim meetings between sessions)

• Provide leadership

• Assist with Steering Committee formation

• Assist with public outreach

• Communicate with your constituents

• Develop recommendations for the Steering Committee

Workgroup Phases

Work Session #1 (March 2012)

• Identify Issues and Opportunities Common to All 5 Counties

• Develop Initial Vision for the Region

• Define Regionally-Important Values, Goals, and Objectives

• Nominate Workgroup Representative for Steering Committee

• Prep for Reality Check #1

• Synthesize information from Project Team

Workgroup Phases

Work Session #2 (June 2012)

• Assist in the development of scenarios

• Develop alternatives to be tested in the model

• Provide input on evaluation criteria related to the

goals and objectives

Workgroup Phases

Work Session #3 (Oct. 2012)

• Assist in the development of policies and implementation strategies

Workgroup Staff

• Ron Townley, Kate O’Hara – Economic Development

• Patrick Harper – Energy

• Rebecca Chaplin, Linda Giltz – Health

• Karen Kiehna, John Connell – Housing

• Linda Giltz, Erica Anderson – Land Use

• Kristin Peppel, Erica Anderson –Natural/Cultural Resources

• Natalie Murdock, Paul Black –Transportation

• Carrie Runser-Turner – Communications and Outreach

Workgroup Breakout Sessions

Workgroup Breakout Sessions

1. Choose your workgroup

Economic Development

Energy

Health

Housing

Land Use

Natural & Cultural Resources

Transportation

Communications & Outreach

Federal & State Partners*

Workgroup Breakout Sessions

2. Sign-in & introduce yourself

3. Start your discussion

4. Plan your group’s future meetings

Economic Development

Energy

Health

Housing

Land Use

Natural & Cultural Resources

Transportation

Communications & Outreach

Federal & State Partners*

Workgroup Breakouts

Reconvene & Wrap-Up

Next Steps

www.gro-wnc.org

• Workgroups continue with interim meetings

• Workgroups evolve and execute their charge including:

– Prepare for March Meetings with project Team

– Select Chair

– Discuss Nominations to Steering Committee

– Meet with Project Team in March (3/13-3/15)

• Stay Connected!

Stay Connected

www.gro-wnc.org

Stay Connected

www.facebook.com/JoinGroWNC

@JoinGroWNC

Questions?

THANK YOU!!!