2005 Highlights 2006 Initiatives
2004 Highlights 2005 Initiatives
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Idaho Smart Growth Names Executive Director
Rachel Winer named to lead Idaho Smart Growth
Idaho Smart Growth welcomes Rachel Winer as Executive Director. Winer comes to Idaho Smart Growth from the Idaho Conservation League where she served as the Outreach Coordinator since 2000. In that capacity Rachel was deeply involved in the successful 2001 Boise Foothills Levy.
This last summer and fall Winer served as campaign manager for the campaign to fight Proposition Two. The poorly designed ballot initiative brought to Idaho by a New York real estate tycoon would have hamstrung growth management efforts across the state. Leading a diverse coalition that included Idaho Smart Growth , business groups, local governments and conservation groups, Neighbors Protecting Idaho defeated the proposition in every county in the state with 76% of the total vote!
After earning her JD and a certificate in Natural Resource Law from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1998, Rachel came to Boise and began her career working at United Vision for Idaho . While at UVI, Rachel worked with Idaho Rivers United, Snake River Alliance, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, Idaho Smart Growth , and Idaho Conservation League. The effects of growth on the wonderful people of our state and the places that Idahoans value was a common theme among those organizations and spurred Winers interest in growth management.
Idaho Smart Growth Board President Jane Lloyd said “We’re grateful to have Rachel on board for her outstanding depth of knowledge about the issues that Idaho Smart Growth works on, the leadership abilities she demonstrated in the Proposition Two campaign and her long standing experience in the non-profit sector in Idaho .”
The mission of Idaho Smart Growth is to build the capacity of Idahoans to shape the future of their communities as they envision it, to increase public awareness of the links between land use, transportation and the quality of life, and to promote thoughtful long range planning at local, regional, and state levels.
Transit in Idaho
Idaho Smart Growth continues to work with a coalition of transit supporters to build support for funding transit in Idaho with a dedicated local funding source. Currently transit is funded through federal grants and as a yearly line item on local budgets. Its difficult to plan long range and to operate robust transit systems without a more certain funding source. We have been hearing from citizens, business leaders and elected officials that its time to get serious about providing transportation options. For an indepth report on this years action at the Idaho Legislature go to Transit Funding Update.
We plan to continue to work with the coalition to find funding that will be supported by the state legislature. If your interested in helping call the ISG office.
What’s Up With Communities in Motion and Blueprint for Good Growth?
If you live in the Treasure Valley, you may have seen media coverage about the two ongoing regional planning efforts. Communities in Motion (www.communitiesinmotion.org) is the five-county regional transportation plan covering much of SW Idaho. Blueprint for Good Growth (www.blueprintforgoodgrowth.com) is a land use and transportation plan covering only Ada County. Both plans will likely be based on the same preferred growth scenario. While far from perfect, this scenario marks a significant step forward in the region’s support for smart growth principles.
The citizens clearly see where the Valley’s growth is headed and they don’t like it. Public workshops held in late 2004 and early 2005 demonstrate citizen demand for protected farmland and open space, walkable neighborhoods, significant transit investments, and vibrant historic downtowns.
Both plans were adopted in late 2006 and now the hard work of implementing them has begun. An Open Space Task Force has been appointed by Ada County and the Blueprint Consortium is pursuing strategies that require adequate public facilities as part of development approval processes. Of particular interest to ISG are the requirement for adequate roadway investments by the developments that will spur the need for them. Join our listserve to get timely updates on progress toward these goals.
Thank You to New and Renewing ISG members
After revamping our membership program support from individuals, organizations, and business helped us raise over $20,000 in 2005 and 2006. Thank you! We continue to look to improve services to our members and are always interested in your comments and concerns.
ISG Continues Successful ‘Grow Smart’ Awards Program
Idaho Smart Growth’s ‘Grow Smart’ awards program recognizes the successful use of smart growth strategies to encourage vibrant communities through sensible growth. Nominations are accepted during the summer in the categories of commercial development, attached residential development, single family residential development, mixed use development, infill development, and policy fro developments around Idaho. In addition, a special recognition we call the “President’s Award” will be considered for projects, leadership, or advocacy efforts that are particularly distinguished. Developments can be planned, under construction, or completed. Planned projects must have received at least preliminary approval from the city or county by the date the nomination is submitted.
All nominated development projects are evaluated using ISG’s smart growth development scorecards. Nominated planning projects (e.g. comprehensive plans, downtown revitalization plans, other special purpose plans and studies, ordinances (e.g. zoning, subdivision, impact fee) are ranked according to their actual or potential advancement of smart growth principles. Award finalists and winners will be chosen by the awards jury organized by ISG. This jury always includes a diverse group of individuals who are knowledgeable and supportive of smart growth principles. Winners in each category are announced at Idaho Smart Growth’s annual meeting in the fall. Watch for the times and dates of this meeting. To see winners for the past years Awards go to: Grow Smart Award Winners 2005 or Grow Smart Award Winners 2006
Infill Research Project Near Completion
ISG CO-Executive Director Elaine Clegg is facilitating a diverse group of developers, city staff, and neighborhood leaders in a study to determine how infill projects have affected Boise and Meridian neighborhoods. The focus is on residential projects that were controversial at the time of approval. The study will produce a report this spring.
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