Setting an Example in Eugene: Collaborating To Find Common Ground on Growth
By Craig Beebe, 1000 Friends Communications & Development Coordinator
It’s not every day you hear about conservation groups, homebuilders, and local governments coming together to collaborate on a land use plan. But that’s just what has been happening in Eugene this year, where the Envision Eugene comprehensive planning process has brought a diverse set of stakeholders to the table to contribute to a shared vision for the city’s future. By working together, advocates on all sides hope to find common ground, reduce the likelihood of costly appeals, and ultimately help Eugene pursue the best possible balance of development and conservation for years to come.
It's another example of how 1000 Friends works with other stakeholders and local governments in communities throughout Oregon, from Deschutes County to the Portland Metro region, to proactively identify policies that will maintain our incredible quality of life while enhancing the economy and environment in urban and rural areas. Collaboration is at the heart of our land use system, and 1000 Friends works hard toward this end throughout the state.
Mia Nelson, 1000 Friends’ Willamette Valley Advocate, has been an active participant in the Eugene process, beginning with a large Community Resource Group in the spring, and continuing with a smaller Technical Resource Group this fall. Among the latter group’s current tasks is to complete a Buildable Lands Inventory which will identify parcels of developable land within the existing Urban Growth Boundary. By adequately accounting for all existing developable parcels, expansion of the city’s Urban Growth Boundary can be reduced or possibly eliminated altogether.
The video at right, produced by the City of Eugene, describes the process.
What is especially notable about the TRG is that it contains a remarkable mix of stakeholder groups, from conservation advocates like 1000 Friends and Friends of Eugene, to business groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the Lane County Homebuilders, all sitting down to work together on understanding Eugene’s land needs and how to address them.
It is a very detailed process requiring careful examination and discussion at a fine scale, but Mia is finding that it has been worth it. “It’s a really functional and effective method,” she says. “Everyone involved thinks it’s a huge improvement.”
Mia has been a leader on the committee, and is getting some high praise from her fellow members. Some of it has been from groups with which 1000 Friends has not always seen eye to eye in the past. Ed McMahon of the Lane County Homebuilders, for one, says that “Mia is an expert. I have phenomenal respect for her.”
Terri Harding, who is coordinating public engagement efforts for the Envision Eugene process, agrees. “Mia has a sharp mind and strong convictions,” she says. “Having her involved has definitely benefitted the process.”
Working together on a project of this nature means hearing everyone’s concerns, making compromises, and occasionally agreeing to disagree. What is important to remember, Mia says, is that the vast majority of the process has been agreement. For areas where the parties are unable to come to complete agreement, a compromised solution has successfully been sought. For example, the groups have agreed to try certain strategies for five years, and if they are not succeeding at that point, to re-examine and adjust as necessary.
“I credit Mia for keeping the group together and keeping the process moving forward,” McMahon says, recalling how she heard his concerns at a time when he was thinking of pulling out of the group, and helped make sure they were addressed so that he would stay involved.
There are still sometimes different opinions about how to achieve the best outcomes for the city, Harding says, but by coming together in Eugene, stakeholders can explore those opinions and find areas of common ground. “We started in a place where people felt they had to defend themselves,” she says. “But now we can start from a different place—what we want our community to be like...[It allows for] a wide-ranging discussion on many scales.”
Harding says that engaging the public and stakeholders in such a comprehensive way can take some more time, but it allows the City to proceed knowing that it has truly heard the voices and met the concerns of everyone. McMahon agrees. “Finding consensus solidifies the future of Eugene,” he says.
For her part, Mia points to the savings the City will achieve if it can avoid costly lawsuits that often result when stakeholders are not adequately consulted or do not work together collaboratively. “It’s a paradigm shift,” she says, noting how an unprecedented level of trust is developing between the committee members.
Oregon’s land use system works best through this kind of engagement and collaboration, and 1000 Friends is pleased to actively participate. We'll keep working to find similar engagement with other stakeholders in communities throughout the Willamette Valley and across the state.
The plan next moves to City Council for consideration and further direction. City staff will develop the final proposal in the spring. Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.
Oregon Stories | October 2011
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