3 research outputs found
Metropolitan Centers: Evaluating Local Implementation of Regional Plans and Policies
The Denver and Salt Lake City Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) have embarked upon regional visioning strategies that promote development around higher density, mixed use centers with current or future access to transit. This study examines the programs and policies in the Salt Lake City and Denver regions to examine regional vision influence on local planning and the opportunities and constraints facing centers. The research team analyzed local plans over the past several decades, interviewed planners, and examined demographic, land use and transportation characteristics in select centers across the region. We found that the regional vision had a moderate influence on local planning, due to vague definitions and criteria. However, light rail investment and market forces have had a more substantial influenceāresulting in cities developing supportive transit oriented development policies. While over 100 centers have been designated, many face significant challenges to support regional goals, particularly because many light rail lines were located along rail and freeway alignments. A limited number of ātipping point centersā already contain the necessary elements to be successful with city and private investment. Many āgreenfield centersā offer significant future opportunity for development, but their suburban location and infrastructure needs present significant costs and challenges. Many other āredevelopment centersā are dominated by industrial, commercial or office development, and the land use and transportation patterns within these centers present substantial hurdles that may limit their potential to achieve regional goals
Four Visions for the Jackson County Health Site Redevelopment Plan
69 pagesIn the fall term of 2013, graduate students in the Department of Planning,
Public Policy and Management (PPPM) at the University of Oregon developed
concept plans for the Jackson County Health Site in Medford, Oregon. This
document will refer to the Jackson County property as the āCatalyst Siteā
because redevelopment of the Site was intended to spark redevelopment and
revitalization throughout the East Main Neighborhood. The students were asked
to create a long-term plan for the Catalyst Site, taking into account the context
of the surrounding neighborhood and the City of Medford as a whole. These
plans were to address land use, transportation, economic development, and
other factors by considering site layout, building uses, and circulation as urban
design concepts. Students were divided into four teams. Each team developed
a final report detailing their recommendations. This report summarizes those
recommendations
Regional Governance: Local Planning and Development Implications in Denver, Colorado
123 pagesIn the absence of broad planning authority the Denver region is taking a collaborative approach
to regional governance. Metro Visionās designation of āurban centersā -areas slated to develop
as dense nodes of mixed-use development- is explored to determine regional planning
influences on local programs and policies. Based on a review of regional plans, content analysis
of eight local plans and interviews with six local planners, I examine how the centers policy is
being implemented at the local level across five cities. I found that a combination of financial
incentives, transit investment, and opportunities to promote commercial and residential
redevelopment support regional buy-in for implementation of centers policy