MARION COUNTY
URBAN GROWTH
MANAGEMENT
PROJECT
March 1999 - June 2002
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT REPORT
Funding for this project was made available by a grant from
the Department of Land Conservation and Development and
in part with Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by
the Oregon Economic and Public Works Department
Marion County Urban Growth Management Project
Table of Contents
Section I Introduction Page 3
Section II Public Involvement Program Page 5
Focus Groups Page 5
Public Opinion Surveys Page 6
City Survey Page 7
Newsletters Page 7
Questionnaire Page 7
Project Liaison Bulletins Page 8
Website - Project Information Page 11
Stakeholder Group Page 11
Steering Committee Page 13
Technical Advisory Committee Page 14
Community Workshops Page 15
Alternatives Workshop Page 15
Project Presentations in Forums Page 16
Meetings with City Staffs/Planners Page 17
Presentations to Cities Page 18
Section III Letters of Support/Agreement or Concerns Page 20
I. Introduction
The Marion County Urban Growth Management Project is a three-phased, multi-year process designed to create a growth concept through the year 2050 and an implementation strategy for Marion County and the cities within the county.
The project, which began in March 1999, focuses on creating a future growth scenario that shapes growth according to the attitudes and desires of county residents. Before future growth scenarios could be developed, the existing development and growth-related codes and policies needed to be evaluated. During the first phase (March - November 1999), the project team developed Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping data and an analysis of the existing growth situation and patterns in Marion County.
The first phase of the project also centered on identifying community attitudes to ensure the alternative growth scenarios created in phase two, were grounded in the values most important to Marion County residents. Residents expressed their attitudes about growth through focus groups, surveys, workshops and committee/stakeholder meetings. These values were then translated into 24 evaluation criteria with specific and measurable guidelines that were used to measure how closely various growth scenarios met the public's values. The criteria became the guiding principles forming the foundation around which the growth management project framework and implementation strategy were developed in phase three. The criteria address issues such as transportation, environment, economic development, schools, quality of life, urban services, and growth management.
The project's second phase which began in April 2000 and completed in June 2001, included developing alternative growth scenarios for Marion County's future. Growth scenarios are in essence, "virtual" communities of the future complete with the placement, type, and density of land uses and transportation infrastructure. Four growth scenarios representing possible ways for the County to grow, were developed through public workshops and then were analyzed for consistency with the evaluation criteria developed in phase one of the project. These growth alternatives ranged from: continuation of current development trends (base case scenario); to compact development within the existing urban growth boundaries of communities; to focusing development along highway corridors (Highway 214, Highway 99E, Highway 22) to a more spread out pattern along the Interstate 5 corridor; to focusing the majority of growth to the largest cities (Salem-Keizer, Woodburn, Stayton and Silverton) within the county. The alternatives were analyzed and evaluated and city input sought on defining a preferred alternative through a public workshop on the alternatives. Phase two concluded with development of household and employment forecasts for each of the 20 cities in Marion County based on the preferred growth scenario that focused growth on the largest cities in the County.
Phase three began in July 2001 and included further refinement and analysis of the preferred growth alternative and work with local governments to identify the framework and implementation strategy to make the 2050 vision of Marion County a reality. Discussions with the cities also involved the identification of local and area growth and planning coordination issues. The growth management framework represents the regional approach for use by the county and cities toward addressing growth in an acceptable and comprehensive manner. The framework sets forth goals, policies, and standards regarding the key growth elements of transportation, housing, economic development, and environment that can be utilized as targets by the cities in achieving the desired growth patterns and visions for their communities. The countywide framework focuses on coordination among the 20 cities and the County to provide for growth of the urban areas through a comprehensive approach involving the interaction of the cities collectively, rather than addressing each city individually.
The implementation strategy developed in phase three will require the cooperation of the County and the 20 cities within the County. The strategy includes guidelines, standards, and/or tools to manage growth and serves as the basis for increased understanding between the cities and County of how growth-related issues will be addressed in the future and how these issues affect the county.
This document is a summary of the public involvement process that was utilized throughout the three phases of the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project.
II. Public Involvement Program
The Urban Growth Management Project sought public input throughout the three-phased, multi-year planning process. Early work centered on identifying community/resident values and attitudes to ensure the alternative growth scenarios created were a reflection of the values most important to Marion County residents. The project used a variety of tools for involving, providing information, and gathering input from the public, interest groups, cities and the elected officials in the County, including the following:
Focus Groups
The first opportunity to learn about residents attitudes toward growth was through two focus group sessions conducted May 19 and 20, 1999. One was with rural residents primarily outside the Salem-Keizer area, and one included city residents from Salem and Keizer. There were 16 people participating in the groups, with eight in each session. Citizens were asked to discuss their views and preferences on a variety of topics related to livability, population growth in Marion County, where growth should occur, and land use and transportation practices and options. The research was conducted by Davis & Hibbitts, Inc. (DHI) for the project with the purpose being to solicit opinions about issues related to growth management in Marion County and to also compare the findings with recent surveys including the Willamette Valley Livability Forum and Salem Futures surveys. Key themes that resounded in the focus groups were:
Attitudes toward density - Participants were very concerned about increased density. They cited their personal experience with poorly sited and designed dense developments in their neighborhoods. In reference to multi-family housing, they were interested in better design, structures that complement and respect existing single-family development, and the availability of parks and open spaces.
Attitudes toward mixed use - Overall, there was a sense in the groups that mixed-use developments may be appropriate in some areas, but not in others. Those who were less than enthusiastic about mixed uses felt that if the right kinds of businesses were included and traffic and noise were taken care of, mixed-use developments would have some appeal. Unfortunately, most participants could not cite any examples of good mixed-use development.
Attitudes toward living near work - Generally, participants who did not personally want to live near where they worked felt that those who did should have that choice.
Attitudes toward design - Participants were very distressed over the lack of quality design in new developments. They were especially negative about "big box" commercial, strip development, and "boxy" multi-family developments.
Respect for different livability choices - There seemed to be an implied respect in both groups for the different types of development that people find desirable.
Public Opinion Survey
During June 1999, a countywide, broad-based phone survey was conducted by Davis & Hibbitts, Inc. (DHI) for the project to quantify and elaborate on the results of the focus group research. Four hundred residents were involved representing all parts of the county. Generally, those who responded had many of the same concerns as the focus group participants. In particular, they shared concern over the effects of growth on traffic, personal safety, the loss of forest and farm land, and the inability of infrastructure and services (including schools) to keep up with growth.
Respondents were asked what they liked or valued about where they live in Marion County. The neighborliness of their community ranked the highest followed by the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Participants were asked several questions to determine their concerns about population growth. Their greatest concerns were increased crime, followed by traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
The following are some of the other findings from the survey:
Support for planning - 85 percent agreed "planning for growth is necessary if we are to keep our livability."
Where growth should and should not occur -
Mixing land uses - 41 percent favored a separation between residential and shopping areas, 40 percent supported mixed-use centers, and 15 percent favored both equally.
City Survey
A Project Bulletin was distributed in April 1999 to all the cities in Marion County with a request that they be distributed to all the elected officials and planning commissioners of each of the cities. The project bulletin included a questionnaire asking for feedback on community issues, values and concerns. The following is a list of the questions:
Responses to the questionnaire were received from nine of the twenty cities in the county. The community issues shared by the respondents were utilized to identify and determine which values were important toward the establishment of guiding principles during the first phase of the project.
Newsletters
There were 10,000 copies of a project newsletter distributed in the Statesman Journal and other area community newspapers (Woodburn Independent, Stayton Mail, and so forth) in September 1999. The newsletter introduced the general public to the project and provided basic facts about the County's population and employment forecasts and about current county zoning and development trends. The newsletter was a four-page color layout with pictures that included a cut-out, mail-in questionnaire asking the public to identify livability issues that were most important to them.
Questionnaire -
Two-hundred and eighty-five people responded to the questionnaire that was part of the newsletter. The questionnaire asked participants to "identify the five principles that are most important in helping to shape future growth in Marion County." The top issues identified were:
The next question was "where would you like to see growth occur?" The responses indicated a majority would like to see growth within existing developed areas. Only 4 percent indicated they would like to see growth totally outside of existing development areas. This is significantly less than the number of phone survey respondents who responded in the same way.
A final question allowed respondents to provide comments as to how growth had affected them and their community.
Second Newsletter -
A second, four-page, pictorial newsletter was distributed in May 2001 (Phase 2 of the project) to cities, stakeholders, technical committee members, community groups, workshop participants, and interested citizens including survey respondents. It was also made available to the general public on the County's Planning Division website. The focus of the newsletter was to provide information about the four growth alternatives that were developed as part of the public workshops during the second phase of the project. The newsletter also included an invitation to participate in a public workshop that was held May 22, 2001 directed at elected officials of the cities to provide input on selection of a preferred growth alternative for Marion County.
Project Liaison Bulletins
At several key points during the project planning process, project liaison bulletins were produced for city elected officials, planning commissioners, stakeholders, technical committee members, community groups, organizations, project participants, interested persons and the general public. The four-page bulletins were designed to update the local governments and public on the Urban Growth Management Project process and to solicit their input through a series of questions included in each bulletin. A total of three bulletins (April 1999, July 1999, June 2000) were issued during the first two phases of the project and were in addition to the project newsletters.
Volume 1, April 1999 -
The initial bulletin provided background information regarding growth in Marion County along with a table depicting recent population changes for the cities within the County. A description of the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project was provided along with the process to be utilized in addressing the project objectives. A mail-in feedback questionnaire directed towards the cities was provided along with a list of public involvement opportunities including focus groups, workshops, newsletters, and stakeholder groups as part of the project.
Volume 2, July 1999 -
The second bulletin provided an update on the process and activities occurring during the first phase of the project. The results of the focus group discussions and public opinion survey were provided in the bulletin. Information on development of the Geographic Information System (GIS) for the County including the numerous data layers as part of the first phase of the project was explained. A two-page feedback questionnaire on community values was provided as an insert to the bulletin asking local government officials and the public to review guiding principles/evaluation criteria identified by the Stakeholders Group that were based on the public responses on community values. The feedback sheet asked for a review of the concepts along with edits, deletions, or additions to the list of ten concepts that were provided for review.
Volume 3, June 2000 -
The third project bulletin provided a summary of phase one of the project including current County growth trends, citizen input from the surveys and questionnaires, and a list of the 24 guiding principles/evaluation criteria developed during phase one. The phase two activities including the workshops to create growth alternatives for the county along with other public involvement opportunities during phase two were also listed.
The 24 guiding principles/evaluation criteria adopted by the Stakeholder Group based on public input and community responses to be used in phase two to evaluate the success of various growth scenarios are as follows:
Transportation
Environment
Economy
Education
Housing
Quality of Life
Urban Services
Growth Management
The 24 guiding principles/evaluation criteria are the foundation for the goals around which the growth management framework and implementation strategy were developed in phase three of the project. The principles/criteria were developed, reviewed, modified and adopted by the project Stakeholder Group.
Planning Division Website - Project Information
The Marion County Planning Division website, www.co.marion.or.us/mcplann provided and continues to provide information about the Urban Growth Management Project and planning in Marion County. The project website was and continues to be updated to include the latest information regarding the project. Information about the project on the website includes the Growth Management Framework and Implementation Strategy, Project 2050 Population Forecast Options, Public Hearing Notice, staff report for the public hearing, Project Phase 1 and 2 Report, Project Newsletter, maps of the growth alternatives, and a powerpoint presentation on the project that summarizes the project's three phases and next steps. The County will continue to post information on the project to the website as work continues on the adoption of the County's Growth Management Framework and the implementation of the growth management framework strategy.
Stakeholder Group
A 65-member Stakeholder Group was approved by the Board of Commissioners and was recruited at the outset of the project. This group provided the overall direction for the project process and work tasks, reviewed the public input, established evaluation criteria or the project's guiding principles based on that input, discussed and provided input on project materials, assisted with the formulation of the growth alternatives, and acted as facilitators at the public design workshops.
Stakeholder members included representatives from: the 20 cities in the county; Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments; state agencies; transit agency; special districts; education and school districts; agricultural community; large and small businesses; retail trade; building industry; development community; environmental interests; affordable housing advocates; economic development organizations; chambers of commerce; area advisory committees; and minority groups.
Throughout the process, the Stakeholder Group heard from the many interest groups including the agricultural community and people interested in a "no-growth" concept for the county and state.
During the Fall of 2000, a special invitation was extended to local government elected officials to share their thoughts on growth and future visions for their communities with the Stakeholder Group. In addition, local government officials were also members of the Stakeholder Group and participated in project meetings. Project staff also met with specific local governments at their request and shared project information with the communities. The input from local governments was used to create the four growth alternatives and to further refine and analyze the alternatives in order to select a preferred growth scenario for the county.
The Stakeholder Group met on a regular basis throughout phases one and two of the project. Meeting packets providing updates on the project, review materials, and discussion issues were provided to all Group members, the 20 cities, and other interested persons. A total of 13 Stakeholder meetings occurred during the three phases (4 in phase one, 8 in phase two, 1 in phase three). Representation of the Group included the following:
Youth Organization representative
Sublimity Planning Commission member
Hispanic Community representative
Farmworkers Housing Development Corporation (FHDC)
Willamette University
Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)
Woodburn City Council member/Oregon Housing and Community Services
Salem Hospital
Aumsville City Council member
Marion Education Service District (ESD)
Woodburn area realtor/Woodburn Buildable Lands Committee
Developer/builder (small cities)
Salem Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR)
Pacific Power
Idanha Planning Commission member
Santiam Canyon Economic Development Group/Mill City business
Sublimity City Council member
Portland General Electric
Mid Willamette Valley Council of Governments
Mitsubishi Silicon America
Marion County Planning Commission member
Stayton area small business owner/Statyon-Sublimity Chamber of Commerce
County resident
OSU Extension Service
Mt. Angel City Administrator
Woodburn Chamber of Commerce
Oregonians in Action
Marion County Farm Bureau
Turner Area Advisory Committee member
Marion Soil and Water Conservation District
Oregon Gardens
True Value business representative (canyon area)
Suburban East Salem Water District/Keizer Fire District
Oregon Housing and Associated Services (OHAS)
Friends of Marion County
Turner mayor
Windsor Rock Products
Marion County Fire District No. 1
Stayton mayor
Department of Forestry/forestry consultant
First Interstate Leasing (trucking)
Awards and Athletics (Woodburn small business)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) representative
Aurora mayor
League of Women Voters of Marion/Polk Counties
Today's Choices/ Tomorrow's Community
NorPac Foods Inc.(food processing industry)
Woodburn Dragstrip
Salem mayor
Salem Area Mass Transit
Chemeketa Community College
Marion Polk Building Industry Association
Oregon Watersheds
Silverton Area Advisory Committee
Jefferson Planning Commission member
East Salem Suburban Neighborhood Association
Turner Planning Commission member
Keizer City Manager
Aumsville City Administrator
20 cities in Marion County (Aumsville, Aurora, Detroit, Donald, Gates, Gervais, Hubbard, Idanha, Jefferson, Keizer, Mill City, Mt. Angel, St. Paul, Salem, Scotts Mills, Silverton, Stayton, Sublimity, Turner, Woodburn)
Steering Committee -
When consensus could not be reached among the Stakeholder Group, an 18-member Steering Committee was utilized. Appointed by the Marion County Board of Commissioners and consisting of a subgroup of the Stakeholder Group, the Steering Committee provided additional direction and procedural guidance for the project. The Steering Committee representation consisted of the following:
Youth organization representative
Minority representative
City of Woodburn
Woodburn area business
Small city developer/builder
SEDCOR
Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce
Today's Choices/Tomorrow's Community
City of Stayton
City of Aurora
City of Salem
Technical Advisory Committee
A Technical Advisory Committee included representatives of the cities in Marion County and state, county and regional staff. The committee provided technical assistance regarding existing land uses and the city plans for growth. The committee generally met prior to the Stakeholder Group meetings to review and recommend refinements to the materials to be presented to the Stakeholder Group. The committee consisted of the following representations:
Marion County Planning and Public Works
City of Salem Public Works
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
Oregon Economic and Public Works Department (OECDD)
City of Woodburn Public Works
City of Salem Planning Department
City of Keizer Planning Department
City of Silverton Planning Department
City of Jefferson Planning Department
City of Woodburn Planning Department
Private Planning Consultant
Polk County Planning Department
Project Consultants (Fregonese Calthorpe Associates, McKeever Morris/Parsons Brinckerhoff)
Community Workshops
In November 2000, during Phase two of the project, two public workshops were held, one in Woodburn on November 8, 2000, and the other in Stayton on November 16, 2000. In the hands-on workshops, the public worked in small groups and created alternative visions for the County's future by identifying where they would like to see jobs and housing located throughout the county in the future. The groups were given the option of working within either the northern or southern areas (which included the east portion of the county) of the county. The small groups considered a wide range of growth-related issues including: preservation of farm and environmentally sensitive lands; traffic congestion; transit use; density; and infrastructure costs. In all, approximately 82 Marion County residents attended the workshops and created 12 growth alternatives. Of the 12 alternatives, five were created for the north area of the county and seven for the southern portion of the county. Members of the Stakeholder Groups assisted as facilitators for the small groups at the workshops.
Notification of the community workshops was published in the Statesman Journal and other area newspapers such as the Woodburn Independent and Stayton Mail. Flyers on the workshops were also provided to the cities, stakeholder group, interested persons, other community groups and media for distribution. Local radio spots providing information on the workshops were also done. Post card notices of the workshops were also sent out to the cities and project participants (survey and questionnaire respondents) prior to the workshops providing information on how to participate or sign up for the workshops.
Alternatives/Preferred Alternative Workshop
On May 22, 2001, local government officials met jointly with the Stakeholder Group and interested persons to evaluate the four growth alternatives and identify the components of the preferred alternative. Local government officials identified whether or not the alternatives addressed their local values and provided the appropriate degree of future growth desired by their communities. Elected officials were also encouraged to submit information on the alternatives following the workshop as each city was provided a worksheet on population/employment forecasts and for identifying key local issues related to growth. The information provided by the cities was used to refine the population and employment forecasts for each city and the pattern of growth outlined in the preferred alternative.
The workshop was preceded by a presentation from the cities of Keizer and Salem regarding local long-range planning efforts including the Keizer Infill Study and the Salem Futures project, an integrated land use and transportation plan to guide development and reduce emphasis on the automobile during the next 50 years. The 2050 Salem Futures project was running along a similar process and timeline as the County growth management project with the results of Salem Futures to be incorporated into the County's growth management strategy. The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Salem Futures project met with the Stakeholder Group prior to the workshop to discuss growth issues and the integration of the two planning projects.
Project Presentations in Forums with other Governments/Groups
Marion County was invited to talk about and present information on the growth management project in a variety of public or government forums. The following discusses some of those venues:
Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce - November 6, 2000
Presentation to approximately 50 members of the Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce during one of their regularly scheduled meetings upon being invited to speak to them about the Marion County Growth Management Project. This was in advance of the upcoming community workshops held during phase two of the project and provided an opportunity to discuss planning from a regional perspective and invite members to participate in the workshops.
Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study (SKATS) Policy Committee/Mid Willamette Valley Council of Governments (MWVCOG) - May 22, 2001
Presentation to the SKATS Policy Committee, SKATS and MWVCOG staff, and interested persons and jurisdictions comprising SKATS and the MWVCOG. Summary presentation of phases one and two of the Marion County Growth Management Project, the workshops, growth alternatives, and the next steps in the planning process. The SKATS Policy Committee is made up of representatives from Marion County, Polk County, City of Salem, City of Keizer, ODOT, Salem Area Mass Transit, Salem/Keizer School District, and recently, the City of Turner. SKATS is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) designated by the Governor to develop and implement a coordinated, comprehensive, and continuing planning process addressing issues relating to transportation systems or regional significance in the Salem/Keizer urbanized area.
Marion County Fair, Planning Display on the Growth Management Project - July 12-15, 2001
The Planning Division maintained a display booth at the Marion County Fair providing information regarding the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project along with staff to answer questions. Map displays and handouts were provided on the project along with comment cards for the public to submit questions, comments or get on an interested persons list for the project.
APA 2001 Oregon Planning Institute (OPI) Conference - October 5, 2001
Participation in and part of the presentation panel for the 2001 Oregon Planning Institute session titled "Regional Visions - Local Actions". The session involved presentations and discussions on the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project and the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) Region 2050 project which look at future visions for different parts of the larger Willamette Valley. The Oregon Planning Institute conference held at the University of Oregon is an annual event that brings together planners (public and private sector, and including students) and those involved in planning decisions from around the State of Oregon to learn about and discuss current and innovative planning issues in Oregon.
Salem Futures Project Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) - December 18, 2001
Presentation to the 38-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) involved with the Salem Futures long-range planning effort to develop an integrated land use and transportation plan to guide future development in Salem. The CAC is a broad-based group representing the community and appointed by the City Council to work with city staff and the consultant on this multi-year, multi-phased planning project. Several members of the CAC are also members of the County's Stakeholder Group for the Marion County Growth Management Project. The Salem Futures project is an integral part of the County growth management framework and implementation strategy as approximately two-thirds of the forecast growth in the County by the year 2050 is expected to occur within the Salem/Keizer urban area.
Mid-Willamette Valley Area Commission on Transportation (MWACT) - February 7, 2002
Presentation of the Marion County Growth Management Project, Framework, and Implementation Strategy to the Mid-Willamette Valley Area Commission on Transportation. MWACT is one of several Area Commissions on Transportation that were established by the Oregon Transportation Commission to improve communication and interaction between the ODOT, local officials, legislators and the business community. MWACT provides a forum for discussion and coordination of current and future transportation issues that affect a community's economic development, environment, housing, sustainability, and transportation system. The 16 member MWACT includes representation from area elected officials and stakeholder groups. Also participating are members from various governmental agencies and regional groups having an interest in transportation issues.
Marion County Board of Commissioners - Project updates, work sessions, public hearing
Throughout the project's phases, the Board of Commissioners were provided updates on project information, process and next steps. Project funding and grant items were also brought before the Board. These project related activities occurred at regular Board meetings or in work session which are open to the public with the weekly Board sessions televised on the local cable access television (CCTV) which provided another public information venue for the project.
Meetings with City Staff/Planners
As a follow-up to the identification of growth related issues by the cities at the beginning of the project during phase one and toward development of a growth management framework and implementation strategy in phase three of the project, meetings with city administration and staff/planners were scheduled and occurred during December 2001. The cities were invited to sit down with project staff/consultant to identify specific local issues, review population and employment forecasts, go over and refine the growth boundary capacity and land needs analysis, provide information about the cities and likely growth scenarios, look at and identify possible areas of future growth boundary expansions, and discuss planning needs and coordination. Information was gathered on sixteen of the twenty cities in the County.
Presentations to Cities - Project and Framework
With the formulation of the draft growth management framework and implementation strategy in Phase 3, based on the workshops in Phase 2 and further analysis of the 2050 projections and capacity analysis of the existing growth boundaries of the cities, presentations of the Framework and Implementation Strategy were scheduled with the cities in the County. The cities were contacted (mailings, phone calls, and follow-up mailings) and meetings scheduled during the months of March through June 2002, to coincide with local council, planning commission, or special meetings to present the Growth Management Project, Framework and Implementation Strategy. The meetings were also an opportunity for feedback on a community's vision and how they fit into the "bigger picture" countywide growth scenario, and for discussion of local growth concerns, planning and transportation issues, and coordination needs.
Following is an outline of the presentations made to the cities which included a powerpoint presentation in some cases depending on the amount of time that was provided at the meeting:
The cities were asked whether they wanted to have a presentation on the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project. The cities were provided information on the project through each of the three phases. Presentations were made to fifteen of the twenty cities in the County with open invitations to the remaining cities along with the opportunity to provide input and comments on growth issues and concerns.
III. Letters of Support/Agreement and/or Concerns
The Marion County Urban Growth Management Project objective is " to develop a policy and implementation strategy through an urban growth management framework plan which becomes a component of the Marion County Comprehensive Plan for guiding and coordinating urban growth among its cities. " In discussing and presenting a growth management framework plan and implementation strategy to the cities, it was essential that the County and cities reach agreement on basic and general goals and policies for addressing growth issues and the need to coordinate in the development of solutions and tools to both manage and resolve impacts resulting from growth. The Growth Management Framework and Implementation Strategy will be Marion County's approach toward coordinating a countywide growth management program which includes the 20 cities or urban areas within the county. The Framework establishes the general policies and strategies for the management of transportation, housing, environmental, and economic development issues facing the county and the urban areas, providing a regional approach to these issues which go beyond jurisdictional boundaries and which require agreement between the County and cities to implement a successful urban growth program throughout the county. Rather than twenty individual urban growth programs being implemented in isolation of each other, the growth management project looked to garner general agreement or support from the cities as to the general growth concepts and coordinated implementation approach to addressing growth issues. In this manner, the twenty urban growth programs involving each city would work in the same direction based on common values and guiding principles, with the realization that cities interact and influence each other and are part of a countywide planning effort .
As part of the presentation and discussion of the Marion County Urban Growth Management Project and Growth Management Framework and Implementation Strategy, the County sought and asked for city support or agreement of the County's growth management approach and process, or to submit specific concerns with the basic concepts, goals, policies, standards, implementation of the County growth strategy and process. A sample letter was provided to the cities which they could use, revise, edit or totally disregard as to content. Letters were received from ten of the twenty cities in the County.