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Working
Vision
 This
Working Vision explains the various elements of the 50-year vision
that the Willamette Valley Livability Forum proposes as a guide
for the choices made today.
The
Legacy We Seek to Create, a chapter in the
Choices for the Future Report includes a description of a future
that is consistent with the 50-year vision created by the Forum.
As
we approach the 21st Century, the Willamette Valley is at a crossroads.
A host of emerging trends and issues challenge our core values and
way of life. Without question, we face significant change in the
future. How we shape such change is a matter of our own choosing.
We offer a vision for the Valley in the year 2050 to help guide
such choices...
People
In
our vision, the people of the Willamette Valley live here not just
by chance, but by choice. They have a strong sense of stewardship
for the Valley, its physical environment, and renowned quality of
life. The Valley's diverse communities and peoples are connected
not only by a common geography, but also by certain shared values
and a sense of place. Residents take great pride in their communities,
neighborhoods, and schools as safe, healthy, vibrant places where
children can learn, grow, and thrive. They work openly and collaboratively
to resolve conflicts and to find innovative solutions to common
regional and local problems.
Place
In
our vision, the Willamette Valley's identity is rooted in a sense
of place defined by the Willamette River and its tributaries, and
framed by distant views of the Cascade Mountains and Coast Range.
Valley communities are connected by a green and beautiful landscape
with distinct cities and towns, working farms and forests, open
spaces, rivers, and natural areas. The Valley's natural systems
provide clean air and water that serve critical human needs and
support biological diversity. Community livability is enhanced through
the thoughtful integration of the built and natural environments,
and through good design.
Prosperity
In
our vision, Willamette Valley residents have ample opportunities
to achieve a desired standard of living and to enhance their personal
well-being. A quality educational system produces a well-educated
and skilled workforce, while a sustainable regional economy provides
good jobs. Valley residents are committed to balancing material
rewards with family, civic, and cultural values. They recognize
that quality of life, livable communities, and a sustainable environment
are essential elements of economic prosperity.
These
concepts represent the foundation of the Willamette Valley Livability
Forum's overall vision for the future and are reflected in six vision
elements: land use, transportation, water/environment, economy,
community, and decision making. We believe these ideas are consistent
with the legacy we have inherited, as well as the legacy we seek
to create, and will help guide our decisions and actions well into
the 21st century. Building a shared vision for the future means
that these and other ideas must be discussed, tested, and refined.
We invite all residents of the Willamette Valley to join us in this
task.
Land
Use
Core
Vision
In
the year 2050, the Willamette Valley is a beautiful place to live.
Its cities, towns and rural areas compose a network of distinct,
well-defined, livable communities, that are diverse in character
and identity. Valley cities and towns are efficient in their use
of land. They have vibrant downtowns and mixed-use business districts,
productive industrial and employment centers, and quality neighborhoods,
all linked by a variety of transportation options, parks and greenspaces.
Strong land use planning and design enable and encourage more residents
to live closer to where they work, shop, and play, helping to preserve
a rural landscape of working farms and forests, open spaces, rivers,
and natural areas.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- Active
growth management through strong land use planning
- Land
use plans guided by state-wide goals, and regional and local community
visions
- Design
and development practices that meet community needs and standards
- Land
use patterns that support a balanced transportation system
- Infill,
redevelopment, and mixed-use development to promote more efficient
use of land
- Innovative,
well-designed, attractive, affordable housing
- A
variety of housing types and densities in every community
- Affordable
housing options in every community
- Efficient
and adequate public facilities and services
- Integration
of parks, greenspaces, riparian areas, and other natural resources
with the built environment
- Protection
of air, water, and other natural resources inside and outside
urban areas
- Protection
of agricultural and forest lands
Transportation
Core
Vision
In
the year 2050, the Willamette Valley is linked by a balanced, interconnected
transportation system that provides a range of convenient, accessible
transportation choices, and supports the safe, efficient movement
of people and goods within and between communities. This system
incorporates land use planning, community design, demand and access
management, and new technologies to effectively reduce congestion,
preserve community character, and enhance Valley livability.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- Adequate
funding for all transportation modes in and between communities
- Transportation
pricing mechanisms that support public objectives
- Safe
and efficient highway system
- Enhanced,
innovative, accessible and well-used transit systems, including
bus, light rail, and Valley high-speed rail
- Mixed-use,
transit-oriented development within cities
- Pedestrian-
and bicycle-friendly environments in cities and neighborhoods
- Increased
telecommuting
- A
transportation system that avoids or minimizes negative impacts
on environmental quality
Water/Environment
Core
Vision
In
the year 2050, the Willamette Valley is a rich, biologically diverse
natural environment, nourished by a network of rivers, streams,
and aquifers clean enough to be sources of drinking water, safe
enough to fish and swim, and healthy enough to sustain thriving
populations of native fish, wildlife, and plants. Air and water
quality throughout the Valley are excellent, and water quantities
are sufficient to sustain the Valley's communities, economy, and
natural resource systems.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- Conservation
and sound watershed management as the primary means of ensuring
adequate water supplies
- Protection
of existing and future sources of drinking water, including groundwater
and aquifers
- Avoiding
or minimizing point and non-point sources of pollution through
land use and transportation planning
- Retention,
restoration, and enhancement of wetlands and riparian areas
- Floodplain
protection, enhancement, and management for natural functions
and values and for human health and safety
- Active
regional and local watershed analysis, management, and monitoring
- Sustainable,
environmentally sound development practices
- Integration
of land use and transportation planning with natural resource
protection
- Community-wide
participation and responsibility for restoring watershed health
- Meeting
or exceeding all state and federal air and water quality standards
Economy
Core
Vision
In the year 2050, the Willamette Valley supports a dynamic and resilient
economy. A well-trained and educated workforce is the backbone of
and catalyst in creating a diversified economic base. This economy
provides employment opportunities and well-paying jobs, which enables
residents to achieve a high quality of life and a level of prosperity
that is in harmony with community values and the natural environment.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- Business
and educational partnerships in workforce development
- Post-secondary
and higher education that is affordable and available to Valley
residents
- Coordinated
regional investment strategy for economic development and public
infrastructure
- Business
involvement in regional quality of life issues
- Incentives
for business investments that support community values
- Valley
quality of life as a prime factor in attracting business investment
- Diversified,
globally oriented, value-added economic base
Community
Core
Vision
In
the year 2050, the Willamette Valley is home to a diverse people
who are connected by a common geography and certain shared values.
Valley residents take great pride in working together to build distinctive,
caring communities with open, safe, and secure neighborhoods, affordable
housing, quality education, available social services, accessible
parks, natural areas and recreational opportunities, and a healthy
environment. Valley communities are close-knit, but not closed off.
They are friendly places that bring people together, where neighbors
know and help one another.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- Community-based
partnerships
- Active
citizen involvement in community affairs and public safety
- Investment
in children and families
- Access
to a wide range of quality educational opportunities
- Investment
in schools and education
- Support
for cultural and ethnic diversity
- Opportunities
for involvement in arts and culture
Decision
Making
Core
Vision
In
the year 2050, Willamette Valley citizens are guided by a spirit
of regional vision, thinking, and planning that results in local
action. Practical solutions to valley-wide issues and problems are
collaboratively developed through intergovernmental cooperation
and action, informed public and private sector dialogue, and broad,
inclusive, and timely involvement of Valley citizens.
Guiding
Principles for the Future
- A
shared regional vision for the Valley and active citizen support
for its achievement
- State
commitment and support for regional problem solving and decision
making
- Valley-wide
coordination among governmental units, including federal agencies
- Public/private
partnerships and non-partisan approaches to problem solving
- Urban/rural
dialogue on shared issues and concerns
- Investment
in civic infrastructure to promote citizen involvement in decision
making
- Promotion
of education for better citizenship and leadership
- Promotion
of youth involvement in Valley civic life
- Valley-wide
decisions based on concepts of sustainability
- Foresight
in government (tracking trends, setting goals, evaluating outcomes)
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