Business Alliance...Update, 12-12: Where do we go from here.

As reported in the last issue of this newsletter, we are now moving into a new phase with the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) Regulatory Reform subcommittee process, called Regulatory Reform II. The original Reg Reform, under the EDAC umbrella, successfully participated in moving the LUPPU process forward to where consultants are doing their work. The BOS has adopted the Public Review Draft with some General Plan revisions. A new Zoning Ordinance that is consistent with the General Plan has been developed, and consultants are working on a comprehensive new traffic model for our county’s future growth planning needs.

You’ll recall we reported that Reg Reform II is moving forward by moving backwards and developing a structure whereby local areas within the county can work towards each of their individual visions for what they want to see within their own “community regions”, “rural centers” or “rural lands”. To launch Reg Reform II a large meeting was held on November 14th by the Economic Development Advisory Committee. It’s difficult to gage reactions to such a meeting and some feared the key message was lost in the presentation. That message was: Reg Reform is about local involvement. It’s about creating an environment wherein local folks with concerns about how their own neighborhoods look and function, can come together to be heard and maybe even “tutored” on to how to remain involved to set local standards that residents wish future development to address. This is a critical effort for as all know, if there’s a void it will be filled. Who better to fill the void of planning each area than the residents of each area?

I’m pleased to report that the effects of that November 14th meeting were very positive. A large number of new community area leaders (the “tudes” – meaning those with great attitudes) and interested parties attended last week’s Reg Reform II meeting (scheduled to follow the 8:00 am regular Reg Reform meeting and beginning at 10:00 am). Reg Reform has retained the TAC county meeting room to provide a set location and format to move forward on the next steps of this process, with the following goals identified on November 14th:

♦ Strategic planning for the future that includes a centralized County homepage
♦ Community Identity outreach to include all areas of the County in future planning
♦ Centralized grant writing which could fund incentive programs and provide matching dollars for community groups