Tag: Community Planning Workshop (CPW)

Planting the Seeds of Change

Posted on by Robert Parker

By Madi Pluss

The sun is shining, the days grow longer, and all around Oregon small flowers are emerging. The grey and overcast landscape is now painted with faint traces of pastels. Out of the cold slumbering soil, small flower buds reach to feel the warmth. As the seasons shift and life awakens from weeks in dormant dark winter, the Tillamook Code Review also begins to blossom.

At the start of the season, the gardener plans their plot. They study the almanac and determine which plants will fare well, which crops will be the most fruitful, and what will yield the most success. For the past 8 weeks, our project has also been in the formative phase of development. Underground, we were collecting data, conceptualizing, reading, discussing, and compiling an extensive library of strategies. We began with only small seeds of knowledge, barely even able to find Tillamook County on a map. Guided by our seasoned project advisor, we were challenged by unfamiliar practices, ordinances, and code language. We dug deep to establish our approach and determine the priority hazards. The early months were a time where we defined our scope of work, determined a focus of research, and established the landscape for our final deliverable.

We are at the point in our project where the roots are embedded, our concepts are taking hold, and analysis is making its first appearance. Our project advisor, Michael Howard, has taken a step back in our meetings, communication with the client, and overall planning process, which is giving us space to grow on our own. This is the time where the strongest concepts will thrive and we will weed out the weaker elements of the project. As we write case studies, we acknowledge what is truly feasible.

Looking forward, our work will come to fruition and the fruits of our labor will be revealed. On the 6th of April, we will be participating a joint meeting, along with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, and Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. We will brief the Tillamook County Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, and other important individuals involved with natural hazard mitigation and resilience in Tillamook County about the Risk MAP program and our code review work. Like a sprout reaching for the sun, we will reach out to the participants and share our methodology, suggestions, proposed strategies, and foreseen implications. After this introductory meeting, we will meet with the Planning Commission and provide more in-depth code review.  Their suggestions and input act as the fertilization that will be integrated and will help us glean the most pertinent techniques appropriate for Tillamook County. As the term ends, we will harvest recommendations out of the strongest reviews and we will produce the deliverable that will serve as an essential component for improved hazard mitigation code for Tillamook County.

Madi Pluss

Madi Pluss                      
Born and raised in Colorado, mountains and outdoor recreation has always been a big part of my life, and out of reverence for natural processes and events, I recognize the need to mitigate hazards and protect human livelihood. In the future, I would like to focus on addressing issues related to growth and development, and mitigating natural hazard for highly urbanized areas. In my free time, you can find me in the yoga studio, supporting local music, or enjoying a good coffee. I am very excited to be working on this project and look forward to gaining a stronger understanding of code review and the planning process.

 

Consider the Process

Posted on by Robert Parker

By Ethan Struckmeyer

You wake up early, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. You begin to go over the plan you’ve prepared for the big moment. You put on the appropriate clothes and tie your shoes. You walk out the door ready to tackle the challenge ahead of you. Soon, nerves creep in and you start to wonder if you’re really as prepared as you thought you were. But once you’ve started you’re reminded that you’ve got this. After all, you’ve been preparing for this for quite some time. Finally, after it’s all over, you can leave feeling like you’ve accomplished something important.

Ethan Team TillamookThis is the process navigated by my Community Planning Workshop team and I as we set out to meet with our client in the land of trees, cheese, and ocean breeze – Tillamook County. It was our first in-person visit with county staff since our project started in January. The goal of the meeting was to gain a better understanding of what specific sections of their Development Code could be improved to better mitigate the risks to life and property caused by natural hazards in the area such as landslide, coastal erosion, flooding, and tsunami.

Similarly, this is also the process we navigated as we set out for a post-client meeting group run through the trails of Cape Lookout, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The 4.6 mile, out and back trail provided the perfect amount of challenge and scenic views as we debriefed our recently concluded client meeting.

At first read, you probably thought “I respectfully disagree with you, Ethan. How could you have followed the same process when client meetings and trail running are completely dissimilar?”

Well, thank you for asking.

When you think about it and begin to parse out the main aspects of each situation you will start to see the similarities – plan, practice, and execute.

Before heading into either situation, whether it’s going for a run or meeting with a client, you need to make a plan. How far can you run and where will you go? Can you run 4 miles without feeling like your lungs are on fire? What are the main objectives you hope to accomplish in your meeting? Do you have the right shoes?

After you’ve made your plan, you need to practice. How many times do you run in a week? Are you getting better at it? Do you know exactly what you’re going to present to the client? Are you knowledgeable enough to answer any questions your client might have on your topic? You don’t want to stumble. You might scuff your knee.

Now that you’ve set out your plan and you’ve been practicing, all you need to do is execute. Are you nervous you’ll make a mistake? Don’t be. You’ve planned for that. Keep calm, breathe, and you’ll get to the finish line.

Ethan Struckmayer

Ethan StruckmayerBorn, raised, and educated in Minnesota, I moved to Oregon in 2014 to serve in the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Americorps Program where I worked on land-use and long range planning for the cities of Donald and Gervais. I’m now in my first year studying to become a Master of Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. You can usually find me playing disc golf, homebrewing, or watching a Green Bay Packers game.