14
GETTING TO THIS . . . Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

GETTING TO THIS . . .

Building an Enduring

Community Partnership

Page 2: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Agenda:• Background and History• Change the Paradigm• Better Boulder• The Gift• Lessons Learned

Page 3: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Boulder Background:• Boulder’s Preservation History - open space protection,

height limit, blue line, green building codes, investment in transit and bike/ped infrastructure

• Countywide Intergovernmental Agreement sets Urban Growth Boundaries around every community

• Open space – city and county sales taxes have funded acquisition of 145,000 acres of land between cities

• Consistent policy direction for last 30 years

Page 4: Building an Enduring Community Partnership
Page 5: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Boulder Background:• The good – beautiful place / strong economy

• The bad – limited housing diversity, stagnation (bad for quality of life and environment)

Page 6: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Political History:• NIMBY/Antigrowth Sentiment: Tight reign on positive

redevelopment and infill• Players: PLAN Boulder County / Sierra Club / Business

Community / Affordable Housing Advocates• Historically: City Council Candidates / Boards and Commissions /

carry mantle of environment protection

Page 7: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

The Definition of Insanity:• Past Practice: Boulder Chamber / BARA / Development Interests • Success and Failures: Stop the worst overreach (“Don’t kill the

goose that laid the golden egg”) / Rare City Council victory• Echo Chamber: Talking to themselves and standing on their own• Environmental advocates who supported density and infill had

no institutional home• Lack of Sustainable Influence . . .

Page 8: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

New Coalition Needed:• Promote Smart Growth/YIMBY Principles – Infill and

redevelopment and flexibility with existing housing that promotes efficient land use, transit mobility, reduced climate impact, housing for everyone

• Focused on Comprehensive Plan Update – Change regulations and policies related to land use, transportation and housing

• Long-Term Political Realignment• Goal: Sustainable Influence – City Council and Board

appointments

Page 9: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Unorganized Constituency:• Young people who love Boulder, can barely afford to live

here, and wonder why we don’t have neighborhoods like Highlands in Denver

• Older folks who are ready to downsize but there’s no where for them to go

• Businesspeople and entrepreneurs who see the vitality that could come from a more urban fabric

• Environmentalists who see that without land use changes, our carbon goals can’t be met

Page 10: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Breaking Out of the Echo Chambers:• Previous Experience – Annexation by vote opened door for future

conversation• The First Encounters – informal dialogue meetings• Identifying Common Goals – “How can we help?” (avoid leading

with your agenda!)• Building the Coalition and Formalizing the Relationship -

Foundation based on sound communication practices and balance

• Let Others Lead – Avoid the spotlight but get the job done

Page 11: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Better Boulder:• Who We Are – Diverse interests with a common vision• What We Do – Public Programs / Communication Tools / Action• Initial Success – Getting together / Speaking-Up / New Voice• Challenges - “Worse Boulder”

Page 12: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

The Gift / The Test: 300 / 301• “Bring it on!”• Careful What You Wish For• Campaign – Hearts and Minds Battle• Victory - The Coalition Held!

Page 13: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Toward a Sustainable Future:• Political - Council / Boards and Commissions• Policies – Comprehensive Plan• Balance! • Healthy Housing Market

Page 14: Building an Enduring Community Partnership

Lessons:• Get out of the Echo Chamber• Coalition – Big Tent• Balance – Overreach is not the goal• Policy that is good for business, environment and equity• This is a Movement – Get on It!