A typical new Albany house, in the Takena Estates subdivision: Will the state’s climate rule on planning allow such houses and subdivisions in the future?
Albany and seven other urban areas in Oregon are about to be hit with another land use planning rule from, well, from those who make the rules.
This “rulemaking” comes from the Department of Land Conservation and Development with the goal of promoting “climate friendly and equitable communities.” It’s in compliance with Governor Brown’s executive order of 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The intent of the rule is to lessen the need for citizens to drive. To that end, the rule tells Albany and seven other metropolitcan planning areas to “facilitate the development of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.”
The rulemakers at DLCD intend to force affected cities to designate and plan for “climate friendly areas.” These would be areas “where residents, workers and visitors can meet most of their daily needs without having to drive.”
It sounds nice, but unless you work online from home and buy everything your family uses from Amazon, it’s not practical, is it?
Most businesses and industries where people come together to work don’t draw their employees from the neighborhood.
Most people who work for a living can’t do so by rarely leaving the house. Instead, in this area they drive as much as 25 miles one way or more to get to work.
Corner grocery stores serving their neighborhoods are a thing of the past. Look at where Albany’s biggest markets are concentrated, and where other stores have failed and left vacant buildings. Economics is the reason.
Albany now is working on a new East Albany Plan, for east of I-5. The planning documents, available on the city website, show that the city already is trying to plan for the same things the state rule wants, without saying anything specific.
What this state rulemaking accomplishes is to provide more work for city planners and their long list of consultants. (For the East Albany Plan alone, Albany has engaged no fewer than five planning consulting firms. The state is helping with the expense, and it will help pay for the new climate-friendly planning as well.)
But other than more meetings, more “public engagement,” more paperwork, and eventually more rules for developers to follow and expenses to bear, don’t expect anything else. And don’t look for any effect whatever on what the climate does. (hh)
Maybe what they mean is “shop in Albany” and don’t drive to Eugene or Salem for grocery shopping.
Sorry to hear you disagree with that approach Hasso.
By Hering’s analysis, we would be better off if we simply ignored reality, bury our heads in the sand, and admit that we are powerless to attempt change. It is this failure in thinking that freezes Oregon’s political Right to the back bench. If Hering desires to change those who “make the rules,” perhaps he and his ilk should come up with a better plan and more electable candidates.
I fully agree, Hasso! If the goals of some state leaders worked to have more density and less vehicles, then they need to look at their ‘poster child’ of Portland. If higher density and services kept people from driving then why is Portland’s transportation system packed with vehicles? We strived to have local services close to neighborhoods when we adopted our a Great Neighborhoods Plan in the late 90’s, but economics changed all of that. We never imagined Amazon would change the shopping needs.
Agreed Sharon. Portland has obviously become a “failed community”. Our elected officials need to STOP striving to follow in Portlands footsteps.
Remembering the Great Neighborhoods project!
Hope you are doing well.
Hello Helen! I sure miss our old days of local planning. Almost everything we strived for with Great Neighborhoods the state now has taken away our local rules and prevented us from policies supporting livable growth. You retired at a good time for planners. Miss you, Helen!
Thanks HH for your accurate, cynical reporting on the continuing efforts by those who make the rules. Our 4th branch of government has too much power and should be challenged in Court. Witness the SCOTUS stopping the over-reach of EPA. Sometimes corrections can be started.
Typical of Oregon big government. Pack ’em and stack ’em and dictate how we live our lives.
If we are ruled by executive order, why do we elect and pay for a legislature? It’s time to get rid of our arbitrary regime in Salem.
I agree with Sharon K. We have to drive to the grocery store from Spring Meadow. Too far to bicycle and bus service is non existent. I would LOVE to be able to walk to a corner grocery store. When we went to a planning meeting years ago and made this point we were told by staff that 7/11’s count as local grocery stores.
Absolutely NO practical thinking from our Albany Council or Planning staff
Takes the concept of aging in place right off the table