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<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>C,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
mostly totally agree with you. Moscow does need to place a priority on
"planning." This could be done within the Community Development
Dept.(rather than thru a new dept.), but only if emphasis is placed on the
effort. I my mind, Community Development implies Planning - not that it
does happen, but it is an implied part of the process. I think most
communities are way behind in their efforts to plan. Growth has occurred
for decades without any comprehensive understanding of what the results were
going to be. Now communities really need to look at what has happened,
what will happen, and decide how to make both worlds mesh into a better, wholly
connected community.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
would love to see a more holistic approach to community development. One
of my frustrations, professionally & personally, is knowing that the reason
we have the past development that we do, is based on the regulations that
"contol" growth. If community growth is a direct result of the "rules of
play", why not change them to give citizens the results they want?
Most people would agree that this is a no-brainer. But just like any other
law on the books, there are those that will try to subvert the intention and new
rules are too cumbersome. I think the better solution would be to minimize
worded regulation and shift towards an interactive community one. This
would allow citizen input to help specific projects as well as the larger
community to develop more "organically," based on thoughtful concepts of desired
resultants.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>One
problem with this approach is that it forces developers to cater more to the
populace's wishes. I think conceptually it would result in better
development, but there is less incentive for developer involvement. Who
wants to put their own money where they have less control over it. To
counter that, there would need to be public incentives included within the
process to help assure the investors of appropriate occupancy rates (or
sales.) If citizens want control over their domain, they need to help
level the risk by becoming involved.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
could see this whole process shifting towards a community cooperative model,
where citizens develop the concept, present it to the community for financial
(or other) investment to implement the project. If there is not enough
interest, then maybe the project didn't meet a real & current community
need. I see no truly viable way for positive community development to
happen without community input. It's obvious current processes do not work
and there needs to be change, but will it happen
collectively?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=890444521-06042007>We''ll
have to wait and see what we can do individually, ...stay
tuned.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=890444521-06042007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Mark</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=890444521-06042007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:bau@moscow.com"></A><IMG height=84
alt="baukunst\architecture Union" hspace=0 src="cid:890444521@06042007-1824"
width=108 border=0> <BR><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">mark r. seman,
architect</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">
v=928.925.7617</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">
f=928.776.9107</SPAN><BR></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 06, 2007 1:19
PM<BR><B>To:</B> mark seman<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Wheaton Story
in paper<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Planning?? Moscow doesn't have a department of
planning. It's name is Community DEVELOPMENT. I've always maintained that what
Moscow has always needed is a Planning department. Seems all that happens here
is patchwork. No REAL planning involved. One example is the fact that i walk
all over moscow, enjoy the few places there are "walkable links" between
neighborhoods. There are fewer and fewer being made in new developments. No
one is asking for development plans to include such links now.
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>On Apr 5, 2007, at 2:19 AM, mark seman wrote:</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Moscow,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I'm saddened to hear that Jon was
removed from Moscow's BOA. I have great respect for his thoughtfulness with
decisions. While on the BOA with Jon, I had my frustrations with policy, and
I could sense some of his frustration with how statutes do not = justice.
Anyone grasping Zoning and development regulation well enough will
understand where they fail and need improvement. It's difficult to be in a
position, having your hands tied by governing policy, knowing that better
policy or better citizen communication would lead to better community.
Often, seeing where failings exist doesn't happen until a real-life
situation arises that exposes it. There's no quick-change-to-policy to
accomodate a just solution. Jon was a thoughtful member of the BOA and his
departure will be felt, because of the knowledge he brought into the
process. Someone else will take his place, but I doubt that person will have
the level of understanding that Jon did, until they have sat on the BOA for
many years to come.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Joel was also an asset for the
City of Moscow. He spent a lot of time wth the City and his institutional
knowledge leaves with him. Joel grew into his position, from before Dale's
leaving and afterwards. A city planner's role is a tough one to be in.
You're hardly ever given the resources to truly plan for the community's
future, rather you are being reactive to what developers bring. The
limitations of established Zoning & Comprehensive Plans are your
planning tools. One's standards & guidebook for community development
... not a shed-full, nor very sharp tools. The best that can come from
Joel's departure is him being able to move-on professionally &
personally to another level. I hope he finds something that suits him
well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I don't know what Nancy's role
has been in these two changes for Moscow, but it will be interesting to see
what the future brings, if for no other reason than Moscow has lost a
significant and worthy part of its past.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Mark</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:bau@moscow.com"><SPAN>
<DIV><baU-orange.JPG></DIV></SPAN></A><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">mark r. seman, architect</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">v=928.925.7617</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: agency fb">f=928.776.9107</SPAN></FONT><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>