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Chapter 3/Strategies for Geographic Planning Areas <br /> <br /> Implementing the Regional Development Framework is not a one-size-fits-all process. <br />There are different strategies for communities based on the types of growth that are <br />expected:; These variations are reflected in ~'Geographic Planning Areas" designated by <br />the Council and illustrated on the Regional Growth Strategy Map (attached at the end of <br />this document). <br /> <br /> This map, which incorporates the current land use plans of the region's communities, <br />also will Serve as the foundation for the next round of comprehensive plan updates. It <br />identifies an urban area and a rural area, each of which occupies approximately half of <br />the region. The urban area is divided into two specific geographic planning areas: the <br />Developi[% Communities and the Developed Communities. The rural area is divid~/d into, <br />fbur specific geographic planning areas: Rural Centers/Rural Growth Centers, the <br />Diversified Rural Communities, the Rural Residential Areas and the Agricultural Areas. <br /> <br /> One of the primary differences among these planning areas is the density at Which <br />they deve[Iop. The Council has established benchmarks indicating the overall densities <br />that plannled development patterns in each of the geographic planning areas can be <br />expected to achieve. The Council negotiates a share of the regional forecasts with each,. <br />comrnuni~ty based on its geographic planning area designation(s), development trends, <br />expected 'densities, available land, local interests and Council policies. The cumulative <br />results of the community-accepted distribution of the forecasts among planhing areas <br />becomes the basis for determining the required land supply, and for the Council's plans <br />for and investments in regional systec'ns such as highways and wastewater'service. <br /> <br /> Approximately 91% to 95% of new growth is forecast to be located in the urban <br />area--in !and use patterns that make efficient use of regional infrastructure--with the <br />rest, 5% to 9%, in the rural area, particularly in small towns to be desi~onated as Rural <br />Growth Centers. <br /> : <br /> The Regional Growth Strategy Map - together with the overall strategies in Table 1 <br />and the Geographic Planning Area Table specific to each planning area shown on the <br />map - outlines the roles of individual communities and strategies for accommodating <br />expected growth. At times, planning area designations may change. The Council will <br />work with communities through the comprehensive planning process and within the <br />parameters of the Framework to implement such changes. <br /> <br /> Each COmmunity will determine how to implement the strategies in the geographic <br />planning area tables. The range of choices provides considerable local flexibility. For <br />example, !a Developed Community could---as the table for Developed Communities <br />states--accommodate growth forecasts throughYeinvestment at appropriate densities by <br />adopting innovative zoning techniques for compatible mixed:use development or Shaping <br />new projects at an appropriate scale. In addition, a community in any part of the region <br />may choose to develop and/or expand centers that work for their city. Centers vary in <br />scale - fr6m the downtowns of the region's two central cities to small centers that <br />provide services to neighborhoods or rural areas. Centers integrate land-use patterns, <br />mixing jobs, housing, retail, services and - potentially - open space and connect them <br /> <br />16 <br /> <br /> <br />