Participate In Future Planning

Future planning requires participation from all levels of society as well as representation from all areas. It takes both to achieve the solutions and goals that satisfy the vast majority of the people.

There was a good article in the American Association Planning magazine this month regarding infrastructure needs. Ohio's Congressman Blumenauer is proposing a bipartisan federal infrastructure commission that would hold hearings in all 50 states. The commission would discuss our national infrastructure and investment needs for the next century and report back to Congress with documentation based on existing research.

"We have crumbling bridges and water systems that are actually in worse shape than the surface transportation system," Blumenuar says. "We have capacity issues for freight movement and for our passenger rail service, and aviation is a nightmare. And the economic model, which has been tenuous at best, doesn't work anymore in an era of $130 a barrel oil."

There is a need for new technologies to reduce harmful greenhouse-gas emissions, new power distribution systems and renewable energy sources. Water and transportation are key componets of the infrastructure plan.

Blumenauer says there may be a national infrastructure summit in the fall before the November elections. Presidential candidates and other congressional leadership would be invited. He seems to think that there is keen interest in this summit. I'm curious as to whom will attend!

Meanwhile, Florence County Planning is on board researching ways to improve air quality in order to meet the attainment requirement. Some of the focus is on hybrid vehicles, diesel conversion, anti-idling, green power, tree preservation, and burn control.

We are also making progress with Future Land Use and the Community Facilities Element which details much of Florence County's infrastructure in regards to water, sewer, and storm water management. We will also be writing Transportation and Priority Investment Elements for the Comprehensive Plan.

Hopefully through hard work and public awareness, we can make a difference. We may not be attending the summit but we will be on the train!