Regional Plan Association and its LI2035 Regional Visioning study team partners - Vision Long Island, Sustainable Long Island and University Transportation Research Center - convened a visioning workshop at the Long Island Regional Planning Council's First Annual Planning Summit. With nearly 150 participants comprised of Long Island's elected officials, civic, business and environmental leaders, the diverse group worked side by side to allocate projected population and employment growth through an interactive planning exercise. The results include 13 distinct, whole-island growth concepts with common themes such as intensification of existing downtowns and concentrated growth in places like the Nassau Hub; protection of open space on the East End; and new and improved transportation infrastructure like the Third Track to accommodate sustainable growth.
The next phase of this project will involve summarizing the proceedings of the workshop and consolidating the 13 concepts into 2-3 alternative growth scenarios. These scenarios will include analysis of key indicators associated with the different visions of development, including affordable housing, open space, stormwater runoff and others. Once developed, these scenarios will be presented back to the workshop participants and used to inform the Island's planning processes moving forward, including the LI2035 Sustainability Plan currently being developed by the Long Island Regional Planning Council.
Newsday's coverage of the event:
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/longisland/ny-liplan276085184mar27,0,1472536.story
Developing Long Island key at 'visioning' workshop
BY OLIVIA WINSLOW | olivia.winslow@newsday.com
March 27, 2009 Exhorted to "take your best shot" at planning Long Island's development over the next 25 years, a diverse group of people took a hands-on approach at a "visioning" workshop hosted by the Long Island Regional Planning Council yesterday.
Common themes emerged: greater development of existing downtown areas, especially multifamily housing and business; preserving open space and farmland; and expanding transportation by reopening closed Long Island Rail Road stations, or creating new transit options, such as a light rail system.
Michael White, executive director of the council, said the workshop at the Melville Marriott was part of the Long Island 2035 Regional Visioning Initiative, funded by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. And the initiative is an integral element of the council's "Long Island 2035 Sustainability Action Plan," which seeks to foster consensus on growth that will inspire government officials to act. "This morning we have a chance to see the dynamics of a very broad and diverse group of stakeholder organizations and interests - from business to environment, to not-for-profit, philanthropic and municipal representation," White said in an interview. "So this really is an opening of the dialogue on ... how we're going to grow and where ... "
Chris Jones, vice president of the Regional Plan Association, part of the project's study group that includes Vision Long Island and Sustainable Long Island, told about 150 participants to look at development in "very broad strokes. Take your best shot" at determining what's beneficial.
Working from large maps of the Island spread out on 14 tables in a conference room, participants plotted where to put housing, commercial development and transportation. Chuck Gosline of Concerned Citizens of Farmingdale, a civic group, pointed out his group's focus on a monorail that would parallel the Long Island Expressway to aid business development and add travel options. "We're trying to build mini-centers of housing ... and jobs," said Diana Coleman of the Nassau Economic Opportunity Commission.
Nearby, Kevin McDonald, director of public lands for the Nature Conservancy, talked of the need for providing a light rail system along North-South corridors, citing a "deficiency" in train service where residents of Long Beach or East Rockaway must take a train into New York City to get another train to take them to the North Shore.
Paul Rogalle, director of planning for Brookhaven Town, said the workshop was "an exciting opportunity to roll up your sleeves ... I hope to bring back a lot of this insight and information to our own staff" for Brookhaven 2030, a comprehensive plan. "I'm encouraged."
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/longisland/ny-liplan276085184mar27,0,1472536.story
Developing Long Island key at 'visioning' workshop
BY OLIVIA WINSLOW | olivia.winslow@newsday.com
March 27, 2009 Exhorted to "take your best shot" at planning Long Island's development over the next 25 years, a diverse group of people took a hands-on approach at a "visioning" workshop hosted by the Long Island Regional Planning Council yesterday.
Common themes emerged: greater development of existing downtown areas, especially multifamily housing and business; preserving open space and farmland; and expanding transportation by reopening closed Long Island Rail Road stations, or creating new transit options, such as a light rail system.
Michael White, executive director of the council, said the workshop at the Melville Marriott was part of the Long Island 2035 Regional Visioning Initiative, funded by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. And the initiative is an integral element of the council's "Long Island 2035 Sustainability Action Plan," which seeks to foster consensus on growth that will inspire government officials to act. "This morning we have a chance to see the dynamics of a very broad and diverse group of stakeholder organizations and interests - from business to environment, to not-for-profit, philanthropic and municipal representation," White said in an interview. "So this really is an opening of the dialogue on ... how we're going to grow and where ... "
Chris Jones, vice president of the Regional Plan Association, part of the project's study group that includes Vision Long Island and Sustainable Long Island, told about 150 participants to look at development in "very broad strokes. Take your best shot" at determining what's beneficial.
Working from large maps of the Island spread out on 14 tables in a conference room, participants plotted where to put housing, commercial development and transportation. Chuck Gosline of Concerned Citizens of Farmingdale, a civic group, pointed out his group's focus on a monorail that would parallel the Long Island Expressway to aid business development and add travel options. "We're trying to build mini-centers of housing ... and jobs," said Diana Coleman of the Nassau Economic Opportunity Commission.
Nearby, Kevin McDonald, director of public lands for the Nature Conservancy, talked of the need for providing a light rail system along North-South corridors, citing a "deficiency" in train service where residents of Long Beach or East Rockaway must take a train into New York City to get another train to take them to the North Shore.
Paul Rogalle, director of planning for Brookhaven Town, said the workshop was "an exciting opportunity to roll up your sleeves ... I hope to bring back a lot of this insight and information to our own staff" for Brookhaven 2030, a comprehensive plan. "I'm encouraged."
@RegionalPlan