News

Generosity Preserves More Land in Region

 

Designer and Builder Support Transfer of Development Rights

Designer and Builder Support Transfer of Development Rights

Unlikely Coalition Backs Anti-Sprawl Measure

An unlikely coalition of environmentalists, builders and local governments announced agreement Wednesday on landmark legislation that would pull state transportation money from projects that contribute to sprawl.

Heybrook Ridge saved from clear-cutting

 

Are small cottages the next big thing in housing?

Article about cottages in Seattle

A vehicle-free experiment on Seattle streets this summer

Seattle experiments with car free streets

Reinventing America's Suburbs

Article about the effect of gas prices on America's suburbs

How much is Puget Sound Worth?

Study puts a price on Puget Sound

The Newest Cottage Industry

Article from the Wall Street Journal about the appeal of Cottage Housing and the rise of the Cottage Housing Industry

Artists and environmentalists team up to create vibrant cityscapes

Street Art: Grist reports on the Art and Environment panel discussion at the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Toward Walkability, and Happiness

Article linking walkabilty and happiness

The Metropolitan Era

Column from Governing about the economic importance of cities and their surrounding suburbs.

Seattle mayor proposes change to controversial townhome design code

Calling some town homes unattractive, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed changes to the multifamily-building code that would require design review for all new town homes.

Growth can be an opportunity to create livable neighborhoods

Good transit service is a key component in ensuring thriving, livable neighborhoods.

Soaring gas prices an incentive for compact living

Rising gas prices and transportation costs may drive the further devaluation of sprawling suburban homes.

With Gas Over $4, Cities Explore Whether It's Smart to be Dense

Sacramento's "smart growth" response to high gas prices.

The 100-year gamble to save our quality of life

A close look at the ambitious "Cascade Agenda," which hopes to preserve the central Puget Sound region's natural systems from a Pugetopolis that sprawls all the way to the Cascades. The mechanisms are known, but it's not clear they can work well enough or soon enough.

Seattle tries to find solution to unappealing townhouses

A forum was held recently with community leaders in an effort to solve the issue of proliferating unattractive townhouses. There is no clear strategy on how to proceed yet, but most agree that something needs to be done to prevent these bland homes from being constructed at the rate that they have been.

Political backers needed for improved transit system

Public transit ridership is on the upswing, but the current system is not capable of handling a huge volume of people or connecting everyone to where they want to go. Yet, there has not been a huge political push to improve the system.

New Vision for South Downtown Seattle

Seattle city planners unveiled on Thursday how they would allow for more homes and employers into some of the city's oldest and most culturally significant neighborhoods, including Pioneer Square and Chinatown. The high density growth will make these neighborhoods safer, provide access to transit and encourage builders to use environmentally friendly practices.

Report finds densely populated areas have smaller carbon footprint; Seattle ranked highly

A report from the Brookings Institute has found that densely populated metropolitan regions have lower carbon emissions per capita than sprawling metro regions. It also says that cities have some of the most potential for cutting down on emissions. The Seattle-Tacoma metro area performed relatively well in the rankings.

CLC Finalist for Sustainable Cities Award

 

The Ellensburg Downtown Association Receives Two "Excellence in Downtown Revitalization" Awards

OLYMPIA—The Ellensburg Downtown Association was recognized for “Outstanding Achievement in Promotion” and a “Best Economic Restructuring Story” at the 22nd Annual Downtown Revitalization Training Institute awards banquet last night in Wenatchee. The group’s achievements were among eight projects honored.

Jobs, homes proposal for Snohomish Couty touted as eco-friendly

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon unveiled plans Tuesday for an environmentally friendly development of businesses, housing and recreation on 600 acres of county-owned land off Cathcart Way near Highway 9.

Paying landowners to protect Puget Sound

Protection of open space, farmland and forestland are all extremely important for the uplands protection of the Puget Sound watershed. Paying landowners for their development rights through transfer of development rights is one strategy that could have significant impacts for the protection of Puget Sound.

Three groups combine to conserve 8,000 acres of working forest

 

CLC Cheers Approval of Wild Sky Wilderness Area

 

Seattle Times editorial - The Cascade Agenda: a new conversation

 

Weyerhaueser, Boeing donate $1 million to Cascade Agenda

Two companies we've covered for their not-always-nice treatment of the environment, Weyerhaeuser and The Boeing Co., came out looking pretty good this morning when their donations of $250,000 and $750,000 to The Cascade Agenda, respectively, were announced at the Cascade Land Conservancy's annual Conservation Awards Breakfast.

Panelists say compact living key to a healthy future for the region

 

Reality Check: Sound progression

Hundreds of business, community and government leaders got together at the University of Washington to talk about the Puget Sound region's future in the context of "Reality Check". Among their top concerns were transportation, concentrating growth in urban centers, preserving a green environment and affordable housing.

The Cascade Agenda- Seattle Times Editorial

Gene Duvernoy and Charles Bingham discuss the new vision for the region: The Cascade Agenda and how we can rethink how we grow in Washington State.

Driven to the Brink

A new analysis shows that high gas prices are not only implicated in the bursting of the housing bubble, but that the higher cost of commuting has already re-shaped the landscape of real estate value between cities and suburbs. Housing values are falling fastest in distant suburban and exurban neighborhoods where affordability depended directly on cheap gas.

Town homes spark neighborhood debate

Seattle residents are frustrated by the lack of creative design in neighborhood town homes. They are voicing their opinions in neighborhood debates and trying to determine why there are not better designs for town homes.

Gene Duvernoy Named Non-Profit CEO of the Year By Washington CEO

Gene Duvernoy, president of the Cascade Land Conservancy is this year's nonprofit CEO of the year. The award is given to an executive from a charitable organization whose leadership and vision exemplify a passion for community betterment, who builds strong relationships among all stakeholders and who is a capable manager.

Steering growth to Seattle, urban areas

Puget Sound Region Council's vision 2040 was adopted on Thursday that calls for growth to be centered in metropolitan cities and steered away from rural lands.

The True Cost of "Affordable" Suburban Housing

The Center for Neighborhood Technology put together an "affordability index" that considers both housing prices and transportation costs in about 50 metropolitan areas. The Stranger's Slog applied it to Seattle to show that inner city living can actually be more affordable that outer ring suburbs.

A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown

The Puget Sound Regional Council's Vision 2040, to be adopted tomorrow, has been outrun by seven years of population growth in the very outlying areas the plan is intended to protect, says the recent former Washington secretary of transportation. He explains what's happened and argues for a recalibration of strategy.

Norm Dicks and Christine Gregoire: Our State Is Clean, Green and Collaborative

Guest Columnists Norm Dicks and Christine Gregoire discuss Washington's collaborative approach towards cleaning the Puget Sound. They mention The Cascade Agenda's market based approach as a creative way to conserve land in this region.

Opinion| TDR: balancing the goals of conservation and growth

Nicole Faghin and Reid Shockey discuss the value of TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) in Snohomish County addressing some of its future growth issues. TDR is a market based mechanism to move growth from outlying rural areas to areas that are more appropriate for growth.

Mini-city plan could be a turning point for Snohomish land-use policy

Snohomish County is in the process of making a decision about fully contained communities--huge developments where in theory residents would live, work, shop and play without significantly affecting the surrounding area. Developer Dave Barnett is working towards building a 6,000 home development near Lake Roesiger.

Committing to a shared vision of a future worth having

Joseph Tovar writes about local government's role in protecting our cultural heritage, environment and sense of place in the Pacific Northwest. He calls for change from not only the governments but also from each individual about where and how to live, work and move about the region.

Mapping Transportation Costs for Home Buyers

A new Web-based tool developed by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, is now available to help home buyers map out their potential transportation costs when purchasing a home. Academics at the CNT argue that a home isn't really affordable if its location forces a household to devote an excess amount of the family budget to transportation.

Wild Sky Wilderness Area plan appears closer to approval than ever

After nearly nine years of work and four tries, the proposed Wild Sky Wilderness Area seems finally headed for approval, designating the first major new wilderness in Washington in a generation. A bill containing the wilderness area passed on a 91-4 vote in the U.S. Senate on Thursday and is headed to virtually certain passage in the House as soon as next week. The president is expected to sign it.

Smart land-use regulations create a sense of community

John Borah gives an optimistic view of the Growth Management Act and its role in creating a sense of community.

As Prices Rise, Farmers Spurn Conservation Program

The ramifications of increasing agflation are changing the price structure for government conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program. Many farmers are withdrawing from the program leaving less land available for conservation.

Cities: A Smart Alternative to Cars

Business Week magazine recently featured an article on the opportunities for using our existing infrastructure and cities more wisely. Georgia has made substantial public investments in cities during the past 100 years. Cities and urban places across the Atlanta region have much greater potential to have more housing, become more walkable, mixed use and transportation efficient.

Shifting Ground- A new Public Radio Series

A new public radio series has begun that explores many growth issues. The series known as "Shifting Ground" will examine the difficult choices confronting communities as they cope with change and try to shape a better future. Information on Shifting Ground can be found on the internet at: http://www.shiftinggroun.com/Home.html. As the website states: "Cities sprawl, highways clog...American cities, towns and rural areas are not suffering growing pains. The symptoms are obvious. The remedies are not."

Lawmakers provide $1 million to save local valleys' farmland

A number of Pierce County residents will be the recipients of funding to buy development rights off prime farmland.

The City of Edmonds to Vote on Environmental Policies & Principles

On Tuesday, March 25th the City of Edmonds will vote on a resolution of environmental principles and policies.

Surprising Newcastle: visions and opportunities

The City of Newcastle is being exceptionally far-thinking in its zoning changes and codes. The city is working to create a walkable neighborhood with mixed-housing choices and stay away from big box development.

Riding the "three I's" to economic recovery

Guest columists Alan Berube and David Jackson the solutions to long term economic recovery: Innovation, Intellect and Infrastructure.

Growing smarter: Residents provide recipe for smart growth

A new poll in Utah shows that residents are tiring of the post-50s suburban development. Residents instead want a mix of lot sizes and housing types, primarily moderately-sized single family homes and town houses. They want easy access to public transportation, open space, and neighbors who represent a mix of ages and family stages.

Urban Myths

In thinking of environmentally friendly places most people think of green open space, mountains and places untouched by concrete. Cities, with their pollution and artificial environments seem like ecological nightmares. Jonah Lehrer writes on why this conventional wisdom is exactly backward.

Managed Growth Good for Economy

Guest columnist Tony To reports on this legislative session's commitment to address policy challenges facing affordable home ownership in Washington. During the session legislators discussed how GMA policies can reduce the cost of production and how to improve funding methods to urban areas.

Is Suburbia Turning into Slumburbia?

With the recent wave of foreclosurings suburban developments are faring worse than other areas. The question looms--will the McMansions with manicured lawns and 3 car garages become the next slums?

Cascade Agenda Newsletter: Online

 

A level playing field for cities

Boston Globe opinion article on how cities face an uneven fiscal playing field compared to their suburban counterparts. While we should be encouraging dense, efficient urban development, many policies work in the wrong direction--encouraging sprawl and greenfield development.

King County executive wants greener development

King County Executive Ron Sims plans to introduce legislation that would allow the county to reject or modify development projects because of their effect on global warming.

The Rules for dating the City of Destiny for Tacoma

Dan Voelpel with The News Tribune remarks on the introduction of Tacoma's design review board.

The Next Slum?

The Atlantic The subprime crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. Fundamental changes in American life may turn today’s McMansions into tomorrow’s tenements. by Christopher B. Leinberger

In Search of a Real Urban Policy

New York Times editorial by Bruce Katz of The Brookings Institution writes on the importance of good urban policy and the shortfalls of our current presidential candidates.

Bill manages growth with a green hue

Guest Columnists Greg Smith and Jay Arnold report in the Seattle PI on a state level bill--Local Solutions for Global Warming (SHB2797, SSB6580)-- that sets in motion important first steps to help local governments reduce their climate impact through land use and transportation planning.

Cities: A Smart Alternative to Cars

Creating compact communities—and eliminating the need to drive everywhere—may be the best way to slash greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles

Seattle is on the global path

Seattle appears to be on its way to becoming a successful world city according to a private consultants view on what makes cities great.

EPA Awards Kirkland for "Building a Healthy Community for Active Aging"

The City of Kirkland received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Achievement award. The award recognizing outstanding community planning and strategies that support active aging and smart growth, thereby improving the quality of life of older residents.

Eyes on the Road

The Wall Street Journal's "Eyes on the Road" columnist, Joseph B. White, ponders the "next big debate over the role of the automobile in America" now that fuel efficiency was raised, and the direction he points to is most surprising.

Preserving arts spaces in Seattle

Preserving and expanding arts and cultural use is a critical part of the overall strategy we must employ to create a sustainable Seattle. This need presents a great opportunity for arts organizations, environmental groups and neighborhoods to find common cause in highlighting the arts as vital infrastructure as we grow.

Growth Check- Seattle Magazine

 

New test for developers in Maine: Climate Change

 

Pierce County Council approves landmark TDR ordinance

 

A great leap forward in managing growth

Opinion article in The News Tribune on the TDR Ordinance.

Quelling the land rush, a tale of three Counties

James Vesely of the Seattle Times writes about Pierce County's TDR Ordinance.

Cascade Land Conservancy- Wildlife Forever Fund Launch $2 Million Stewardship Initiative

 

A market-based way to save Pierce County farmland

 

Volunteers Gather at Interlaken, 16 Other Parks for Green Seattle Day

 

Land-use deals percolating

 

Cascade Land Conservancy- Wildlife Forever Fund Launch $2 Million Stewardship Initiative

New partnership announced to assure the ecological stewardship of miles of coastline and thousands of coastal acres acquired under the fund's Coastal and Estuary Program.

Native plant sale- October 20th

 

A legacy from Walt

 

Smart Growth and Development

 

Generational farming

 

The 100-mile diet

Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon chose to buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, B.C.

Kirkland pushes Agenda role

Kirkland, the first Cascade Agenda City, continues to push ahead with the plans and programs that gained it the distinction in the first place.

Linking Development to Climate Change

 

Survey supports Cascade Agenda, Green Seattle Partnership

Survey supports Cascade Agenda, Green Seattle Partnership

An 0pportunity to act on global warming

 

Agenda-State Parks relationship grows

 

Lake Union Park exemplifies The Agenda

Lake Union Park, Great Places, Smart Growth

Great Places off to a great start

Great Places Forum

Farm Bill Update

Farm Bill, American Farmland Trust

Easement incentive still alive in Congress

Easements

Puget Sound Partnership begins work

Puget Sound Partnership, shoreline alliance, shared salmon strategy

Tacoma a Cascade Agenda City

Cascade Agenda City, Sustainable City, Tacoma

Big gains for the WWRC

The Legislature this year approved the largest investment in parks and natural areas in Washington's history.

Cascade Agenda Coalition Charts Future Action

Members of the Cascade Agenda Coalition met immediately after the breakfast to review accomplishments this year and to lay the groundwork for this year, including the action plan for the next Legislature in early 2008.

Legislature Wins Cascade Agenda Award

More than 1,800 people gathered May 15 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center for the Cascade Land Conservancy’s 12th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast.

You Are How You Live: WSJ on Sustainable Communities

The Wall Street Journal reports on four types of environmentally friendly communities around the nation: New Urbanist--changing development patterns to promote walkable dense communities, Eco-Communities--preserve rural lands and building green developments, Smart Growth--using the principles of smart growth, and Sustainable Urbanism--reusing urban brownfields.

Radio series on land use begins airing today on NPR's All Things Considered

A major new series called "Shifting Ground" that examines the on-the-ground impacts of land policy will begin airing today, February 28th on National Public Radio's afternoon news program "All Things Considered."

The Farmers are the Stars

Community Supported Agriculture, Farmers are the Stars, Seattle Farmers Market, Brown paper tickets

Steering growth to Seattle, urban areas

Puget Sound Region Council's vision 2040 was adopted on Thursday that calls for growth to be centered in metropolitan cities and steered away from rural lands.

Designer and Builder Support Transfer of Development Rights

Designer and Builder Support Transfer of Development Rights