The following community planning initiatives present various ideas around community empowerment, engagement, education and research. Investigate the links below and explore the options that might have relevance for your community and share these ideas with your friends and neighbours.
Canadian Initiatives:
Toronto
Region Conservation Authority: The Living City
An initiative focusing its' efforts on promoting a
sustainable Toronto Region
Exemption from Planning and Development Fees: Ottawa, ON
Residential development in the downtown area is exempt from
development charges, permit fees and planning application fees
City Repair: Ottawa, ON
A grassroots organization of volunteers helping people
self-organize and strengthen their neighbourhoods
Smart Growth on the
Ground: Smart Growth BC
A community based program based on public
participation designed to create sustainable concept plans that
are then presented to local councils for adoption
James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments:
British Columbia
Associated with UBC, this organization has initiated several
projects that have demonstrated what our neighbourhoods could be
like if they were designed using sustainable principles
The
Co-Design Group: Vancouver, British Columbia
An organization that works with communities in establishing
visions of future life - an interesting Community Values Measure
survey is available on-line
Sustainable Communty Indicators Program: Environment Canada
Some information on developing community indicators
American Initiatives:
Welcome to New Jersey
Future: USA
A research and policy group advocating the State development
and Redevelopment Plan
1000 Friends of Oregon:
USA
A citizen's group interested in land use planning issues
Department of Community Affairs: Quality Growth in Georgia: USA
A group of organizations interested in fostering livable
communities through what they define as quality growth
Coalition for a Livable
Future: USA
A partnership of over 80 organizations working to create more
equitable and sustainable Portland Region
Smart Growth Strategy/Regional Livability Footprint Project: USA
A project that is determining how the San Francisco Bay Area can
grow smarter and become more sustainable
Transportation and Land Use Coalition: USA
A partnership interested in envisioning a region with
healthy, vibrant and walkable communities
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: USA
Provides information and ideas on Transit Oriented
Developments - compact and walkable, centered around transit
stations
Office of
Neighborhood Involvement: Portland: USA
An interesting government site promoting community
participation and involvement
Department of Neighborhoods: Seattle: USA
A government department promoting stronger communities in
strong partnership with residents
MetroMap: Portland: USA
A wonderful on-line mapping tool that allows residents to view
map based information such as tax assessment information,
zoning, political boundaries, planning information and special
districts
Vermont Forum On Sprawl: Vermont Neighborhoods Project: USA
An organization working with communities to create site specific
plans based on resident's needs
Asian Neighborhood
Design: USA
A California not for profit corporation providing design
solutions to low income neighbourhoods
Community Design Center of
Pittsburgh: USA
A not for profit organization that encourages good design of
the built environment throughout Pittsburgh
Minnesota Design Team: USA
A volunteer organization based upon community based principles
and planning
PlaceMatters: USA
A collection of creative practitioners who practice sustainable
community planning
Urban
Ecology: USA
A San Francisco based not for profit that uses urban design,
land use planning and policy reform to encourage good design and
planning
Charlottesville Community Design Center: USA
A centre dedicated to the community design movement
Pratt
Center for Community Development: USA
A New York based organization, empowering communities to plan
and realize their own futures
Vermont Forum on Sprawl: On-Line Community Assessment Tool: USA
An interesting on-line interactive community planning tool
Southeast Uplift
Neighborhood Program: Portland: USA
A not for profit coalition of neighbourhoods providing free
technical assistance in citizen participation, community
development, organizing and urban planning
Project for Public Spaces: USA
A not for profit organization dedicated to promoting public
spaces throughout the landscape
