Scribe: Bethany Lewin Convener: Jan
Location: Court House steps Time: 11:00am
Attendees: Jan Trettner, Bethany Lewin, John Eckman, Eddie Bumbaugh, Randy Jones, others
Grow up, not out.
Some of the benefits:
-Makes services more accessable i.e. grocery stores, public transportation reducing carbon imprint.
-Effects water quality as once you pave over something there is a lasting negative effect.
What stands in opposition to maximizing downtown density?
*A reacurring theme in this topic was the issue of cooperation between the city and the county that would be neccessary to see this happen.*
-independant cities, counties have no incentive to encourage city growth because they compete for revenue and have to worry about such issues as annexation.
-placement of schools, placing schools in dense urban areas instead of on the fringe of town which requires all the students to be bussed to school.
How do we do it then?
-recycle buildings, the greenest building is the one already standing.
-progressive zoning and building design, residential buildings with retail on the first floor are pedestrain friendly, eliminate dead space, and encourage vibrancy.
-better designed neighborhoods, grids as opposed to cul-de-sacs.
-use marketing to encourage downtown density, great programs being used already, tax incentives.
Concerning the competing agendas of Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County.
-There are now regular City County liason committee meetings where such issues are being discussed openly.
-In the past there has been animosity preventing open/good communication about these issues but now progress is being made.
-Three options given to solve the issue of competing agendas between Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County.
1. Should Harrisonburg revert to town status? This would put it under the entity of the county.
2. Should Rockingham County become part of Harrisonburg? For example, VA Beach is all city and they have a great farmland preservation system in place.
3. Working it out between us. Can Rockingham County and Harrisonburg come to there own agreements?
