Through
completing the pre-departure report for this subject it became apparent that
Portland’s planning success is not a recent phenomenon but a planned process of
transformation that began with a conscious choice to place planning in the
social realm above the economic and political debate. A combination of
visionary leadership, innovative and enforceable urban plans and policies,
systematic citizen involvement and an appreciation for comprehensive decision
making resulted in Portland becoming the exception to the apparent failures of
other American cities.
A large proportion of this can be attributed
to the ethos of participation and community involvement developed through the
good governance structures in place. Throughout our visit to the ‘capital of
good planning’ many of our presenters emphasised similar objectives and shared
a wide consensus on a range of key issues related to improving all modes of
transport, sustainability targets, the importance of community participation
and investment in local businesses. They also consistently emphasised the
relationship between the design and implementation of effective policy and the
central community role in this process. Prior to any major or minor changes
within the city, there is an extensive community consultation process. This is
recognised by many decision makers within organisations such as TriMet and the
City of Portland as a non-negotiable, as any change has the ability to affect the
connectivity, interactions and liveability of the public space. TriMet’s Robert
Hastings asserted that it is fundamentally a ‘new normal’.
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| City Hall in Downtown Portland |
This governance system ultimately has
implications for the region beyond Portland. The maintenance of the urban
growth boundary despite constant challenges, the commitment to recent transport
initiatives (such as the extension of the MAX Light Rail system) and the transparency
of the monitoring and evaluation of sustainability initiatives have the
capacity to improve the city as well as its broader context.
Lauren Peek
