edward
02-15-2008, 10:47 PM
“Where Are You Horse People? You Have To Show Up”
Kate Kenyon introduced herself, shook my hand and before I could get a word out she said” Where are you horse people, you have to show up”. When I looked at her nametag, it read Kate Kenyon Chairman Pinal County Planning Commission.
As she spoke, I was thinking that we have been showing up especially in Pinal County. But then I thought, perception is reality and reality is perception and I responded to her and said, ”you’re right”. She was right not only because of her perception but because we have not had a presence before the Planning Commission. During the rest of the conversation I learned that she was very supportive of the rural/equestrian lifestyle but would be hard pressed to support us if no one from the horse community ever showed up. The lesson learned here is that we have not shown up enough so everyone in Pinal county or for that matter, any other county knows we are there and that we care enough to attend all the meetings. What Kate and other city and county reps see constantly are developers, investors and others attempting to up-zone to make money. Sadly, there are never any horse people in attendance. Lesson #2: “You can never attend too many meetings.” If you show up only once, it’s not enough.
Friday, February 8, I attended Pinal County’s Planning and Zoning Commissioners Seminar. I have to admit that my expectations were low and I thought this would probably not go well for the Equestrian Lifestyle. But was I in for a shock.
The Suncor Corporation’s (a developer) Chief Operating Officer spoke about the New Ruralism. (I couldn’t believe a developer would ever talk about the importance of the rural lifestyle)
He spoke about characteristics of the New Ruralism that included “community uses integrated with open space, recreation and agriculture” Other characteristics included “enhanced sense of safety and enduring quality (country living)” and “nurturing, quiet, peaceful smaller sized communities”. He was the first of several speakers who spoke of the concept of “A sense of place”. He stressed that people want and need a sense of place and will move to find it. In his final two slides he included “Rural Development Public Policy Considerations” As you read this remember the audience is 99.5% planning and zoning people from throughout Pinal County;
“Keep it simple- complexity, excess regulation, restrictions and guidelines are not why people are attracted to a rural lifestyle”
“Be accommodating-focus more on facilitation and guidance and less on regulation and control. Many of the best parts of communities were developed before zoning existed.”
“Honor the historical character of the area- Be more of who you are and less of what new-comers think you should be. Preserve the reasons you moved or stayed here in the first place.”
The keynote speaker, Donovan Rypkema’s talk was ***led “Place Economics”. He like the developer before him and others who followed reiterated how important Place is. Place, he said is claimed by feelings” and “Community is a place where people know and care about one another. He mentioned there were two kinds of Home Less. Those who lose their home and those who have one that looks like everyone else’s. Donavan went on to say that you can have economic growth without population growth. And further illustrated the importance of Place being different when he described that the root of those who propose economic growth is they want their children to have an opportunity to live and work where they grew up. The real issue is will they come back if it’s just like every other place?
He told his audience that Planners only think regulations but at the core of being a compe***ive city is the preservation of their history. A Place enhances the quality of life. There are five senses in a Place:
1. A sense of place
2. A sense of evolution
3. A sense of ownership
4. A sense of iden***y
5. A sense of community
“Generica” (generic America where every place looks like every place else) “undermines all five senses”.
In his final comments Mr. Rypkema told the planners in his audience, “If Pinal County towns are like anywhere else they will eventually disappear. Communities that have no differentiation have no value.”
Other speakers reinforced the sense of Place issue and one took it a little further. Jack Tomasik, whose background was with Maricopa County showed a chart that graphed the results of a study he conducted on the costs and revenue generated by development. He found that Residential development costs more than it generates in all situations from low to high densities. Non-residential makes money as does Retail and Office space.
Now that this seminar is over there are many unanswered questions. Perhaps more than before it started, for who could have guessed that so many different experts would speak so positively about the Rural issue and it’s preservation and advantages? But did those planners and the Pinal County planning consultants hear what was said? Will they just return to their tunnel vision?
In the final analysis, it’s up to us. All we have to do is show up and tell them what we want and how we want it done. Will we show up over and over until they get the message or will they continue to say?
“Where Are You Horse People? You Have To Show Up”
Have we turned the corner? No, not yet, but the door has been opened. If we are courageous enough to get involved, make attendance at meetings our personal priority and support the Arizona State Horsemen’s Association and our local clubs or associations, then we will definitely make a difference. For more information about the Arizona State Horsemen’s Association contact me at info@allabouthorses.com Up to date issues are posted in the Forums on allabouthorses.com
Ed O’Brien VP ASHA
Owner ALLABOUTHORSES.COM
Kate Kenyon introduced herself, shook my hand and before I could get a word out she said” Where are you horse people, you have to show up”. When I looked at her nametag, it read Kate Kenyon Chairman Pinal County Planning Commission.
As she spoke, I was thinking that we have been showing up especially in Pinal County. But then I thought, perception is reality and reality is perception and I responded to her and said, ”you’re right”. She was right not only because of her perception but because we have not had a presence before the Planning Commission. During the rest of the conversation I learned that she was very supportive of the rural/equestrian lifestyle but would be hard pressed to support us if no one from the horse community ever showed up. The lesson learned here is that we have not shown up enough so everyone in Pinal county or for that matter, any other county knows we are there and that we care enough to attend all the meetings. What Kate and other city and county reps see constantly are developers, investors and others attempting to up-zone to make money. Sadly, there are never any horse people in attendance. Lesson #2: “You can never attend too many meetings.” If you show up only once, it’s not enough.
Friday, February 8, I attended Pinal County’s Planning and Zoning Commissioners Seminar. I have to admit that my expectations were low and I thought this would probably not go well for the Equestrian Lifestyle. But was I in for a shock.
The Suncor Corporation’s (a developer) Chief Operating Officer spoke about the New Ruralism. (I couldn’t believe a developer would ever talk about the importance of the rural lifestyle)
He spoke about characteristics of the New Ruralism that included “community uses integrated with open space, recreation and agriculture” Other characteristics included “enhanced sense of safety and enduring quality (country living)” and “nurturing, quiet, peaceful smaller sized communities”. He was the first of several speakers who spoke of the concept of “A sense of place”. He stressed that people want and need a sense of place and will move to find it. In his final two slides he included “Rural Development Public Policy Considerations” As you read this remember the audience is 99.5% planning and zoning people from throughout Pinal County;
“Keep it simple- complexity, excess regulation, restrictions and guidelines are not why people are attracted to a rural lifestyle”
“Be accommodating-focus more on facilitation and guidance and less on regulation and control. Many of the best parts of communities were developed before zoning existed.”
“Honor the historical character of the area- Be more of who you are and less of what new-comers think you should be. Preserve the reasons you moved or stayed here in the first place.”
The keynote speaker, Donovan Rypkema’s talk was ***led “Place Economics”. He like the developer before him and others who followed reiterated how important Place is. Place, he said is claimed by feelings” and “Community is a place where people know and care about one another. He mentioned there were two kinds of Home Less. Those who lose their home and those who have one that looks like everyone else’s. Donavan went on to say that you can have economic growth without population growth. And further illustrated the importance of Place being different when he described that the root of those who propose economic growth is they want their children to have an opportunity to live and work where they grew up. The real issue is will they come back if it’s just like every other place?
He told his audience that Planners only think regulations but at the core of being a compe***ive city is the preservation of their history. A Place enhances the quality of life. There are five senses in a Place:
1. A sense of place
2. A sense of evolution
3. A sense of ownership
4. A sense of iden***y
5. A sense of community
“Generica” (generic America where every place looks like every place else) “undermines all five senses”.
In his final comments Mr. Rypkema told the planners in his audience, “If Pinal County towns are like anywhere else they will eventually disappear. Communities that have no differentiation have no value.”
Other speakers reinforced the sense of Place issue and one took it a little further. Jack Tomasik, whose background was with Maricopa County showed a chart that graphed the results of a study he conducted on the costs and revenue generated by development. He found that Residential development costs more than it generates in all situations from low to high densities. Non-residential makes money as does Retail and Office space.
Now that this seminar is over there are many unanswered questions. Perhaps more than before it started, for who could have guessed that so many different experts would speak so positively about the Rural issue and it’s preservation and advantages? But did those planners and the Pinal County planning consultants hear what was said? Will they just return to their tunnel vision?
In the final analysis, it’s up to us. All we have to do is show up and tell them what we want and how we want it done. Will we show up over and over until they get the message or will they continue to say?
“Where Are You Horse People? You Have To Show Up”
Have we turned the corner? No, not yet, but the door has been opened. If we are courageous enough to get involved, make attendance at meetings our personal priority and support the Arizona State Horsemen’s Association and our local clubs or associations, then we will definitely make a difference. For more information about the Arizona State Horsemen’s Association contact me at info@allabouthorses.com Up to date issues are posted in the Forums on allabouthorses.com
Ed O’Brien VP ASHA
Owner ALLABOUTHORSES.COM