The Bear Lake Valley Blueprint
The Bear Lake Valley Blueprint process is a once in-a-generation opportunity to explore growth-related issues and think together about what we want Bear Lake County/Rich County area to be like in the future. This process reflects the values of the public, the voice of the public, and the vision of the public. Broad public participation and ownership is the key to a successful process.
Increasingly, the counties are becoming an interdependent region, with Bear Lake at its heart. The decisions that we make locally affect everyone regionally. We drive many of the same roads, share economic challenges, and enjoy the same natural resources. The Blueprint process enables us to take a regional look at our future.
As the decisions that we make today affect our neighbors, the decisions that we make also affect future generations. Bear Lake Valley Blueprint enables us to ask the questions: What legacy do we want to leave behind for future generations? What kind of future do we want to create for our children and grandchildren?
If we can create a common dream for the future, we can move beyond asking, “What do we want?” and move toward asking, “How do we get there?” Broad public participation leads to a politically actionable vision and implementation strategy. Let’s create a legacy and realize our dream.
PROJECT PROCESS
- Engage citizens and stakeholders in activities that explore growth issues and choices
- Develop a range of scenarios based on public preferences that explore growth issues and choices
- Explore consequences and implementation options for each scenario
- Create a vision and vision implementation strategy for the region that reflects public values and is locally actionable
BACKGROUND
A steering committee of local citizens will head Bear Lake Valley Blueprint, and Envision Utah, a nonprofit with leading-edge visioning skills, is facilitating the effort. Committee members are committed to a transparent and public process in which citizens can explore the challenges associated with growth and work toward the creation of a long-term vision for the region. The challenge will be to envision a place that our children and grandchildren will appreciate—a place that preserves and enhances the quality of life that residents currently enjoy. Challenges associated with this task include thinking about growth locations and patterns, job growth, agriculture, transportation, water quality, economic development, land consumption, housing, critical lands, and recreation.
TIMELINE OF PROCESS EVENTS
The public will have numerous opportunities for participation. Milestone events are summarized below, with further options via surveys, online feedback, and special topics meetings.
SUMMER 2010- Bear Lake Valley Blueprint Workshops: Hands-on public workshops exploring the long-term legacy we can create for our region while also respecting current local interests and individual property rights. A chance to roll your sleeves up and share a fun, interactive evening with your neighbors.
FALL 2010- Bear Lake Valley Blueprint Town Hall Meetings: An exploration of the impacts of a range of growth scenarios developed directly from public input at the summer workshops. Based on a review of growth alternatives and consequences, an opportunity for the public to express preferences for various growth choices.
WINTER 2010-11- Bear Lake Valley Blueprint Summit: A celebration of the vision created directly from public ideas, preferences, and values.
SPRING 2011- Bear Lake Valley Blueprint Strategy: A collaborative process identifying how to realize our vision in locally relevant and regionally significant ways.