CRT Quality Growth Services have significantly advanced our region on the key regional issue of Land Use/Quality Growth and Sustainable Development identified at the 2009 Convening the Region Summit.
In the Prologue of the Quality Growth Toolbox document, Cumberland Region Principles for Quality Growth outline new goals and standards of practice in growth planning for our region:
- Guide our region's growth with comprehensive community plans
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- Conserve our region's land, water, natural, and cultural resources for our future economic, health and social wellbeing
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- Update zoning, subdivision and building codes to implement community plans
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- Link land use and transportation planning to promote an integrated framework to guide growth and development
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- Use design to protect and enhance our region's diversity of community character
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- Guide public and private investment to efficiently use pre-existing infrastructure and developed land
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- Redevelop and strengthen our region's cities, towns, and rural communities to ensure a range of unique lifestyle choices
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- Think and act regionally to ensure our future livability and economic vitality
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- Create a variety of housing choices for our region's diverse workforce
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These CRT Principles for Quality Growth now align with new HUD, DOT and EPA Sustainable Communities Partnership principles and objectives, putting our region in a competitive position for Livable Communities Act programming and funding. CRT has confirmed a new Public/Private Partnership with TDOT and the Nashville Area MPO to prepare for future federal incentives.
CRT Regional Quality Growth Tools, Training and Technical Assistance Services build on national, regional and local best practices. This multi-year regional initiative has supported pilot projects in Maury, Robertson and Rutherford counties, along with Kingston Springs and Lebanon cities. Each pilot project is addressing pressing comprehensive plan development needs that include historic town center redesign/redevelopment, TOD, and open space conservation goals of each community. CRT continues to support the work of locally led Quality Growth Advisory Committees in each pilot community and has begun to assist Sumner County in the development of their 2010 Comprehensive Plan.
By engaging a 1000+ regional citizens and 100+ design and planning professionals in this effort, the CRT Quality Growth Toolbox Pilot Project has created local acceptance throughout the region on the importance of comprehensive planning, community design and land use/transportation integration. Through our CRT Quality Growth Strategic Partners including TDOT, the Nashville Area MPO, AIA Middle Tennessee and others we are creating a regional cadre of support for Quality Growth and Sustainable Development - Community Visioning, Planning and Design - efforts. Click here to view joint publications on collaborative pilot project work that provide insight into the combination of our expertise and services.
CRT’s regional Quality Growth work is creating an updated local planning foundation that will position our region to align new Comprehensive Plans quickly to support upcoming Regional Transit and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) recommendations and investments coming in the 2010 Nashville Area MPO's 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. Contact us to learn how you can get involved to help create a future livable, sustainable and economically viable region or make plans to attend the May 26th Convening the Region to learn more.
© Cumberland Region Tomorrow 2007
CRT Quality Growth Strategic Partners and Sponsors
We thank our regional and state Sponsors and Partners for their leadership, funding, assistance and technical support that have been essential to the success of our Regional Quality Growth efforts.