Imagine Greater Tucson: Shared Values and the Future of the Greater Tucson Region

1. Welcome to The Big Reveal
Our Shared Values and the
Future of the Greater Tucson Region

2. Today’s Speakers
Keri Silvyn Robert Grow
Imagine Greater Tucson Envision Utah
Eileen Fagan Dr. Lattie F. Coor, Ph.D.
Imagine Greater Tucson Center for the Future of Arizona
Michael McDonald Frances McLane Merryman
Habitat for Humanity Northern Trust NA

4. Board Members
Petra Boehm Robin Shambach
Cherie Campbell Keri Silvyn
Arlan Colton Lucinda Smedley
Ben Korn Iris Patten
Captain David Neri John Shepard
Dina Scalone-Romero Kathy Ward
Enrique Serna

5. Thank You to Our Supporters
Supporters $5,000+ Thomas R. Brown Family Foundation
Lewis and Roca, LLP Tucson Electric Power Co.
Pima Association of Governments Tucson’s Young Professionals Inc.
Sundt Construction Providence Service Corp.
In-Kind Supporters
Anchor Wave Internet Solutions Lewis and Roca LLP
Breckenridge Group Nextrio
Caliber Group Pima Association of Governments
College of Architecture and Landscape Quik Trip
Architecture at the University of Arizona Simply Bits
Cox Communication Sonoran Institute
Drachman Institute Southern Arizona Community Foundation
El Charro Restaurants Southwest Decision Resources
Epic Productions Strongpoint Marketing Intelligence
Film Creations The Planning Center
Graphic Impact The University of Arizona
Jack in the Box Trend Report
Junior League of Tucson University of Arizona Blue Chip
Special thanks to…volunteers, consultants, board members, and the IGT staff

7. Input to Date

8. Shared Regional Values
Business and the Economy
Cultural Diversity and Regional Character
Governance and Leadership
K-12 Education
Land Use and Urban Design
Natural Resources, Environment and Outdoor Recreation
Transportation and Accessibility
University of Arizona and Its Role in the Region
Well Being and Safety

10. The process of
Regional Visioning
is a powerful tool to meet difficult
challenges and create sustainable
communities and regions.

11. Why Do Regional Visioning?

13. The Process for Creating a
Successful Regional Vision

14. Why Start Visioning With
Values?
• Values are stable and enduring; life’s “tides” as
opposed to the “waves.”
• Values are widely shared and create consensus
among diverse groups.
• Satisfying ones’ values is the foundation of personal
decision making.

16. The Future of the
Greater Tucson Region
• The Greater Tucson Region is growing
– Could double population in the coming decades
• How do we grow in a way that serves community values?
• How do we preserve what we love and create a community
where our children can thrive?

17. Growth is coming because the
Greater Tucson Region is a great
place to live.
You can stop growth long term
only if you make this an
undesirable place to live for
everyone (including yourselves).

18. Why Start with a Trend
Scenario?
• Helps answer question: “What if we continue on our
current path?”
• Continues trends in housing and employment patterns,
densities, and direction
• Used to compare alternative scenarios against

19. Current
Footprint
Existing Development
Pascua Yaqui,
Tohono O'odham
Preserves,
Committed Open Space

20. Trend
Scenario
Housing
Jobs
Existing Development
Pascua Yaqui,
Tohono O'odham
Preserves,
Committed Open Space

21. Trends Continue:
Growth at the Edge
Primarily Single-Use areas
• Housing is predominantly
single family (90%)
• Employment in big box and
strip commercial, office and
industrial parks

22. Community Values:
Land Use and Urban Design
• Reduce sprawling
development patterns
• Focus new growth into
compact, walkable,
mixed-use centers
• Redevelop key
areas and corridors

23. Community Values:
Land Use and Urban Design
• Safe and easy
connections between
neighborhoods, activity
centers and nature
• Preserve existing
neighborhoods
• Safe and affordable
housing options for all

24. Trends Continue: Most New Growth
in Areas with Limited Infrastructure
• Will require new and widened roads, sewer and water
• Growth likely will not pay its own way

25. Trends Continue: Urban
Encroachment on Sensitive Areas
Urban encroachment on critical wildlife habitat and corridors

26. Community Values: Open
Space and the Environment
• Our region’s unique and
beautiful landscape
• Air quality
• Accessibility to the
outdoors
• Natural parks and
preserves

27. Trends Continue: Long Commutes
& Limited Transit Options
• Densities are too low to support
high quality transit system
– New housing averages 2 units
per acre
• Private autos will continue to be
near universal mode of travel
• Average travel time to work is 24
minutes – that is likely to increase
• Region is currently at risk of
exceeding EPA standards for
ozone levels

28. Community Values:
Transportation & Accessibility
• Less time commuting
and stuck in traffic
• Easy access and
movement, locally and
within the region
• Access to a variety of
transportation options

30. Scenario Approach:
Contrasts today’s choices by showing
long-term consequences.

31. Environment
Transportation Land Use
Our
Region’s
Future Carbon Footprint
Energy Use
Housing
Job Creation
Opportunities
Land
Consumption Water Use Open Space
Air Quality
Traffic Miles of Driving

32. Develop a Range of Choices
Dispersed Pattern Compact Pattern
Corridor Pattern Satellite Pattern

33. The Goal is Sustainability.
What is it?

35. Shared Regional Values
Business and the Economy
Cultural Diversity and Regional Character
Governance and Leadership
K-12 Education
Land Use and Urban Design
Natural Resources, Environment and Outdoor Recreation
Transportation and Accessibility
University of Arizona and Its Role in the Region
Well Being and Safety

36. “Imagining” is a Verb
• It’s not daydreaming, but hard work
• Must take into account all the issues
• Must make sophisticated tradeoffs after understanding
real choices
• Must seek “balance”– a future that best serves the
values of the people
• It requires your support and active involvement

37. Upcoming Public Engagement
• May:
Public hands-on workshops
• June/July:
Use public input to create
alternative scenarios
• Sept/Oct:
Evaluate and gather input on
scenarios with community

38. Compare Multiple Scenarios
• Test themes from public input and policy options
• Experiment with new development patterns
• Measure impact and compare results

39. Compare Scenarios Across a
Variety of Indicators
• Housing and Jobs: mix and density
• Jobs-Housing Balance
• Land Consumption: vacant, agricultural, infill
• Impervious Surface
• Open Space
• Housing Affordability
• Resource Usage: energy and water
• Waste Production: water, solid, carbon
• Transportation: travel mode choice, vehicle
miles traveled
• Fiscal Impact: cost to serve new
development

40. Implementation Phase
• Develop and present Vision to the public
• Prioritize the Guiding Principles
• Develop strategies, action plans with measurable goals
• Implement through jurisdiction plans, associations,
coalitions
• Measure and communicate progress toward goals

41. Scenario Building Workshops
May 18 – TCC
May 24 – El Conquistador
May 25 – Desert Diamond Casino

43. Community Values:
Business and the Economy
• Growth of well-paid, high quality jobs
• New business development and expansion
• A thriving local, small business environment
• A strong green business sector
• A business friendly environment (with sufficiently streamlined
regulation)
• Well-educated workforce
• A diversified economy that attracts and supports major
businesses and sectors
• Expanded tourism

44. Community Values: Cultural
Diversity & Regional Character
• Our strong sense of community and a relaxed, friendly,
small-town feel
• Our unique identity and diverse cultural, ethnic,
geographical, and historical influences
• Our creativity and accessible arts and music scenes
• Diverse cultural events in the region
• Tolerance and respect
• Our culture of volunteerism
• A variety of affordable and accessible youth activities and
opportunities

45. Community Values:
Governance and Leadership
• Effective, efficient, and accountable local governments and
other public institutions
• Dynamic, effective, visionary leaders
• Implementation of a common, regional vision
• Collaborative intergovernmental relationships
• A positive relationship between the government and the
private sector
• Sufficient funding for our non-profit social service sector
• A reduced influence of special interest groups
• Respect for competing views on growth

46. Community Values:
K-12 Education
• Quality education & high performing schools in the region
• Sufficient Federal, State and local funding for education and
schools
• Hiring, supporting, and retaining high quality teachers
• School curricula that foster and develop skilled and well-
rounded citizens and future workers
• Family, community, and governmental support for schools
and education
• Administrative effectiveness in local public education

47. Community Values: University of
Arizona & its Role in the Region
• The University of Arizona for the quality of education
it provides
• University of Arizona athletics for their impact on the
region’s sense of community, identity, and
entertainment value
• U of A’s role as a cultural and socioeconomic engine
• A positive relationship between the University and
the community and surrounding neighborhoods

48. Community Values:
Well being and Safety
• A community where our children will choose to live
• Less crime and a sense of personal safety
• Access to quality, affordable, health care
• Safe, affordable housing for all segments of the
population
• Adequate social services

51. Shared Regional Values
Business and the Economy
Cultural Diversity and Regional Character
Governance and Leadership
K-12 Education
Land Use and Urban Design
Natural Resources, Environment and Outdoor Recreation
Transportation and Accessibility
University of Arizona and Its Role in the Region
Well Being and Safety

52. High Attachment to Place / Low Sense of Connection to
One Another
• 36% rate their passion and loyalty to place a “5.”
• Only 12% of Arizonans strongly believe the people in their
community care about one another.
Agree More Than Disagree on Issues / Elected Officials
Don’t Represent Citizen Interests
• Only 10% of Arizonans believe their elected officials were
doing a good job. (2009)
• Only 10% believe their elected leaders represent their
interests.

54. Vote
• Arizona ranks 40th in the nation for voter registration
with 68.9% of eligible citizens.
• Arizona ranks 43rd for voter turnout with 59.8% of
eligible citizens.
Follow the News and Stay Informed
• 37% of Arizonans say they do not follow the news or
discuss the news regularly.

55. Maintain Close Ties
• Arizona ranks 48th in the nation for exchanging
favors with neighbors frequently at 13.5%.
• Arizona ranks 45th for eating dinner with family/
household members almost every day.
Participate in Organizations
• Arizona ranks 33rd for belonging to
organizations that meet at least once
a month.

56. Arizona Civic Health Index
National Arizona Greater
Tucson
Voter Registration 71.0% 68.9% 76.3%
Voter Turnout 63.6% 59.8% 64.5%
Discuss Politics Frequently 39.3% 39.1% 44.3%
Participate in non-voting 26.3% 24.8% 25.9%
political activities

57. Arizona Civic Health Index
National Arizona Greater
Tucson
Exchange favors with 16.0% 13.5% 18.8%
neighbors a few x/week
Eat dinner with family 89.1% 86.9% 95.1%
almost every day
Belong to a group that 35.1% 34.3% 37.6%
meets regularly

58. How much people care about each other in your area

59. Leadership doing a good job
Leaders represent my views

60. How will your city be as a place to live in 5 years?

62. • Valuable set of shared values.
• Clear understanding of consequences of
future growth.
• Significant citizen concern that the region
won’t be as good a place to live in the future.
• An opportunity to shape the future to
conform to your values.

63. • Mobilize people around things that really
matter to them.
• Responsibility of leaders to take to the
citizens something they like.
• Even better, something in which they have a
hand in shaping.

64. • Our work says to focus on the power of
citizen involvement.
• Reach beyond the usual circles of those who
are involved.
• Take a fresh look at the potential of
community organizations.
• Involve newcomers.
• Involve young people.

65. You mobilize community support from all
quarters to create the Greater Tucson you want.

67. Take Action—Scenario
Building Workshops

68. ImagineGreaterTucson.org