• Jul
    2021
    07
    2021 / Jul / 07

    Uniquely Driggs Comprehensive Plan, Idaho

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    Located between the Tetons and the Big Hole Mountains, Driggs has a thriving community of 1,800 residents. Logan Simpson developed a comprehensive plan update with a primary focus on health, with opportunities to improve health in the built environment integrated in to every element of the document. The boom and bust tourism economy has impacted Driggs since the 2008 recession, which led to several platted and unbuilt lots resulting in a housing shortage.  Logan Simpson and our team of consultants took a targeted approach to reviewing multiple housing program options to find solutions for workforce housing and supporting a balanced economy.

    As an inter-city airport, the land use component of the plan needed to take into account all of the ITD requirements in regard to crash and transition zones. Close coordination with the Driggs Airport Board was necessary to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and to ensure continued operation and expansion of airport operations and associated industry, as residential uses continue to encroach upon the boundary. The Airport Master Plan was completed by the Board, and in tandem with the Comprehensive Plan in order to ensure consistency in these regulations and vision.

    Incorporation of health metrics and a focus on dedicated Hispanic outreach for the Uniquely Driggs Comprehensive Plan helped the project to win a 2020 Western Planner Rural Innovation Award. Outreach to minority communities were a focus of the plan. Through bilingual outreach materials, working with the Hispanic Resource Center, and meeting with middle and high school students, the project team proved to be highly successful in reaching the historically under-represented population.

    WINNER of the 2020 Western Planner – Rural Innovation Award

    The Plan highlighted the thoughtful housing approaches, pragmatic focus on infill, and sensitivity to critical habitats and neighboring jurisdictions. “It’s a plan that I will examine to provide ideas to other communities I work with and in addition I appreciate the thoughtful approaches for a beautiful place.” – Paul Mobley, AICP, PCED, The Western Planner

  • Jul
    2021
    07
    2021 / Jul / 07

    South of the River Subarea Plan

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    The South of the River Subarea Plan presents a unique opportunity to support desired development patterns featuring a riverfront mixed-use activity center, surrounded by varied residential densities and connected by thoughtfully designed roads, trails, and paths. This detailed process includes a subarea plan and a detailed conceptual plan for a mixed-use activity center, vetted through stakeholder, and public engagement, traffic modelling, and floodplain analysis to ensure feasible and development that matches the intent and purpose of the subarea. The final plan will include a detailed subarea plan with illustrative sketches, visual simulations, and a strategic implementation guide. In addition, the Logan Simpson team will develop code overlay and text modification recommendations to ensure realization of the vision from the subarea plan.

    The subarea plan will provide a higher level of detail than the Com­prehensive Plan could, with specific detail for development at Star Road and along the Boise River in order to plan this area as the new downtown for Star.

  • Jun
    2021
    25
    2021 / Jun / 25

    Pagosa Springs Land Use Development Code Update

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    The Logan Simpson team is working with the Town of Pagosa Springs to update the Pagosa Springs Land Use Development Code (LUDC). Pagosa Springs has experienced an uptick in growth over the past five years growing from approximately 1,800 residents in 2015 to 2,147 in 2020. With a well-established downtown, medical center, regional airstrip, outdoor recreation, and the popular hot springs, Pagosa Springs is quickly becoming a desirable place for people and businesses to establish. In order to continue to encourage development in a way that is respectful of the community vision as set forth in Pagosa Springs Forward, Comprehensive Plan, the current Land Use Development Code (LUDC) is being updated to streamline application processes and better address housing attainability, short term rental impacts, parking, environmental protections, and general design standards throughout the code. Additional topics up for discussion include stormwater management, solar priorities, electric vehicle charging, and low water landscaping.

  • Jun
    2021
    25
    2021 / Jun / 25

    Ketchum Historic Preservation Plan Update

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    Logan Simpson worked diligently with City Staff to expedite drafting of an interim historic preservation ordinance to enact baseline regulations and protections while a permanent ordinance with incentives and design guidelines is developed. The interim ordinance was developed with the input of many community stakeholders – including historians, developers, architects, real estate agents, and members of the community – through online surveys and small group meetings. Logan Simpson is currently working with the City of Ketchum to develop a permanent historic preservation ordinance, historic design guidelines, and a preservation handbook with preservation incentives.

  • Jun
    2021
    25
    2021 / Jun / 25

    Jackson Teton County Growth Management Plan

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    Logan Simpson worked with the Town of Jackson and Teton County on the Growth Management Program (GMP) Review and an update to the forward-thinking 2012 Comprehensive Plan, previously completed by Logan Simpson staff Bruce Meighen and Megan Moore. The area is located on the edge of Yellowstone and includes the Town of Jackson and many smaller communities. The GMP Review was an in-depth statistical and community-based check-in on how the plan has been functioning over the last seven years and allows the team to systematically revise the plan through the identification of corrective actions necessary to better implement its vision. For this update, tasks have included an overall audit of the plan, using a three-tiered priority rating system based on seven years of indicator data, trend analysis, and an outreach campaign to understand the community’s perception. Looking back, the Plan shifted growth from rural areas into complete neighborhoods (over 60% into complete neighborhoods) and resulted in thousands of units of new workforce housing (over 65% of people who work in Jackson/Teton live there). Our work developing the Character Districts, Code, and Housing Action Plan has ensured growth is directed to the correct places. Fundamental changes to the Plan will be a limit on greenhouse gases, no new single-occupancy lane miles constructed, and an environmental keystone indicator. The Plan update process can be found at http://www.jacksontetonplan.com/315/Growth-Management-Program-GMP-Review-Upd, and the overall plan is located at http://www.jacksontetonplan.com/270/Comprehensive-Plan.

  • Aug
    2020
    28
    2020 / Aug / 28

    BIA Tribal Historic Preservation Office Training

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    Throughout the US, State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) assist public agencies with cultural resource preservation and compliance. In 1990, the National Park Service implemented a program through which federally recognized tribes with a reservation or tribal trust lands could establish their own Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) positions. THPOs can assume SHPO’s responsibilities on tribal lands, advising federal agencies on the management of cultural resources and working to preserve, maintain, and revitalize their unique cultural traditions. Qualifying tribes can take a more direct role in protecting and interpreting the cultural resources on their own tribal lands. A THPO can focus on the culture and landscape they know, making decisions that best serve their tribal community, culture, and history.

    Tribes interested in becoming a THPO are required to submit a written resolution signed by the tribe, a THPO application form, and a program plan to the NPS for review and approval. The program plan describes how the THPO will administer historic preservation functions. Through the work and relationships developed during his tenure as the Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Regional Office archaeologist understood firsthand the incredible benefits available to tribes that attain THPO status, and he wanted to assist other tribes in taking steps to becoming a THPO.  To facilitate the process, The THPO with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony THPO and the program manager for the NPS THPO program were recruited to conceptualize a workshop to assist tribes with completing their THPO application packets. The BIA called on Logan Simpson, bringing in archaeologists to help develop and organize the workshop. The plan was both ambitious and brilliant.

    In March of 2020, this team was able to offer interested tribes a three-day workshop at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort in Nevada, with expenses associated with the workshop covered by the BIA. Four Nevada tribes were able to attend: Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation; Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe; Moapa Band of Paiute Indians; and Walker River Paiute Tribe. The workshop was a tremendous success. The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony THPO lent tremendous insight; the BIA Western Region archaeologist discussed compliance from a federal perspective; and the BIA THPO program manager shared her knowledge of the ins and outs of the THPO application process. Logan Simpson tied all the pieces together. The BIA’s genius was not in putting together a class, per se, but in arranging a supportive environment where tribes could complete their THPO application while attending, getting all the help they needed from experts in the field.

    In the short time since the workshop, the Director of the NPS signed Tribal Historic Preservation Agreements with two of the tribes so that they could assume certain THPO duties on their tribal lands in Nevada. The NPS has now entered into 200 THPO agreements nationwide, which is an exciting milestone for the Tribal Historic Preservation Program. Word of our success in Nevada is spreading and the team is getting calls from other tribes that are interested in participating in the next workshop. Logan Simpson is proud to be a part of this unprecedented effort, and we look forward to showcasing our continued commitment to tribal sovereignty and resource preservation.

  • Jul
    2020
    24
    2020 / Jul / 24

    Teton View Regional Plan for Sustainable Development

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    Residents in the rural, diverse landscape of Teton region rely on regional resources for employment, recreation, and housing—making a regional plan for sustainability and resiliency a necessity. Working together, four counties in Wyoming and Idaho created the Teton View Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. The plan highlights what the region shares in common while respecting the varied economic, political, and cultural views of each community. It presents a voluntary “livability roadmap” to guide each jurisdiction in its future development. The plan outlines parallel paths that each locality may travel independently or through coordinated, region-wide implementation. It outlines high-priority community-scale projects and multi-sector initiatives to be led voluntarily by local cities, counties, and organizations. Additional projects are summarized that may be implemented by localities over the long term. The plan’s regional approach is designed to help city and county officials, and public land managers better coordinate land-use planning, resource management, and community development efforts for the region’s long-term benefit.

    The Teton View Regional Plan for Sustainable Development earned Idaho Smart Growth’s 2016 Planning & Policy Award and the 2015 Gem Award from the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association.

  • Jul
    2020
    23
    2020 / Jul / 23

    West Central Mountains Economic Development Strategy

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    Logan Simpson’s community planning team helped communities throughout Idaho’s West Central Mountains Region build the West Central Mountains Economic Development Strategy (WCMEDS), a plan for economic resilience. Just 10,800 residents live in the 3 million-acre region. Over the past 40 years, the area’s economy has changed dramatically. WCMEDS contains short- and long-term goals that address six elements affecting the region’s quality of life and economic future. The strategy identified five key industries for which the region is well-positioned. An adaptive management program with associated metrics allows the region’s communities to  check progress against goals.

    There has been consistent progress against the plan since its adoption, demonstrating the strong spirit of collaboration between the region’s communities. A regional economic summit has taken place; a housing trust has been established; development of a parks and recreation district is underway; and an area sector analysis project are reaching the point of completion. The group has effectively enhanced youth activities and formed partnerships to address veterans’ needs. Progress is also being made in other areas, such as workforce development, construction of bus kiosks, update of the Valley County Pathways Master Concept Plan, establishing business incubators, construction of community gardens, and forest preservation. Implementation of the plan was partially funded by two grants awarded through the America’s Best Communities (ABC) competition. The plan won the 2016 American Planning Association Vernon Deines Merit Award for an Outstanding Small Town Special Project Plan and the 2016 American Planning Association Idaho Chapter Outstanding Plan Award. Read the plan here or watch a video here.

  • Jul
    2020
    23
    2020 / Jul / 23

    Browns Canyon National Monument Resource Management Plan and EIS

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    Logan Simpson led preparation of the first-ever resource management plan (RMP) for the newly-created Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado. This 21,604-acre monument is located along the upper Arkansas River and contains scenic and diverse natural resources. The monument is jointly managed by BLM and USFS and includes one of the most heavily utilized commercial boating areas in the nation. The RMP focuses on protection of resources, continued public use and enjoyment, and continuation of historic uses, such as livestock grazing.

    Logan Simpson also prepared the associated EIS for the BLM and USFS. The EIS was completed in just 434 days from the Notice of Intent to the publication of the Record of Decision in July 2020—more than a year ahead of the contracted schedule.  Logan Simpson’s planners employed multiple strategies to help keep the project moving, such as crosswalking the agencies’ vocabularies and processes. This small but important step helped improve the Interdisciplinary Team’s respect and understanding for each agency’s guidelines and reduced schedule delays and do-overs.

  • Jul
    2020
    01
    2020 / Jul / 01

    Chandler Fire Administration Building/Servicemen’s Memorial Plaza

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    Logan Simpson’s landscape architecture team developed a comprehensive landscape and hardscape design for this Gold LEED-certified project. Site improvements included staff/visitor parking; a private staff courtyard; and street-front landscaping. The landscape architecture design features a memorial plaza between the fire administration building and the police headquarters. The plaza design merges two circles, symbolizing both departments. Integral colored concrete weaves through the circles toward two memorial sculptures. An arbor shade structure, the backbone of the plaza, helps blend the buildings’ architecture. Circular walls frame the views of the memorials, functioning as buffers and providing private seating. Colorful concrete banding designed within the paving helps to enhance the central focus of the space. A central lawn area softens the hardscape and provides an intimate feel when the plaza is not being used for large events. In addition, to meet CPTED requirements, plants stair-step back toward walls and building foundations to improve visibility. The Memorial Plaza is shared by the Chandler Fire and Police Departments and includes two memorials to the fallen local heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty and those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks.