Resolution 6396 - Laserfiche WebLink

Page 3 of 10 • A significant goal of the program is to identify unique development, community, and other opportunities associated with the expansion of the Sound Transit LINK light rail system through a lens of regional program corridors. Program corridors are geographically defined north to the City of Everett in Snohomish County,east to the City of Redmond in King County, and south to the City of Tacoma in Pierce County. Jurisdictions;transportation agencies; community, environmental, educational,philanthropic, financial,and business groups that may be affected by the activities related to the Growing Transit Communities work are included as stakeholders in the Program Corridors. Ongoing broad representation and participation of these affected stakeholders is a foundational element of the Growing Transit Communities program. Tasks Tasks to be conducted under the Growing Transit Communities program are in five core activities: 1. Regional Equity Network.Developing and supporting a regional network to promote equitable community planning and mobilize residents and community groups representing diverse populations to participate in local planning and decision-making. 2. Affordable Housing Action Strategy. Creating an affordable housing action strategy that will test, recommend, and implement local policies and financial tools to encourage and facilitate a wide variety of housing choices in and along Program corridors.This will include a regional Analysis of Impediments and Fair Housing Strategy 3. Corridor Action Strategies. Convening and supporting corridor-focused taskforces to craft local agreements and Corridor Action Strategies to attract transit-oriented development along the North,East, and South Program corridors. Work will include establishing goals for station areas and adjacent communities,and for coordination of development, housing,jobs, and community amenities. 4. Innovative Tools.Developing new tools and resources to bridge the gap from goals and policies to specific actions and steps.New technologies and analyses will assist local communities in planning, decision-making,and building local support for sustainable development.Tasks in the Growing Transit Communities program will test and refine these approaches with catalyst demonstration and case study projects in Program corridor neighborhoods to serve as visible templates for sustainable development. 5. Technical Assistance. Providing direct technical support to jurisdictions and to non-profit organizations to explore and establish incentive programs for affordable housing. Technical assistance will support local jurisdiction updates to local comprehensive plans, required by 2014. Desired Outcomes Over time, successful implementation of project tasks is expected to produce the following outcomes: • Increased participation and decision-making in developing and implementing a long range vision for the region by populations traditionally marginalized in public planning processes • Reduced social, land, economic disparities for low-income and communities of color • Increased proportion of low-and very-low income households within convenient transit commute of major employers,other job opportunities • Decrease in combined housing and transportation costs per household • Increased use of compact development as a tool for regional planning to accommodate population and employment growth • Increase in share of development on underutilized infill development sites that encourage revitalization, while minimizing displacement in neighborhoods with significant disadvantaged populations