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General News · 8th June 2009
Noba Anderson
Blue-Sky’ – a vision without clouds

Shape Cortes' Future

Saturday, June 13
1:00 - 4:00 - committed visioning session
4:00 - 7:00 – further exploration – drop-in session

Manson’s Hall
Free childcare
Food provided


Why are we here? What is life on this island about?

In this professionally facilitated forum, we will explore these questions. All people & ideas welcome!

A FUN event – a place to play – a time to dream… This is our only big-picture visioning session in the OCP review process.

Every community has an Official Community Plan (OCP) which helps guide planning and development decisions. These plans need to be periodically updated so that they stay current with the community’s changing vision. There have been many significant changes both on Cortes and in the world at large in the last 15 years since our plan was last updated. It is time for us, as a community, to check-in with where we are now and where we are headed. Our existing plan, created in 1995, is an excellent base to work from because it was created with such attention and care.

The OCP review process typically takes 1 to 2 years and generally has three key phases:

“Where do we want to be?”
This is an opportunity to imagine the future we want to see. This is the “Blue-Sky” event, June 13th (see above).

“Where are we now?”
Through the summer and fall, we will be conducting a few key studies and gathering background information so as to better understand the opportunities and constraints the community will face in the coming years. The OCP steering committee has identified a few areas where data collection may be of real use to the community in our review process, and we will also be listening for your input on June 13th. Also this fall, we will be offering a community education series regarding planning as it relates to our OCP and sharing stories from other innovative communities, near and far.

“How do we get there?”
This phase explores specific policies and maps that will achieve the community
aspirations. This will be the bulk of the work and start this winter and go well into 2010.

Questions? Input?
Contact Regional Director, Noba Anderson 935-0320, directorcortesisland.com or Alternate Director, Kristen Scholfield-Sweet 935-6464, usualmagictelus.net