CONNECT Bi-State Area

States (2) NC, SC

Major Watersheds (3)

Counties (14)

Cities & Towns (120)

Councils of Governments (3)

Geography (+/- 7,100 sq. mi.)

Parcels (1,127,134)

Growth Forecast (2050)Population Growth by County, 2010 - 2050

CONNECT Area

Population:

2,431,600 (2010)

4,241,000 (2050)

South Carolina

CONNECT Area:

16% of Population

~1/3 of land mass

CONNECT: Outgrowth of Bi-state Area

Values and Visioning Work

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• Funded by a $4.9 million HUD Sustainability Grant

• Centralina COG (NC) – Applicant

• Catawba Regional COG (SC) – Lead Partner

• 100+ participating jurisdictions, non-profits,

educational institutions, and private sector entities

Seven Study Areas

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• Land Use Scenario Planning = “Blueprinting” – 1/3 total project

budget

• Pilot Projects, Plans, & Assessments for:

• Economic Development

• Energy

• Air Quality

• Food Systems

• Public Health

• Housing

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Extensive Public Outreach

& Engagement

• Reality Check Exercise – 500+ participants

• Multiple Community Growth Workshops, Surveys, and Focus

Groups in all Counties – 5,000+ participants; excellent

geographic and demographic diversity represented

• Project Organization: Workgroups, Program, Policy Forums

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Key Questions:

Where to Grow?

Key Questions:

How to Grow?

Reporting Geographies

Bi-State Area State COG Regions County City

The CONNECT Bi-State Area NOW…

How will

the region

look in

2050, with

1.8 million

more

people and

860,000

more jobs?10

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1 - Follow “Trends”

Development Footprint

Land Consumption / Urban Footprint

35%Development Footprint (2013)

56%Development Footprint (2050)

2 - Follow Community Plans

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Public Facilities & ServicesDemand for Water Service

The demand for water service would

increase significantly under current

growth plans…

…and so would reliance on small

wells to serve rural development.Delta:176.48 MGD

2010 2050

239.67

MGD#

416.15

MGD

# = theoretical existing condition

Public Facilities & ServicesDemand for Sewer Service

The demand for sewer service would

increase significantly under current

growth plans…

…and so would reliance on septic

systems to serve rural development.

2010 2050

205.34

MGD#

356.43

MGD

Delta: 151.08 MGD

# = theoretical existing condition

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3 – CONNECT “Preferred” Scenario

ATF: Ground Rules

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• This is a local (i.e. county-level), voluntary, bottoms-up

approach to developing a regional blueprint for growth

• Establish communication and engagement protocols

• Avoid politically charged verbiage

• Communicate proactively at multiple levels and throughout

the project – “Neutral Branding”

• It’s OK to agree to disagree

• Focus in different directions as appropriate and needed by

each county and region

ATF: Lessons Learned

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• Leverage similarities and common problems

• Differences can be opportunities too (iron sharpens iron)

• Voluntary participation minimizes ‘big brother’ risk

• Don’t try to boil the ocean

• It’s ok to opt out of a part, and still contribute elsewhere

• Gut checks with Executive Committees and Boards are good

• Social opportunities for COG Boards to mix can be positive

• Professional public relations/outreach assistance can be helpful

• Project leaders need to be able to work well together

ATF: Persistent Challenges

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• Respect of differences in geography, political climate, and

governance is difficult to keep top of mind

• It remains difficult to engage the private sector in something as

squishy as long-range planning

• Public engagement is intentional, but the same folks usually

show up/respond which could skew results

• Intentional outreach to under-represented groups is vital, but

outreach and feedback has to be objective, fair, and balanced

Summary

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• Both Catawba COG and Centralina COG are using outcomes of

CONNECT for the benefit of the Bi-state area

• Public engagement continues even after the grant-funded

portion ended

• The dominant issues haven’t gone away

• Data goes a long way in helping to present problems and

solutions

• Organizations and people who intentionally talk with each

other are more likely to find solutions to common problems