FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Organization: Kern Council of Governments
What: Regional Blueprint Planning Workshop
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2007
Where: Arvin Veterans Hall, 414 4th Street

Kern Council of Governments will host a public workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at the Arvin Veterans Hall, 414 4th Street., for residents in Arvin and Lamont to decide how their communities will grow over the next 50 years. This fun-and game-filled workshop is designed for residents to determine what visions and values will help motivate development during the next four decades, and what trade-offs will be necessary to realize those goals. Food will be provided.

The public will be invited to pick the values they want to help guide future development - such as farmland and open-space preservation, water and other resource conservation or affordable housing. Using a series of maps and innovative land use design software, planners with Kern COG, Kern County and the city of Arvin will demonstrate what the communities looks like today and how growth will change their look and feel over time. In a second round of workshops, planned for Summer 2007, the public will be asked to help develop a land-use design that incorporates and reflects those values.

Kern COG Press Release 2
The workshop is part of a regional Blueprint process designed to help cities and counties plan for future growth and quality of life through the integration of transportation, housing, land use, economic development and environmental protection. It is not meant to supersede local jurisdictions' land use authority. Elected officials from each city and county throughout the valley will determine how their jurisdictions will accommodate the regional vision.

The final product, known as the San Joaquin Valley Regional Blueprint, will include a visual representation of the goals expressed in general plans and Regional Transportation Plans.

Kern is one of eight San Joaquin Valley regions that is sharing a $2 million grant in 2006-07 to conduct this type of scenario planning. Councils of government in each county (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare) will administer the grant.

"This process will help our region grow in a rational, coordinated fashion that,s consistent with both public sentiment and local general plans," said Kern COG Executive Director Ron Brummett.

DELANO/McFARLAND/WASCO Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Delano VFW Memorial
Building, Room 1 1025 Garces Highway Delano

FRAZIER PARK Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Frazier Park Recreation Building Frazier Mt. Park, Glendale Trail & Park Dr. Frazier Park

KERN RIVER VALLEY Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Kern River Veteran's Senior Building 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella

CALIFORNIA CITY/MOJAVE/ ROSAMOND Thursday, April 12, 2007 Mojave Recreation Building Mojave East Park, Hwy. 58 & M St. Mojave Workshops in the Bakersfield/Shafter area will occur at a later date.