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®`ao4` , Coa9 p <br />G i' <br />'rib C¢so~`o <br />28 <br />Orange Covnty Comprehensive P-an <br />Clarion's qualifications to perform the needed tasks are documented in this proposal <br />and in previous materials that have been part of our ongoing work with the County. <br />Clarion is a national leader in the areas of planning, land use, and growth <br />management, as illustrated by a long string of successful, innovative planning <br />projects across the country. Most recent award-winning recognition came with <br />South Carolina's 2007 Outstanding Planning award for our work in Beaufort County, <br />SC, and the 2007 National. Planning Award from the American Planning Association <br />recognizing our work in Cheyenne, Wyoming. <br />PROJECT UNDERSTANDING <br />Partly because of our recent and long-standing involvement with Orange County's <br />planning programs, we believe that we have a full understanding of the work that <br />has gone on to date to update the County's Comprehensive Plan, and of the current <br />need to synthesize the ideas. It is time to pull all the work together into a cohesive <br />and internally consistent Plan, and we want to help accomplish that. <br />Easier said than done, of course. The eight elements that will comprise the new, <br />updated version of the Orange Covnty Comprehensive Plan are in various stages of <br />completion. The Advisory Boards for each element are continuing to meet and <br />refine the ideas, and the issues themselves continue to evolve as work proceeds. We <br />believe that one of the obstacles that has prevented this Comprehensive Plan from <br />reaching completion before now is the important, aggressive, compelling work on <br />the issues themselves - -transportation initiatives, affordable housing initiatives, land <br />acquisition and preservation, utility agreements, economic development <br />opportunities - -all requiring the dedication of staff resources and Advisory Board <br />attention. <br />One of the reasons for the long plan- <br />preparation process to date is also a key <br />strength of the process: citizen and <br />stakeholder engagement. A hallmark of <br />Orange County government through the <br />years has been attention to a highly <br />participatory process. The good work of <br />the Lead Advisory Boards is evidence of <br />the thoroughness with which the Covnty has approached the preparation of this <br />Clarion Associates <br />