An operating foundation addressing land use planning challenges, innovations, and tools.
Activities
The Orton Family Foundation seeks to transform the land use planning system as a pathway to vibrant and sustainable communities. In partnership with non-profit organizations, local and regional planning agencies and others, the Foundation helps engage and empower people to make land use decisions inspired by their community’s heart and soul.
Relevant Projects:
- The PlaceMatters conference was held in Denver in 2006, showcasing communities, practitioners, organizations, and tools relating to important planning challenges and solutions. The 2007 conference, entitled CommunityMatters, will be held in Burlington, Vermont in October.
- The Foundation’s website provides information about its projects, as well information about relevant tools, case studies, and organizations. The website includes a Document Library and back issues of the Foundation’s e-journal, Scenarios.
- The Foundation is currently working on specific projects to help communities identify and plan for their heart and soul. Projects include comprehensive community planning projects in Colorado, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut; and 3i Solutions (see Case Studies) in NH.
Relevant Methodologies
The Foundation doesn’t typically complete planning projects on its own, but rather partners with organizations and communities to help them improve their planning processes. The Foundation often assists with including innovative tools in these projects (including keypad polling, the Chip Game, interactive mapping, CommunityViz, and community websites; see Tools section) and in helping to share the lessons of these projects and communities afterward. As a convener, the Foundation brings together practitioners and interested citizens to engage in discussions about planning challenges and potential solutions.
Region
Northeast and Rocky Mountain West
More Information
PO Box 111
152 Maple St., Suite 111
Middlebury, VT 05753
802-388-6336 (phone)
Denver Office:
1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 307
Denver, CO 80202
303-964-0903 (phone)