Since one of the goals of Southern Pines’ long-range plan process is to strategize and help steer future growth patterns within the Town’s ETJ (Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction), it’s often useful to look at past growth patterns.

One on-line tool we’ve found that does a great job of illustrating how communities grow is “Trulia Hindsight,” nifty web utility that accesses real-estate development data to execute movie clips of how - year-by-year - building patterns take place across the United States. Areas can be viewed large-scale for a regional perspective, zoomed in to single neighborhoods, or even specific lots. By default, the area selected then plays a dot-pattern movie of where building permits were issued, color-keyed by decade. The site allows you to lighten or darken the background, and best of all, “scrub” the timeframe back and forth to see how areas changed. In the case of Southern Pines, there seem to be gaps in permit recording early in the Town’s history, but overall, it’s an interesting overview.

What historic patterns do you see in Southern Pines and Moore County? The site’s bar-chart indicator of volume helps make growth spurts easy to spot, but what conditions helped prompt them? What events, actions, resources or technologies might’ve been involved in Southern Pine’s growth? Since actions, resources and (to some extent) technologies can be forecast and planned for, what kinds of growth patterns make the most sense for Southern Pines?

Imagine 20 or more years into the future, and how today’s long-range planning might improve conditions for the next generation of residents. How might a Trulia Foresight look? Interesting stuff!

On July 30, the Southern Pines Pilot published an article detailing the decision by Council to hire Studio Cascade, Inc. of Spokane to lead the update process for Southern Pines’ comprehensive long-range plan.

The article was authored by Staff Writer Michael Moriarty.

Here’s a copy of an article published in the Southern Pines Pilot regarding the long-range plan selection committee’s choice of four firms to interview for the project.

The article first appeared on May 28, 2008. No story author was listed. 

Here’s a list of frequently-asked questions regarding the Southern Pines long-range plan process. Have more questions? E-mail consultant Bill Grimes at Studio Cascade, by clicking , or City Manager Reagan Parsons by clicking . For a downloadable, letter-sized version of this information, click the link at the bottom of this entry.

Q: What is the Southern Pines Comprehensive Long-Range Plan?
A: The long-range plan is a document being drafted to eventually replace the Town’s existing Land Development Plan, first adopted in 1988. Once completed and adopted, the plan is intended to guide decision-making and growth patterns for Southern Pines and its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The plan will work as a type of blueprint, helping lead future decisions regarding land-use patterns as well as civic investments concerning water, waste and storm-water, transportation, parks, housing and other community needs.

Q: Who commissioned the plan, and why?
A: The Southern Pines Town Council commissioned the plan update in the spring of 2008, prompted by many reasons, including current and projected growth, long-term water issues, community concerns about the impacts of PUD (Planned Unit Development) projects, and the relative age of the existing plan. In short, Southern Pines faces a number of existing and emerging issues - and is seeking to establish a strategic, sustainable set of policies to shape its future.

Q: What’s the difference between a long-range plan and “zoning?"
A: Long-range plans (sometimes referred to as “comprehensive” or “general” plans) are essentially policy documents – intended to guide long-range decisions by staff and elected officials. What are commonly referred to as “zoning” or development regulations are just that – specific, legal regulations governing building and land use. Long-range plans are intended to help guide future regulatory decision-making, but such regulations are separate from the plan - and can only be revised through Council action and normal public procedure.

Q: How long will the process take?
A: The plan development process, including resource evaluation, public meetings and outreach, draft development and review is expected to be complete by August 2009. Consideration by the Planning Board and Town Council, including eventual adoption, will begin at that time.

Q: Who can take part?
A: All residents or those employed in the Town of Southern PInes, or in the Town’s ETJ, are strongly encouraged to take part in the process.

Q: How do I get involved?
A: The Town and its consultant are committed to involving the public as much as possible, and plan to host several public meetings and workshops, will issue e-mail newsletters and postcards, conduct informal questionnaires, maintain a project website, and even open a small downtown “drop-in center” where folks can visit with staff and learn about the plan’s progress. Take part in any or all of the events and activities, follow the work on-line, sign up for e-mail notices – generally, be sure to share your thoughts, ideas and concerns!

Q: What will the plan include?
A: To a large degree, the plan’s scope will reflect the findings and directions established through the public process. But at a minimum, it’s expected the plan will include chapters concerning the community’s vision, land use, transportation, capital facilities and utilities, housing, economic development, and recreation and parks.

Who are the consultant team members?
A: The consultant team is being led by Studio Cascade, a community and regional planning firm based in Spokane, Washington. Transportation-related work will be led by Glatting-Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia. Fiscal analysis and population forecasting will be performed by ECONorthwest of Eugene, Oregon.