What Matters About Living in Corvallis?

On March 9, 2015, 50 people participated in facilitated conversations at the invitation of the Corvallis City Club and the League of Women Voters. Attendees addressed two questions:
1. What matters about living in Corvallis?
2. What do you want the community to be like in 20 years?

Below is a collection of responses grouped by common topics. Responses reflect only the variety of comments recorded at each table. There was no attempt to evaluate them or reach agreement among participants.

The meeting was moderated by Peggy Joyce, member of the board of Leadership Corvallis. The comments were compiled by Nick Houtman, member of the City Club program committee.
WHAT MATTERS ABOUT LIVING IN CORVALLIS?
Community
·     
Corvallis has a cooperative community spirit.
·     
People volunteer with service organizations that
benefit the community.
·     
Locally raised food is available at the farmers
market and Co-op.
·     
Corvallis has a strong environmental movement
with a focus on sustainability and organic food.
·     
The community is still small enough for citizens
to have a voice and effect change.
·     
Corvallis is a safe community, a good place to
raise a family.
·     
Corvallis is a good size, a small city with
services and amenities.
·     
Corvallis has good local newspapers.
·     
Corvallis has a compact “real downtown.”
·     
Traffic is favorable compared to other
communities.
·     
The fareless bus system helps people get around.
·     
Corvallis is a quiet city.
·     
Corvallis has a mild climate.
·     
People have pride in Corvallis.
Culture
·     
Corvallis has access to an excellent public
library and opportunities in the community and at the university; local arts (visual
and performing) and sports.
Education
·     
Corvallis has a well-educated citizenry and a
high tolerance for ideas.
·     
Corvallis has good schools.
Business
·     
Locally owned businesses provide lots of
shopping opportunities.
·     
Corvallis is not dominated by big-box stores.
Health care
·     
Corvallis has access to high-quality medical
care.
Services
·     
Corvallis has high-quality drinking water.
·     
Corvallis has exceptional public safety
departments — police, fire.
Recreation
·     
Corvallis has access to hiking trails and
natural areas (Greenbelt Land Trust)
·     
Corvallis is easy to get around by bike and by
foot.
·     
Corvallis has access to the Willamette and Marys
Rivers.
·     
Corvallis has good local fitness opportunities.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE LIKE IN 20 YEARS?
Community
·     
Promote diversity in leadership positions.
·     
Welcome the growing Hispanic community.
·     
Develop a stronger local government — better
planning for new development.
·     
Develop more engagement opportunities for young
people.
·     
Reject sprawl in favor of higher density
development.
·     
Enable people to live where they work.
·     
Strengthen the connection between local
agriculture and the city.
·     
Create more of an even playing field for
OSU/Corvallis relations.
Culture
·     
Develop more diverse musical opportunities and
support for the arts.
·     
Hold more activities at the riverfront.
·     
Promote architectural cohesiveness downtown.
·     
Develop more indoor activities for children.
·     
Build an amphitheater on the Willamette River.
·     
Make local investments in cultural events and
facilities.
Education
·     
Increase support for local schools.
Business
·     
Develop a diverse business community (private
and nonprofit) providing jobs and living wages.
·     
Locate more business services (especially a
grocery store) in south Corvallis.
·     
Close the fiberglass plant.
·     
Use permaculture approach to local food
production.
·     
Increase the use of solar electricity.
·     
Develop more local jobs and a stronger local
economy.
·     
Build a faster fiber-optic communications
network.
Health care
·     
Offer greater choice in medical care.
Housing
·     
Use a “smart growth” approach to development, including
a variety of housing (such as the Pringle Creek Community in Salem) based on the principles of
“green” development.
·     
Foster increased density, mixed uses (commercial
and residential space), walkability.
·     
Build more “affordable” housing.
·      Build more housing to serve the needs
of local people.
·     
Make a variety of senior living arrangements
available.
·     
Corvallis needs a sustainable solution to
homelessness.
Transportation
·     
Develop rail service to Portland and plan for high-speed
rail.
·     
Build a parking garage downtown.
·     
Improve public transit in Corvallis and the regional
transportation network.
·     
Make more parking available at OSU, including
remote parking lots.
·     
Build wider bike lanes with more separation from
cars/trucks.
·     
Reconfigure some streets without parking.
·     
Buses should run on Sunday and later in the
evenings during the week.
·     
Reduce our dependence on cars.
·     
Install a light rail system between OSU and
downtown.
Environment
·     
Protect natural features such as wetlands.
·     
Respond to climate change and the likelihood of
people moving here from elsewhere — “climate refugees.”
FUTURE PRIORITIES (NOT IN RANK ORDER) IDENTIFIED IN PLENARY
SESSION
·     
Improved mass transit
·     
Affordable housing
·     
Economic development
·     
Liveability through the support for the arts and
culture
·     
Population diversity through the practice of
inclusiveness
·     
Green space and wetland preservation
·     
Support for local business
·     
Sustainable solution to homelessness
·     
County context for future planning
·     
More downtown parking
·     
Alternative energy, especially solar
·     
Support for education, K-16
·     
Better integration of north and south Corvallis
·     
Expansion of this kind of grassroots
conversation

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