Planning
At CCS, our philosophy on planning is to get organizations and communities ready for action. This means more than simply creating a product – we integrate a community development approach into our projects that leads to strengthening the skill, involvement, and decision-making capacities of all participants as they bring about positive change. Over the years, we have successfully applied this planning model to projects in land use, natural resources management, housing, and social services.
Land use planning has been the bedrock to CCS since its inception. John Kliem, owner of CCS, has been a practicing planner for nearly 30 years in Washington State. He has assisted communities in Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Lewis Counties as a consulting planner by preparing comprehensive plans and development regulations; advising staff, boards of adjustments, and planning commissions in project permit procedures; and, serving as a hearing examiner. Planning accomplishments in natural resource management, particularly salmon recovery, has become a natural extension of this expertise. CCS has been active in assisting Lead Entities and co-managers develop salmon recovery plans and strategies for habitat restoration and protection.
Grays Harbor County Growth Management Updates – 2012
The focus of this project, which is currently underway, aims to resolve legal challenges against Grays Harbor County in regards to its Critical Areas Ordinance. CCS brings to this project a unique combination of technical planning skill, conflict resolution, community outreach, and facilitation. Also dovetailed into the process is a community review and update of its designation of resource lands of long-term commercial significance. Products produced to date include adopted ordinance revisions, development of issue papers on resource lands and critical areas, and community workshops that share information on the Growth Management Act and gather comments.
The Chehalis Basin Salmon Habitat Restoration and Preservation Strategy – 2012
This comprehensive document provides direction for salmon habitat recovery within the second largest watershed in the state. CCS first assisted the Chehalis Basin Lead Entity (WRIAs 22-23) prepare its initial strategy in 2003, which was followed by subsequent updates. Each new edition of the strategy focuses on providing new information and improving its ease of use.
CCS is also currently under contract to assist the Lead Entity with a wide-range of management tasks, including meeting facilitation, data entry into the Habitat Work Schedule and PRISM, community outreach materials, a conceptual projects review process, board management, and website maintenance.
City of South Bend Consulting Planning Services – 2012
For the past two years, CCS has assisted the City of South Bend with a variety of consulting planning services that includes reviewing project permits and developing a new critical areas ordinance.
In 2011, CCS worked with the community to prepare a park plan for the city that would guide development over the next six years. The plan included a citizen participation process, an inventory of existing facilities, an overview of future community needs, and a capital facilities plan.
Grays Harbor County Solid Waste Management Plan – 2012
CCS recently assisted the Grays Harbor County Solid Waste Advisory Committee in updating a draft Solid Waste Management Plan. Working with the SWAC members, CCS facilitated the setting of goals, objectives, and management recommendations. The plan is currently under review for approval by the Washington Department of Ecology.
Grays Harbor County Low- and Moderate-Income Housing and Homeless Plans – 2010
CCS has been preparing housing and community development plans for Grays Harbor County since1993. The current affordable housing and homeless plans are anoutgrowth of working with a countywide housing task force. These planning efforts have contributed to major projects in the rehabilitation of homes and housing for special needs populations. CCS has authored numerous housing grants for governments and nonprofits in Grays Harbor County.
City of Hoquiam Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Critical Areas Ordinance (2008)
Creative Community Solutions assisted the City of Hoquiam in preparing a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that balanced a unique set of needs within the community for flexible land use policies whilemaintaining community character. The Governor’s Office awarded the plan with a 2009 Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning.
Our follow up work included preparing a Critical Areas Ordinance incorporating the Best Available Science provisions required under state statute.
Previous work by CCS for the City of Hoquiam included permit review and the preparation of subdivision and zoning codes.