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DOWNTOWN ORTING VISION

a community venture

The City of Orting has won a planning grant from the state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development to prepare a new vision for the Downtown.  The objective of this work will be focus on goals, policies, and strategies for developing and redeveloping the downtown that can:

  • Maintain the desired rural small town character and “feel”;
  • Remove regulatory barriers and provide incentives for existing businesses and new businesses to invest in the downtown;
  • Increase the competitive capability of the downtown; and
  • Realize the downtown’s potential as the Orting Valley Town Center.

 

2007 Snapshot

Orting’s population has grown by more than 150% since 2000.  The City is on track to double in the next 7-10 years.  Growth in unincorporated Pierce County is also occurring.  However, the population is not expected to reach the level that will enable Orting to compete with South Hill and Bonney Lake.  We need to consider realistic options for local retail and service business growth given the development capacity of the downtown.  A large concentration of new housing and business is expected to be built on the 66-acre Town Center North area.  This will bring 600+ new households within walking distance of downtown.  New retail and service business is expected to include uses that could not be developed downtown due to site requirements.  This should help to create a stronger regional “draw” for Orting.  However, some of the Town Center North businesses will undoubtedly compete with those in downtown.

Downtown contains 40 acres not counting streets and is characterized by small lots and single story buildings.  Off street parking generally is limited to rear lot areas, with some full lots adjacent to the businesses they serve.  The average lot size is about 12,500 square feet.  Many of the buildings are old.  Redevelopment or further investment in these existing properties is limited by the lot area, parking requirements, building height limits, and economic feasibility.  Development of upper level offices or apartments for example, is not supported by demand, in these instances.

On the positive side, downtown offers some tremendous opportunities.  The City Park and the Foothills Trail are significant community assets.  There is a “crossroads” of arterials connecting to points north, south and west.  Pioneer Village is the only local grocery and convenience shopping complex.  City Hall, the Public Safety Building, the Library, the school district headquarters, and several community meeting facilities provide citizen services.  And the Chamber of Commerce is an active voice for the business community.

The Vision Process

During 2008, the City and the Chamber will conduct a community-wide process to formulate the vision.  A major event will be held on Saturday February  23rd, where downtown business owners, property owners, can come together to brainstorm with city officials, consultants, and financial experts.  Shelly Schlumpf, Executive Director of the Sumner Downtown Association will be keynote speaker.  The participants will come to learn about the downtown’s development potential.  A team of experts in downtown planning, business development, retailing, transportation, and real estate will present informed assessments of current conditions and potential market demand.  The team will also facilitate work sessions on these topics leading to recommendations for needed actions.  Prior to the event, background papers on parking, circulation, development capacity, and economic potential will be prepared and posted on www.cityoforting.org.  An on-line survey has been designed to seek information from the community about current uses of the Downtown and desires for more opportunities.  The survey is accessible at www.surveymonkey.com/BHC_Orting.   A report will be prepared after the February event describing the discussions and conclusions of the event and suggesting additional ideas for further consideration.  In the summer, a strategy report will be released.  This will describe the actions that should be pursued to achieve the vision.  Some actions will be city responsibilities, others will be business community responsibilities, and still others will be things that citizens can do.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Orting to look forward and draw a blueprint for a revitalized downtown.  The following figure illustrates the vision planning process.