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Gregg Dohrn began working for the city of Liberty Lake as a consultant earlier this year. The instructor at Eastern Washington University helped streamline the municipal comprehensive plan and served as facilitator of a discussion that resulted in changes to the sign code.

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A Cup of Joe: Comprehensive consultation
11/23/2015 3:06:58 PM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

With a resonant voice that seems more suited to talk radio or a play-by-play broadcast, Gregg Dohrn added another layer to this year's riveting discussion of the Liberty Lake sign code. Mix in Dohrn's extensive municipal development background, and his facilitation of the debate was akin to Vin Scully calling a Los Angeles Dodgers playoff game.

Dohrn, an instructor with the Urban and Regional Planning program at Eastern Washington University, is in the first year of a two-year consulting contract with Liberty Lake. One of his duties included playing emcee in the emotionally charged consideration of changes to signage regulations in place since incorporation. He was also asked to streamline the municipal comprehensive plan, a blueprint for development meant to align with community values and ensure adequate city services for residents and businesses over the next 20 years. In 2016, Dohrn will tackle the city's development regulations. 

When it comes to Liberty Lake's sign code alterations - electronic changeable message signs will be allowed on the I-90 corridor and by public entities starting next year - Dohrn said he appreciated the feedback from all sides. 

"What can be better than people caring about their community?" he said. "I have an old newspaper article from another community on my bulletin board that is a good reminder. The headline states, ‘Planning commission meeting moved to high school gym, sign code on the agenda.' The planning commission and the City Council worked very hard at finding the right balance for Liberty Lake, and they are to be commended for not backing down or walking away from a tough issue." 

Dohrn is no stranger to discussions of planning and land use on the municipal level. He served as director of community development in the westside cities of Edgewood, Kenmore and Burien and spent time on the public works side in Tacoma during the early part of his career. From 1982 to 1989, Dohrn served as assistant director of the Washington state Department of Community Development. He launched his own consulting company, G.R. Dohrn and Associates, in 2005 and has taught at EWU since 2010.  

A native of Renton, Dohrn grew up the oldest of five kids. He graduated from Hazen High School in his hometown before moving on to the University of Puget Sound, where he earned a degree in urban studies. By 1978, he had a master's in urban planning from Portland State. 

In high school, Dohrn was part of a project that mapped out a design for a regional park and sports complex. When it came time to declare a major in college, urban studies offered him the opportunity to take classes in interdisciplinary subjects like history, political science, economics, sociology and environmental science.   

A popular lecturer on the regional government circuit, Dohrn has presented to a wide variety of groups, including the Washington Economic Development Association, the Washington State Association of Realtors Conference and the Washington State Department of Transportation. He also facilitated a recent appointment process involving applicants to the Spokane Valley City Council. 

Q: How and when did you first begin working with the city of Liberty Lake?

A: Earlier this year we began work on a two-year process to update the city's comprehensive plan and development regulations in accordance with the provisions of the Washington state Growth Management Act. Even though it is a requirement, I think it's always a good idea for the leadership in a community to periodically reflect on all that they have accomplished to discuss what they hope to accomplish in the future. I've had the unique opportunity to work with many of the recently incorporated cities throughout the state, and I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to work with the leadership in Liberty Lake and to get to know and appreciate the community. 

Q: What were some of your initial impressions of the city's comprehensive plan and development code?

A: My initial impressions were very positive. I was impressed by the clarity of the community's vision for the future and the thoroughness of the regulations. As we reviewed the comprehensive plan with the mayor and City Council, the planning commission, city staff, local service providers, business leaders, developers and the public, it became very clear that there was a high degree of satisfaction with the path that the community was taking, which made our job easier. As a result, we were able to focus our efforts on streamlining the plan and making it more user-friendly. As they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" In this case, a little less was best and we were able to reduce the number of goals and policies and the size of the document without reducing the focus of the vision.

Q: From an urban planning standpoint, what are some of the features that make Liberty Lake unique?

A: While the community has deep roots, much of the building and development is relatively new, and it has been very well-planned and built. I think that a lot of credit should go to the development community and those involved in the incorporation efforts who recognized the unique opportunity that the community had and made the most of it. The walkability of the community is probably the most defining feature. It is great to see so many people out walking, jogging, pushing strollers, riding bikes, driving golf carts and taking a minute to stop and visit with their neighbors. The preservation of open space is another great attribute, not just the golf courses, but the parks, the pocket parks, the trails and the greenways. The integration of the parks into a comprehensive system of recreation opportunities is also noteworthy. Liberty Lake looks, feels and functions like a well-planned community, and it is. 

Q: The comprehensive plan is probably not a document that most citizens of Liberty Lake have picked up for recreational reading. Why is it so important?

A: A comprehensive plan is a blueprint, a game plan, a decision-making tool. It really is the foundation of a community. It defines the character of the community and the features that distinguishes it from other communities. It describes what the community would like to accomplish and is used to guide the allocation of resources and to help make decisions. The first assignment we give our students majoring in planning at Eastern is to read the comprehensive plan from their hometown. It is always interesting to hear their reaction. The assignment tends to be a real eye-opener and gives them a whole new appreciation for their community and the practice of governance.  It's tough to beat a well-written novel or reading the lessons of history, but a comprehensive plan should not be overlooked; it really is an invaluable document. 

Q: Mayor Peterson commended you at a recent council meeting for helping the city update its comprehensive plan earlier than any jurisdiction in the region this year. What were some of the keys to that process and how do you feel the plan is different than it was before? 

A: The credit in this case really goes to Mayor Steve Peterson, the City Council, (City Administrator) Katy Allen, and (Planning and Building Services Manager) Amanda Tainio. It is my experience that priority things get done. Simply stated, they said that updating the comprehensive plan was a priority and was to be taken seriously, and it was. They allocated the resources and time and made it happen. My job was to listen and to help give voice to what I heard. One of the keys is that the plan isn't different than it was before. We heard very clearly that the community likes the way it is and that there is a strong desire to continue going in that direction. The plan provides an excellent framework to address some of the important opportunities in the community like the design of the upcoming improvements to Liberty Lake Road and the design of the improvements for the Town Square Park/community center, which will be a great legacy project.  

Q: What have been some of your impressions of working with city staff and council? 

A: I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with elected officials and staff from communities all over the state, and it is so much fun to work with leaders that have a clear sense of what they want to accomplish, that clearly express themselves, and that work well together, even when taking on tough issues. Katy Allen is a graduate of Eastern and was recently featured in our alumni magazine and appropriately so. She is great to work with. In addition to the high degree of professionalism, what has impressed me the most is how polite and well-mannered everyone is. It really is rewarding both professionally and personally.

Q: Is it a challenge to juggle your duties as a college professor with your consulting work? 

A: Not at all. In fact, it is just the opposite; they are very complementary. My primary responsibility is to our students and to bring real-world planning experiences into the classroom and to create opportunities for them to apply what they have learned in the classroom, so that upon graduation they can hit the deck running. That is one of the things that really distinguishes the Urban Planning program at Eastern from other universities and degree programs, the emphasis that we place on hands-on, community-based learning experiences. As a practicing planner, I have over 37 years of experience in the fields of community and economic development to draw upon, and continuing to work with communities keeps me current and enables me to create even more opportunities for our students. The students really appreciate learning about real-life situations. In addition, because we are so well connected with communities and the professional planning community, we have students involved in wonderful internships throughout the state as well as many community-based planning projects. 

Q: Finally, how do you see Liberty Lake developing as a community in the years to come? 

A: That is a very good question. In one sense, the die has already been cast. Master-planned developments for the rest of the residential areas in the community have already been approved, so the community knows how much growth and development they can expect and be reassured that they can continue to expect high-quality building and development, so there's a degree of certainty in that regard. I think that the focus then will be on further refining the vision for the area in and around the downtown area as it continues to evolve and new investment decisions are made. The improvements being designed for Liberty Lake Road will be a very nice addition, especially if it includes the undergrounding of some of the overhead power lines. The most exciting opportunity is the planning under way for the Town Square Park/community center downtown. That is a real legacy project and that will define the character of the downtown and provide a tremendous focal point for community gatherings and events. It's really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community and a real opportunity to make a difference. 

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