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	BLUEPRINT—What It Means To Us
	by Sarah Johnson
	The Blueprint Project. What does the name conjure up for you? Chances are you have heard of it. Chances are you have an opinion about it. Much has been written and said, but sometimes the "spin" that is put on the information causes confusion.
	The Blueprint Project is a computer generated modeling program that allows one to see the likely results of planning decisions. This is a valuable tool because it opens the door to enhanced understanding by the average citizen. Hosting a number of workshops throughout the region, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) was able to present this program to over 5,000 citizens. I believe this has contributed to the increasing call to implement Blueprint.
	Because it is a computer generated modeling program, it should be viewed more as a tool than an actual plan. By seeing the results of planning decisions ahead of time, changes and refinements can be used to gain the desired results.
	The Blueprint Project is the recipient of a still expanding list of prestigious awards such as:
	•	2004 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement (one of five winners). Former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman created the National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement recognizing exceptional approaches to development that benefit the economy, public health, and the environment.
	•	One of the "Top 50" Programs in Harvard University's "Innovations in American Government" Competition, Kennedy School of Government(2003)
	•	The Governor's Award for Environmental and Economic Leadership(2003)
	•	Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit Administration Planning Excellence Award (2004)
	•	American Institute of Architects California Chapter Presidential Citation (2004)
	•	Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations - National Award for Outstanding Achievement (2004)
	•	American Leadership Forum Mountain Valley Chapter - Thanks To You Award (2004)
	•	The Environmental Council of Sacramento Environmental Leadership Award (2004)
	All these awards certainly suggest Blueprint is at least worth closer examination. Why is Elk Grove negative on Blueprint? We need to question this and demand answers.
	Change is often stressful. Because The Blueprint Project points us in the direction of fairly drastic change in some cases, it has its' detractors. The fears they voice very often result from an inaccurate understanding and sometimes a big dose of NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard).
	For example, the fear of high density. Try to imagine that the higher densities suggested by The Blueprint Project are largely higher densities along main corridors. If we understand that these higher densities are the very thing that will allow us to maintain lower densities in other areas like our more rural areas, the trade off is obvious.
	The whole point of this is to curb sprawl, improve traffic congestion, gain ground on the jobs-housing balance, provide sensible and efficient transit options, improve air quality, turn back some of the health related negatives caused by the above issues, and protect the environment in a better fashion that we are currently doing.
	Much of the negative feedback is actually originating with our own local electeds. We are a young City and we have a City Council with no experience in land use planning or the other disciplines necessary to implement the best plan for the citizens of Elk Grove. They have chosen to act in a puzzling way. They give lip service to regional co-operation and pretend to be "working with" SACOG and The Blueprint Project in public, while at the same time, refusing to participate when behind closed doors. They have made a big deal out of getting SACOG to agree to use Elk Grove's General Plan as a basis for Blueprint. What that means in implementation is that all of Elk Grove is basically removed from regional planning. Not a good thing! SACOG controls the dispersal of transportation funds and, in some cases, Elk Grove will not be receiving funding that might have been available to the City, because we fail to meet the criteria. It is not right for our area to be virtually left out because our "adolescent" Council insists on acting irresponsibly.
	Another issue that has arisen is the threat to the land holdings of long time ranchers and farmers whose holdings extend south of the Urban Services Boundary (USB). I believe the threat to their holdings did not originate with Blueprint, but rather with an orchestrated effort from within the City government. Another reason we need to dig into this and get answers.
	Get involved! Read, Learn, Question, and Communicate. This change is coming as evidenced by the momentum seen at the Regional, State, and National level for using these same principles to reach these same goals. The Governor and the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, Sunne Wright McPeak have been advocating Smart Growth, Higher Density, Reduction of Traffic Congestion by using these very same strategies. Even the builders and developers are beginning to recognize the inevitable and embrace these principles. The public is demanding solutions and the voices are getting stronger.
	Sarah Johnson was a citizen advisor from Elk Grove to the Blueprint Project. She received SACOG's 2003 Citizen of the Year Award for her contributions to transportation planning.
	The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent those of the Elk Grove Insider or any other entity.
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