The News Tribune Op-ed, Oct. 25, 2011

By Gene Duvernoy and Ryan Mello

The proposed Sumner Orton Junction project has come to stand for many things to many people. But at the heart, it is an opportunity for a fresh approach in Pierce County to:

 • Offer new models of development that contribute to the economic strength and livability of our cities as they also break the old habit of sprawling across the countryside.

 • Look ahead on land use and stop fighting the same old battles that have consumed us over the years.

 • Break this mold and demonstrate to our citizens that private developers and local governments and environmental groups can work together, creating sustainable projects that preserve our landscape, strengthen our economy and create livable and affordable communities.

 • To simply make our communities the best they can be.

The Cascade Land Conservancy agreed to become engaged late in the process in order to help find a fresh approach to strengthen our economic base, create a walkable, livable community to Sumner and support our working farms and farmers.

Throughout our region, we have found that – especially in these difficult times – that we accomplish much more working together than being at odds with each other. This fresh approach is captured in the Seven Principles Agreement, the result of fair-minded people coming together to achieve something lasting. It is the result of strong leadership from Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy and open-minded engagement by the Pierce County Council, the City of Sumner and Sumner-based Investco.

This agreement is an installment on that promise to create the best that our communities can be. Here’s what it does:

 • Ensures an agricultural land base for future generations through permanent protection of four acres of prime agricultural land for every acre consigned to the project, conserving over 500 acres of farmland.

 • Invests in the future of sustainable agriculture by providing a farmer-oriented process to identify tools, services and market assistance.

 • Promotes a healthy environment where people can live, work and play by incorporating innovative design and green construction elements into the project. Sumner will be a great community that is complete, compact and connected as never before.

 • Incorporates a mix of commercial, retail and community space along with a variety of housing types affordable to community members.

 • Deploys some of our strongest tools against sprawl by reducing the net size of Sumner’s urban growth area and establishing a “green wall” of protected farmland along growth boundaries to eliminate future conversion pressure. It also requires Transfer of Development Rights (a land-use tool tying growth to conservation) for all allowable residential density in the project area.

Sumner and Orton Farms LLC courageously explored new concepts of conservation and community design. While varying opinions and perspectives will always exist, The Cascade Land Conservancy worked hard to contact many stakeholders to gain broad community perspective and support. The Seven Principles Agreement reflects the input and advice of many in the community and, consequently, provides greater benefit to our citizens while maintaining the project’s financial feasibility.

The Seven Principles Agreement is a win-win solution. Instead of looking backwards and getting mired in arguments about what was, the agreement demonstrates that even with today’s difficult economic realities, by working together we can make our cities and communities the best in the nation and our region truly sustainable. A region with flourishing farms and livable, walkable cities. A region worthy of our children.

There are many honest, deeply held perspectives about the Orton Junction project. At the end of the day, we believe strongly that the agreement sets the right path for Sumner, Pierce County and the region. The ultimate beneficiaries of this fresh approach will be those who live and raise families in our region.

Gene Duvernoy is the president of Cascade Land Conservancy; Ryan Mello is the organization’s Pierce County Conservation director.