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From the project inception, Allegheny Places embraced equity as a key element in the Comprehensive Plan. Equitable planning ensures that diverse communities and individuals have the opportunity to participate in the planning process and benefit from the results. The Plan will support sharing the benefits and burdens of development while providing technical and strategic guidance to ensure equitable land, infrastructure, and environmental planning.
At Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Equitable Development Summit, John A. Powell, Director of Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, spoke on best emerging practices around the nation contributing to equitable development. Professor Powell began his presentation by stating that the inequality issues that are confronting Southwestern Pennsylvania are also being experienced by the rest of the US. Few planning processes consider equity, and Professor Powell stated that he was very happy to see that the Allegheny County process does.
Allegheny County Economic Development created a resource panel of experts with knowledge of equity and diversity issues. This resource panel established the following principles for the Team to use in the development of the Future Land Use Plan.
Equitable Development Principles
Individuals, families, and communities can benefit from economic growth with equal access to:
- Decent affordable housing
- Attractive neighborhoods
- Better paying jobs
- Public transit
- Amenities such as parks and trails
- Access to high performing schools
Equity and Diversity Resource Panel
The charge of the resource panel is to identify opportunities to ensure that the comprehensive planning process and products include equity and diversity development needs. Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato stated that, “all groups, regardless of age, disability, gender, or ethnic background should have an equal seat at the table.”
Many equity & diversity issues were identified in every element of the plan and incorporated into the goals, objectives and policies.
View a list of panel members >>
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