 lakes, affecting the water quality of these lakes and the drinking water they provide.
Vision for Sustainable Growth
Vision North Texas 2050 is a private, public and academic partnership headed by Charter Sponsors the Urban Land Institute, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the University of Texas at Arlington. Created to serve as a forum for dialogue and action about the challenges of accommodating a significant amount of future growth in a way that is both sustainable and successful, it is supported by the generous contributions of numerous private and public-sector sponsors.
The Vision North Texas partnership began its work by hosting a regional visioning workshop, held in April 2005 at the University of Texas at Arlington. This workshop brought together a diverse group of nearly 200 stakeholders from across the region to discuss alternatives to the pattern of urban growth currently projected for the area.
The forum operates under these 12 guiding principles:
- Development Diversity
- Efficient Growth
- Pedestrian Design
- Housing Choice
- Activity Centers
- Environmental Stewardship
- Quality Places
- Efficient Mobility Options
- Resource Efficiency
- Educational Opportunity
- Healthy Communities
Achieving this North Texas 2050 Vision requires a shift in thinking from the business as usual. The twelve Guiding Principles give decision-makers additional insight into the future envisioned through this process, but they provide a very broad description of this direction. Policy recommendations that relate to particular parts of this development pattern and investment framework are presented to support the physical development plans. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is leading an effort to involve cities, towns and counties in development and utilization of a watershed-based Regional Ecosystem Framework for the development of future infrastructure plans including Mobility Plans, water/waste water plans, open space or trail system plans, the use of natural assets as ‘green infrastructure’ and similar ecosystem-related initiatives.
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is a comprehensive research, teaching, and public service institution whose mission is the advancement of knowledge and the pursuit of excellence. UTA is a charter sponsor of Vision North Texas. For this agreement, UTA is represented by the School of Architecture through The Center for Metropolitan Density to address the challenges of sustainable development in the 21st century.
The Center for Metropolitan Density addresses the key issues in sustainability by engaging the community in research, education, and consulting. The research center has the unique advantage to be a leader in North Texas and within other university system. Established in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth region, at the only school of architecture in North Texas, implies that the entire metroplex can participate in and benefit from the Center’s work. Since the sprawl in this region is representative of forces acting across the globe, the knowledge gained locally can be exported across globally.
Everything is Bigger in Texas – So is the Challenge!
North Texas has grown successfully and dramatically over the past 40 years. But more of the same will not be successful or sustainable for the next 40 years. This conclusion – and the desire for a future that is better than this ‘business as usual’ scenario – has been a critical in the sustainable development dialogue in North Texas. Achieving the North Texas 2050 Vision requires change from business as usual. To plan for the future, an understanding of the characteristics and demands of the people who live here and are migrating here is necessary. Thoughtful planning for the future based on these local demographic changes and preferences is one of the principles of Vision North Texas. The recommendations in the North Texas 2050 will help this region respond to these changes and better meet the needs of our communities, businesses and current and future residents for sustainable development and gro