FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20th Luncheon - Choices For Central Texas: Charting the Effects of Land Use and Transportation Decisions Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Urban planner Peter Calthorpe, principal of Calthorpe Associates, and Dallas developer Robert Shaw, president of Columbus Realty Partners, Ltd., will speak at an Envision Central Texas (ECT) luncheon on Friday, May 20 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Austin Marriott at the Capitol at 701 East 11th Street. The event, “Choices For Central Texas: Charting the Effects of Land Use and Transportation Decisions,” is hosted by ECT’s Transportation and Land Use Integration Committee and is the second in a series of events focusing on the choices that citizens and leaders of Central Texas must consider as they seek to enhance the region's quality of life while managing congestion, growth and environmental quality.

The Envision Central Texas two-year, five-county visioning process reinforced the need to coordinate land use and transportation planning in Central Texas and reflected a public desire to improve housing and transportation choices in the region. The recently approved urban commuter rail line, other infrastructure projects, and the multitude of housing and commercial developments underway amplify the urgency of this need. The question that emerges is, “How does Central Texas enhance housing and transportation choices while improving regional competitiveness, protecting valuable environmental resources, and managing infrastructure and housing costs?”

To help address this question, Peter Calthorpe will present the results of his new Central Texas study for Capital Metro which uses scenario modeling to explore the effects of coordinating projected household and employment growth with the transit infrastructure investments proposed for the region. He will share his insights on the consequences of various development patterns, the potential benefits of coordinated growth and investment, and the opportunities generated by alternative approaches, such as transit-oriented development. Robert Shaw will discuss the challenges and rewards of developing mixed-use urban centers and transit villages such as his successful project in Plano.

Peter Calthorpe has had a long and honored career in planning, urban design, and architecture, combining his experience in these disciplines to develop an innovative approach to community development and urban design. Since forming Calthorpe Associates in 1983, his work has further diversified to major urban design projects in urban, new town, and suburban settings in the United States and abroad. His defining work on sustainable communities, pedestrian pockets, and transit-oriented development has helped to shape a set of alternatives to sprawl, at the regional and neighborhood scale.

Robert Shaw is president of Columbus Realty Partners, Ltd., an affiliate of The Staubach Company in Dallas, which traces its roots back to 1983 when Shaw joined with Roger Staubach to create a company for the development of residential neighborhoods. Since that time he has worked in all facets of the business, including construction management, development and property management and as CEO of Columbus Realty Trust and Amicus Partners. Shaw recently participated in the development of a transit village around the historic district adjacent to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit downtown Plano light rail station. The retail, office and residential complex is designed to reflect the character of its 19th century neighbors and includes a city conference center and an adaptive reuse of the city's first school gymnasium into a 325- seat performing arts theatre.

The event is open to the public and tickets are $35 each. Media representatives are complimentary, but reservations are required to ensure a seat is available. To make reservations, call Diane Miller at ECT at 512.916.6037.

Envision Central Texas Mission:

The mission of Envision Central Texas is to assist in the public development and implementation of a regional vision addressing the growth of Central Texas, with an emphasis on land use, transportation and the environment. By working with the people of Central Texas to build a consensus, we can preserve and enhance our region’s quality of life, natural resources, and economic prosperity.

Envision Central Texas is a non-profit organization composed of concerned citizens – representing the business community, environmental organizations, neighborhoods and policy makers – who share the common goal of addressing growth with sound planning that has the interests of the region’s existing and future citizens in mind. The organization has no regulatory powers and does not seek to forcibly impose a plan on the region or its local governments. Instead, Envision Central Texas’s mission is to work cooperatively and in partnership with all entities and individuals to help guide the region toward a common vision for the future.

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Envision Central Texas, 2512 S. IH 35, Suite 340, Austin Texas 78704
Phone: 512.916.6037, Fax: 512:916.6042, Email: dmiller@envisioncentraltexas.org, Website: www.envisioncentraltexas.org

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