La Pine Community Design Charrette

The La Pine Community Design Charrette, facilitated by the Rocky Mountain Institute in April 2000, sought to move away from traditional consultant-led planning by involving residents directly in the design process. The workshop focused on creating a walkable town center, improving pedestrian safety along Highway 97, and establishing a greenbelt system along the Little Deschutes River. Key recommendations include reducing excessive commercial zoning to prevent sprawl and concentrating retail into a viable town center of 50,000 to 75,000 square feet. The report outlines specific locations for prospective projects such as a civic center, health center, and performing arts center, while emphasizing the need for 'Green Development' and sustainable infrastructure like 'Living Machines' for wastewater treatment.

• The charrette identified a significant overabundance of commercial zoning in La Pine, noting that current zoning allows for a population of 26,000 residents and could potentially result in 2.3 million square feet of retail space if developed at typical suburban densities. Expert analysis suggests the community actually needs dramatically less commercial zoning to avoid sprawl and attract high-quality investors.
• To create a viable and attractive commercial hub, the report recommends establishing a strong town center of 50,000 to 75,000 square feet. This center would be located south of the New Neighborhood in the existing commercial zone, with a two-acre civic center at the intersection of First and Highway 97 serving as its core.
• The design team proposed a 'greenbelt system' centered on the Little Deschutes River to maintain the community's rural connection to nature. Proposed strategies to overcome the challenge of private property ownership along the river include purchasing access easements, implementing scenic management, and creating tax incentives.
• To improve pedestrian safety on Highway 97, the report suggests implementing 'pedestrian ears'—widened sidewalks at intersections—to visually narrow the highway and slow traffic. Targeted intersections for these improvements include First, Fourth, and Sixth streets.
• The report advocates for 'Green Development' and the adoption of sustainable technologies, specifically highlighting 'Living Machines' as an odor-free, biological wastewater treatment alternative to conventional sewage plants that could serve as a tourist attraction.
• The charrette located several prospective community projects to support growth, including a 10,000 square foot Community Health Center on 10 acres, a 9,500 square foot Senior Center on four acres, and a Performing Arts Center of approximately 12,000 square feet.

APA

Kinsley, M., & Uncapher, J. (2000). La Pine Community Design Charrette. RMI. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_ER00-28_LaPineCharrette.pdf

Chicago

Kinsley, Michael, and Jen Uncapher. La Pine Community Design Charrette. RMI, 2000. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_ER00-28_LaPineCharrette.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kinsley |first1=Michael |last2=Uncapher |first2=Jen |title=La Pine Community Design Charrette |publisher=RMI |date=July 2000 |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_ER00-28_LaPineCharrette.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kinsley2000pine, author = {Kinsley, Michael and Uncapher, Jen}, title = {{La Pine Community Design Charrette}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2000}, month = jul, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_ER00-28_LaPineCharrette.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }