On April 30, more than 75 board members of Envision Central Texas (ECT) and the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) came together to share ideas and discuss issues that are impacting our region’s future. This event was organized by Pete Dwyer, who is both an ECT Executive Committee member and chair of the RECA’s Regional Issues Committee. Also in attendance were a number of elected officials from around the region who added their perspectives and priorities to this lively conversation. Those who attended expressed a sincere appreciation for the experience and the opportunity to build new relationships. The hope is that this inaugural mixer of the two boards will become a tradition and be one of a number of ways to exchange ideas and strengthen the foundations for working together toward a sustainable future.

Another event designed to build connections was a luncheon on March 29 that was convened by ECT’s Transportation and Land Use Committee. The attendees included 30 developers, land owners, financiers and others, who were joined by special guests AndrésDuany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and John Norquist of the Congress for the New Urbanism. This gathering provided an opportunity to explore the concepts and principles laid out in the ECT Vision and other quality growth management approaches such as those articulated by the Congress for the New Urbanism. It also provided a forum to exchange ideas and examine in more detail the issues, concerns and priorities related to growth in Central Texas from the perspective of those in the development community.  

The meeting fostered a thoughtful dialogue regarding these very important and timely issues and helped enhance understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to future development in the region. The event also generated a “field trip” in which Duany and Norquist visited a subdivision development of one of the attendees in order to talk through a real-world example. The ECT Transportation and Land Use Committee is planning to host a series of these types of gatherings with the development community to continue to build understanding and connections between a diverse array of individuals and groups that share the vital role of shaping growth.