Residents of Cottonwood and Happy Valley created maps on Saturday of how they want to see their communities grow. Both groups listed major issues facing their communities and what they like about their towns.

"This is happening because there are people in both areas who realize that if you don't have a plan, how are you going to get county policy makers to recognize what residents want to see happen?" said Paul Zykofsky of the Local Government Commission.

"The timing for this is perfect," Zykofsky added, since the county is expected to update its general plan in 2009. The general plan is a county-wide plan for growth for the coming decade.

The next planning meeting would take place in approximately two months for both communities.

To contribute to the dialog on the future of either community, Happy Valley residents may contact Barbara Jackson at 378-6060 and Cottonwood residents may contact Mary O'Keeffe at 347-1230.

Cottonwood

Cottonwood residents prioritized the maintenance of its rodeo history and the addition of multi-use trails in their vision of how Cottonwood should look in the future.

Residents wanted to restrict major truck thru-traffic to 4th street and I-5, leaving much of Main Street and Front Street clear of such traffic.

Cottonwood resident Carri Longnecker wanted improvements to "highlight the culture and history of our town and maintain the Western theme."

The Western theme would be reflected by lighting, plazas and sidewalk with benches were envisioned for Main Street.

They also stressed that trails should connect schools, parks and residential areas, so youth have safe routes to get to these spaces besides by vehicle.

Happy Valley

Happy Valley residents also stressed the need for trails, but they focused mostly on the strip from Happy Valley Elementary to the future Happy Valley Park. Residents wanted a trail for people to walk safely through the area.

They also selected this strip of Happy Valley Road for future commercial development, and proposed roundabouts to slow traffic.

"Cars fly through there at 60 mph," Barbara Jackson said. "We don't want that."

Happy Valley resident Sandi Garcia said the residents at the meeting proposed serveral small parks to go along with the big park planned on Happy Valley Road. Trails, she said, would link them together.

The group also wanted to see as little cement in their town as possible. The residents prioritized rural, country living that preserve the natural beauty of their neighborhoods.