Happy Global Community Engagement Day!

Winterbrook Planning is proud to celebrate the role public involvement plays in shaping stronger, more equitable communities across Oregon. This year also marks our 25th anniversary, offering a moment to reflect on a quarter century of planning work built around collaboration with communities throughout the state.

Why Community Engagement Matters

Community engagement starts with listening. Every place has its own priorities, challenges, and history, and effective planning depends on understanding those perspectives. While our work often involves technical analysis, housing policy, and land use regulations, the most successful outcomes come from working closely with the people who live and work in the communities we serve.

Engagement in Practice

Some of our community engagement work is supported through projects funded by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). Through these efforts, we partner with cities, counties, and Tribes on housing and land use projects that depend on meaningful public input. Whether preparing Housing Capacity Analyses, Housing Production Strategies, development code updates, or evaluating Urban Growth Boundary changes, community voices help shape the final result. Advisory committees, public workshops, roundtables, and work sessions ensure plans reflect local conditions and experiences.

Looking Back, and Ahead

Current DLCD-funded projects, including with the Coquille Indian Housing Authority and the City of Bonanza, continue this work today, while recently completed efforts in Sweet Home and Happy Valley show how community-led conversations can lead to adopted policies and real progress.

As we celebrate Global Community Engagement Day and 25 years of practice, we thank our partners and community members whose participation makes this work better.