The creation of Cumberland Region Tomorrow was a response to the pressing problems caused by traditional methods of growth.  Before proceeding with solutions, the leaders of CRT recognized the need to determine the expected consequences of such methods and compare that outcome to the desires of this region’s citizens.

Therefore, in Spring 2001, CRT initiated a broad-based Regional Visioning Project with the primary goal of objectively determining how the region views itself and how it wants to accommodate anticipated growth.  Alongside the consulting firm, Fregonese, Calthorpe and Associates, CRT began the project using current growth trends to make 20 year projections for the Cumberland Region and develop a Base Case map to visually represent the outcome of those projections.

CRT’s research confirmed the fears of the Pierce Report and discovered that current growth trends were destroying the things that citizens of this region value most.  The people of the Cumberland Region value their quality of life, which is impacted greatly by this region’s character, heritage, open space, environment, transportation systems, and economic vitality.  However, the current growth trends will destroy a significant portion of the land and buildings that define our area.  They will be detrimental to our environment and increase the existing problems of our transportation systems.  Also, the costs of our current methods of growth will hurt the economies of our communities while taking away the cultural distinctions that bring businesses and new citizens to this region.  The decisions that are being made today on how to accommodate the imminent growth of communities will affect the quality of life of every citizen of this region.