White Pass Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Who is Destination Packwood Association? Destination Packwood Association (DPA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization committed to uniting our community in the promotion of year-round economic growth and diversity to enhance our standard of living and secure the future development of Packwood as a place to live and visit. We recognized the positive effect that converting the already State-designated Highway 12 to a National Scenic Byway would have on our economy and pursued it. Destination Packwood Association, with the cooperation and assistance of several federal, state and local officials, companies, organizations and private individuals have formed a Working Committee and Steering Committee for the project. These committees will perform and guide the tasks necessary to see the project through to completion and continue to participate in Byway activities. What is a Corridor Management Plan (CMP)? A Corridor Management Plan is a planning tool that will identify the resources along Highway 12 and plan the actions necessary for their improvement and protection. This grass-root effort will be locally developed to take advantage of opportunities residents see for their own communities and regions. As a means of collecting the information, seven community meetings along Highway 12 been scheduled. The dates and locations are as follows: Salkum Library Thrusday, Januray 29, 2004, 5:30 p.m. Mossyrock Community Center Thursday, February 5, 2004, 6 p.m. Morton P.U.D. Thursday, February 12, 2004, 5:30 p.m. Randle Fire Hall Thursday, February 19, 2004, 5:30 p.m. Packwood Community Hall Thursday, February 26, 2004, 5:30 p.m. Naches Town Hall Thursday, March 4, 2004, 6 p.m. Glenoma Fire Hall Wednesday March 10, 2004, 7 p.m. It is during these meeting that we hope to gather an inventory of corridor resources. In future meetings the community stakeholders will define stewardship actions to protect those resources, develop marketing and communication plans, and plan for visitor experiences. These items are required for National Scenic Byway designation. Why create a Corridor Management Plan (CMP)? The proposed plan will be an integral part of the economic diversification strategy of communities in the corridor. It will provide a framework for maintaining resources for visitors and local residents and provide an opportunity to share the cultural heritage of the corridor. It will also suggest a means of improving the travel experience of our road as a destination. The completed CMP will also include building community capacity to compete for and implement improvement funding. The CMP must be approved by county and local elected officials prior to application for National Scenic Byway designation. What's in it for me? During the CMP planning process, highway attractions and their safety issues will be identified. Some of these projects will be completed during the study process with the remainder of the list to be funded by other sources. With National Scenic Byway status, communities will be eligible for additional funding not otherwise available and receive free national advertising that will strengthen the economy of the entire region. But I heard . . . ? It is a coincidence that the Washington State Department of Transportation is now enforcing the Scenic Vistas Act of 1971 which removes private signs from highway right-of-way. Their decision and timing has nothing to do with this project. It is important to make sure everyone knows that with a National Scenic Byway designation, local governments do not cede any authority to determine land use. No one will tell you what to do with your property because of National Scenic Byway designation.