Austin Bailey serving on the new AIA-SWO Local Affairs committee

Rowell Brokaw's Austin Bailey is serving on the newly formed AIA-SWO Eugene/Springfield Committee on Local Affairs (CoLa) along with Scott Clarke (Pivot), Randy Nishimura (Robertson Sherwood), and Travis Sheridan (Will Dixon Architects). CoLa's mission is to advocate for local issues that affect the practice of architecture and the design and planning of our communities, and also invite participation and input from chapter members at-large. 

The AIA-SWO board selected these members as they reflect a diversity of ages, perspectives, and professional experiences of the chapter membership. Both Austin and Travis will serve two-year terms on CoLA, and Scott and Randy will be members for one year. Staggering the terms of the committee members ensures continuity by eliminating wholesale turnover at any one point. 

CoLA recently held its first meeting last Thursday, October 22. The topic for the first meeting was the City of Eugene’s development of its proposed new South Willamette Special Area Zone (SW-SAZ). With City Council action imminent, controversy about SW-SAZ has reached a flashpoint. The gamut of issues the controversy encompasses includes the challenge of compact urban development in the face of future development pressures, individual property rights, and exactly when and how the city has engaged impacted neighbors and property owners. 

Visit aiaswo.org for more information and CoLa upcoming meeting dates.