Why six million? Because that’s the population that the ARC forecasts for the year 2030, and it’s probably closer than you think. The ARC says that during the next 25 years, our 10 county core will grow by another 2.3 million people, many of whom will come here because of our excellent quality of life.

That many new residents will have a direct impact on the way we live and work in the metro area. And while it is anticipated that we will grow at a slightly slower rate during the next twenty five years than we did during the 1990's, the growth will mean change:

* Adding more than 2 million residents is like taking the entire population of the state of Nevada and placing them here.

* It’s also the equivalent of taking eight Macon, Georgias and moving them here.

* That many newcomers will mean approximately 1.7 million more jobs, and the commute that goes with them.

* That also works out to almost 1 million new households, with more than half the housing units for them yet to be built.

* And surprisingly, that all translates into approximately 1.4 million additional automobiles, which could translate into roughly 7 million new parking spaces.

The questions asked in the Envision 6 process are tough: Where should growth be limited and where should growth be promoted? And because our region is a conglomeration of fiercely independent neighborhoods, cities and counties, agreeing on an overall vision for growth is especially difficult.

Envision 6 sees future growth in light of changes we are experiencing today:

First, our population is growing older as a group. We have all heard about the demographic importance of the baby-boom generation. The ARC forecasts that the 60+ age group will double its share of the population between now and 2030.

Once they retire, this group will demand and receive a new slate of services tailored to them. This will have a sharp impact on housing and retailing in the future. The trend will likely include communities located close to services, with less suburban sprawl.

Second, in America and in the Atlanta region, we are growing more diverse. During the 1990s, our Hispanic population soared by 380 percent, the sixth fastest growing among major metropolitan areas. Our Asian population grew at a rate of 170 percent in the same period. Envision 6 sees these trends continuing into the future. Smart growth means not only accommodating the needs of these diverse parts of our community, but encouraging and welcoming them in recognition of the strength they bring.

Finally, the direction and location of our growth will likely change in the future.

In recent years, the primary growth corridors in the metro Atlanta area have been in our northern suburbs. North along Interstate 75, followed by Interstate 85 toward Lawrenceville, and remarkable new growth along Georgia 400 north of the perimeter.

However, the forecasters at ARC have already begun to see a change.

During the 1990s, growth began to accelerate in the southern part of the metro area, and especially in Fayette and Henry counties. Envision 6 predicts that between now and 2030, growth in our "southern crescent" will actually outpace that seen in the northern suburbs. In fact, they look for the southern region to add 87,000 more residents than the northern portion of our area over the next 25 years.

All this growth will place remarkable strains on our transportation system, and the Envision 6 plan calls for changes in the way we live and travel, whether it is driving to work or planning on a Braves game. And the future will best be served if we think about those choices today.

The plan calls for implementation of a "truly regional transit system" which would provide us with a viable and easy alternative to driving. And while such calls have been made in the past, we can only hope that our leaders will have the courage and the will to bring such a system to reality.

Finally, the study raises questions about water. In recent years, the "water wars" with Florida and Alabama have raised the stakes for growth. The truth is that we have a limited supply of water, and without more water, growth will be curtailed.

Today, approximately 60 percent of our water needs are filled from the Chattahoochee river. And with demand for water increasing, the study suggests that conservation is one of the few options left to the Atlanta region. While the report does not say so, I suspect that higher water prices in the future will bring about the needed concern for all of us to begin conserving water.

For anyone wanting to think today about how we should plan for tomorrow, I recommend the Envision 6 planning guidebook. The ARC offers it free on its website at www.atlreg.com. It will guide you through the challenges we all face as we look to the future of our region.