January 29th, 2013
For more details about Elaine Cogan’s background and experience.
Access dozens of Elaine’s past Planning Comm’rs Journal articles (scroll down the page; to access older articles use link at bottom of that page).
We posed a series of questions to 25 individuals who have had the special opportunity to serve both as professional and citizen planners. You’ll find their responses — and perspectives on the role of the planning commissioner — quite interesting and informative. See our article, Sitting on Both Sides of the Table.
New to a Planning Commission?
Note from PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville: I’m very pleased that Elaine Cogan is back with us … with a new column, “In the Planning Commissioner’s Corner.” What Elaine most wants to do in her column is respond to your questions, and — we hope — get some online dialogue going.
For those of you who don’t know Elaine, she brings over 36 years’ of experience in working with citizen planners. Use the previous link to browse through the dozens of articles she wrote for the Planning Commissioners Journal over some 18 years. As a PlannersWeb member, you can also download a complimentary pdf of Elaine’s excellent booklet, Now that You’re On Board: How to Survive … and Thrive … as a Planning Commissioner.
So you’re new on the board! Now, what do you do?
You may have been appointed to fit a certain slot … developer, citizen, architect, etc. or because you are a well respected member of the community, or even a friend of the mayor.
Whatever the reason, you are now the newest member of your community’s planning commission or board. You will quickly realize there is much to learn, particularly the planning jargon the staff and more knowledgeable commission members toss around at will.
As you begin to attend meetings, you will find that although many parts of the agenda are routine, there soon is likely to be a controversial or contentious matter on which there are strong opinions, both from the members and the public. Or perhaps the controversy has been raging for some time and you come in the middle of it and are expected to have an opinion. As a first time citizen decision maker, you may be uneasy having to discuss your points of view or make decisions in front of the public.
You want to be effective. What are the most important matters you should consider?
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How timely!! I am a city planner, but have only this week been appointed to the planning commission where I live. It will be interesting to see applications from the other side of the table.
Lots of great resources here. Aimed mostly at elected officials but helpful for plannign commissioners too!
http://www.ca-ilg.org/new-local-public-service