Voices of Planning Commissioners

You’ll find great perspectives and advice from the many planning commissioners featured in our articles and postings.

PCJ Articles

Sitting on Both Sides of the Table

by PCJ Editor Wayne Senville

We posed four questions to 25 individuals who have had the opportunity to serve both as professional and citizen planners. You’ll find their responses quite interesting and informative.

PCJ Articles

Chairing the Planning Commission

by Carol Whitlock

A long-time planning commission chair offers her insights on ways to run fair and effective commission meetings and hearings.

Insights

Planning Commissioner Perspectives

Planning commissioners from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, and New York offer their perspectives on what makes for an effective planning board, and on the role of the chairperson.

PCJ Articles

Welcome to the Commission

Advice from six planning commissioners from across the country especially aimed at new planning commissioners. Plus a roundtable discussion moderated by Planning Commissioners Journal editor Wayne Senville.

Insights

Planning Commissioners Roundtable Discussion

moderated by Wayne Senville, Editor, Planning Commissioners Journal

PCJ Editor Wayne Senville holds a roundtable discussion with six planning commissioners from across the country.

Insights

Commissioners as Neighborhood Advocates

by William M. Harris

Planning commissioner William M. Harris offers his thoughts on the downside of commissioners acting as advocates for their own neighborhoods.

Insights

Being a Planning Commissioner

by Steven Burt

Asking the right question; evaluating information presented; identifying interests; making no excuses. Lessons from nine years as a member of a local planning and zoning commission.

PCJ Articles

Planning from Different Perspectives

by Carolyn Braun

How members of planning commissions and zoning boards can be most effective in dealing with applicants, members of the public, and staff.

Insights

The New Commissioner: Dazed & Confused

by Sharon Wiley Hightower

Sharon Hightower, a California planning consultant and planning commissioner, offers some “orientation” advice for new planning commissioners.

Insights

The “Multi-Family Housing Blues”

by Bob Mulder

A planning commissioner recounts what happened when a multi-family housing project was proposed in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Insights

Let’s Not Plan by Siege

by Barbara Jarvis

Planning commissioner Barbara Jarvis explores what Ashland, Oregon, has done to encourage the use of mediation in land use disputes and neighborhood planning.

Insights

Planning Commissioners Roundtable Discussion

moderated by Wayne Senville, Editor, Planning Commissioners

Discussion focuses on the role of the planning commission on growth and development issues; new commissioner orientation; and communications with the public.

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