Bright Ideas

Just what do we consider bright planning-related ideas? They can be anything from innovative programs, to ground-breaking reports, to simply better ways of doing business (as a planning department or commission).

We’ve included in the table below several past Planning Commissioners Journal articles that focused on various “bright ideas.”

We’ll also regularly be preparing new articles about bright ideas you might find of interest. We’ll kick things off in September with a look at the idea of having a youth member serve on the planning commission.

If there’s a bright idea your planning department has come up with, don’t be shy, let us know. Email Editor Wayne Senville at: pcjoffice@gmail.com.

Bright Ideas

What Are MOOCs and Why Should They Matter to Planners and Commissioners?

by Stuart Andreason

How would you like to take a course at a top-notch university, with some outstanding planning professors, for free? Now, you can do just that through a “MOOC.” Stuart Andreason explains.

Bright Ideas

A Look at Urban Interactive Studio’s “Engaging Plans” Web Tool

Della Rucker interviews Chris Haller of Urban Interactive Studio

PlannersWeb columnist Della Rucker’s first video cast is a conversation with Chris Haller of Urban Interactive Studio about the new world of planning project web site development — and a look at his firm’s “Engaging Plans” web site tool.

Bright Ideas

New Online Resource: RLUIPA-Defense Blog

from PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville

We were excited to learn that one of the top land use lawyers in America, Dwight Merriam, and his colleague, Evan Seeman, have just started a blog dealing with RLUIPA, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. As Seeman describes it: “It’s all about how municipalities may defend against claims taken under RLUIPA.” If your community faces RLUIPA issues, we’re sure this will be a valuable resource.

Bright Ideas

A Walkabout Approach to Public Meetings

by Jim Segedy, Ph.D., FAICP and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, AICP

Does your planning commission take a “walkabout approach” to public meetings. PlannersWeb contributing writers Jim Segedy & Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy explain why it can be very helpful to put on your walking shoes and go out for a group walk.

Bright Ideas

Inviting Them In: Using Story as a Planning Tool

by Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy

Storytelling is the universal human language. We think in story. We form our attitudes about the world around us in story. A primer on how story can be used in community planning.

Bright Ideas

The Value of Debriefing

by Jim Segedy, FAICP, and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy, AICP

PCJ contributing writers Jim Segedy & Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy on how debriefing meetings can help planning commissions work more effectively.

Bright Ideas

Cultural Asset Mapping

by Rob Voigt

Gaining a solid understanding of your community’s natural and built environment will lay the groundwork for more effective planning.

Bright Ideas

Turning Downtowns Around: Business Improvement Districts

by Beth Humstone

Planner and PCJ contributing writer Beth Humstone looks at how business improvement districts work and what they’re doing to address today’s downtown challenges.

Bright Ideas

Stop, Look, Loiter

by Dave Stauffer

Stop, look, and take the time to observe how people interact with the built environment.

Bright Ideas

Viriginia’s Cul-de-Sac Regulations one of New York Times’ Top Ideas of the Year

Interestingly, one of The New York Times’ “top ideas of 2009″ is Virginia’s new rules law that limit use of cul-de-sacs in future developments.

Bright Ideas

Dialing for Citizens

by Otis White

You’ve worked hard to organize a community visioning initiative. There’s just one problem: how do you get citizens to participate? How do you persuade a cross-section of your community to attend vision meetings and share their ideas about the future? Pick up the phone, recommends civic consultant Otis White.

Bright Ideas

Community Self-Assessment

by Jim Segedy and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy

How can you ensure that your comprehensive plan makes sense, and guides decision-making to choices that create a healthy, balanced community? One way is by doing a community self-assessment, a process that helps identify issues and build consensus.