Insights

What we’re calling our “Insights” pieces are PlannersWeb postings and Planning Commissioners Journal articles that have more of an “op ed” slant to them.

While all of what we publish is aimed at being helpful to citizen planners, these short articles and postings are less formal in style, and come with the author’s distinctive point-of-view.

Since we know that some readers like to keep opinion-type pieces distinct from other articles, we’ve set up a separate category on the PlannersWeb to clearly identify more opinion oriented — or opinionated! — articles.

Browse through the dozens of Insights articles listed below (there are 12 articles per page; use the “Older” link to get to the next group of 12)

Insights

Our New Public Hearings Resource Guide — Now Available on the PlannersWeb

Take a look at the latest addition to the PlannersWeb. Our 12-part Resource Guide will provide you tips and ideas on how to better manage public hearings. The Resource Guide also points you to other relevant online information and documents.

Insights

What’s the Market Telling Us?

by PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville, reporting on October 5, 2012 from Brunswick, Maine

Ed McMahon, the Urban Land Institute’s Senior Fellow for Sustainable Development provided a riveting talk at the Northern New England APA Conference in Brunswick, Maine. His focus: changing trends in economic development, and how they are affecting the shape of our communities.

Insights

Challenges & Opportunities

Eight of our regular contributing writers take a brief look at various challenges and opportunities facing planning commissions and their communities.

Insights

Plannerisms We Can Do Without

by Dave Stauffer

If planners were to delete only one word from their vocabulary, which would you vote for? Some nominees from PCJ contributing writer Dave Stauffer — and from some of our readers.

Insights

What Are You Guys Doing To Fix It?

by Della Rucker, AICP, CEcD

As planners and planning commissioners we need to think ahead, anticipate consequences, and identify our blind spots so we aren’t sideswiped by a future we didn’t see coming.

Insights

It’s More Complex Than a Wedding

by Della Rucker, AICP, CEcD

There’s no getting around the fact that planning for even a small community is far more complex than planning for even the most elaborate wedding.

Insights

Three Lessons about Using Storytelling in Local Planning

Lisa Hollingworth-Segedy supplements her article, “Inviting Them In: Using Story as a Planning Tool,” by describing in a short audio clip, three important lessons she’s learned about the use of storytelling.

Insights

Getting Our Arms Around “Externalities”

by Dave Stauffer

How do we account for the indirect effects of decisions we make? Is it even possible?

Insights

Welcome to the Tightrope Act

by Della Rucker, AICP, CEcD

It’s vital that planning commissioners bring an economic perspective to planning — and vice-versa.

Insights

Response from Outdoor Advertising Association of America to PCJ article: “Billboards – The Case for Control”

View reply from the OAAA.

Insights

What’s “Sustainable”?

by Dave Stauffer

Sustainability may be hard to define, but it’s increasingly being discussed by developers and local planning commissions. Observations from PCJ columnist Dave Stauffer.

Insights

The Place Making Dividend

by Ed McMahon

Why fostering a sense of place is key to having a strong, economically vibrant city or town. Observations from PCJ contributing writer & ULI Senior Resident Ed McMahon.