Improving Your Planning Commission’s Effectiveness
If there were one thing that would most improve the effectiveness of your community’ planning commission, what would that be?
Being a Planning Commissioner
Most Recent Articles
Strengthening the Planning Commission – Governing Body Relationship
We hear back from our survey respondents with ideas on how to strengthen the relationship between the planning commission and governing body.
Holding Effective Public Meetings
What are the most important things a planning commission or planning staff can do in order to hold an effective public meeting or hearing? Results from our survey.
Planning Commission “Dynamics”
We asked our survey respondents a series of short “yes” / “no” questions on questions relating to what we’d call planning commission “dynamics.”
Frequency & Duration of Planning Commission Meetings
We meet too often! We don’t meet often enough! Our meetings are too long! No, they’re too short! See what our survey respondents told us.
Most Important Skills for Planning Staff to Have
We asked professional planners what skills they’ve found most important in serving as a staff planner or planning director. A summary of what they told us.
A Backward Glance … A Forward Look
In her final column after a 23 year stint writing for the Planning Commissioners Journal and PlannersWeb, Elaine Cogan takes a look back … and forward … at what’s changed, and what has not.
Most Important Skills for Planning Commissioners to Have
We asked respondents who have served as planning commissioners what they’ve found to be the most important skills in serving on a planning commission.
Why Were You Interested in Serving on Your Planning Commission?
What got you interested in serving on your planning commission? Here’s what we heard back in response to our survey question.
Diversity on Planning Commissions
How well does your planning commission reflect the diversity / demographics of your community? Results from our questionnaire.
Length of Service; Who Selects Commissioners; Recruiting New Members
How long do planning commissioners usually serve? Who selects them? How difficult is it to recruit new commission members? Some answers from our survey.
Planning Commissions at Work — What PlannersWeb Readers Told Us
An introduction to our August survey about the role and responsibilities of planning commissioners and staff; what it takes to run an effective public meeting; and more.
How to Facilitate a Meeting Successfully — A Baker’s Dozen Tips
Thirteen tips on how you can become an effective meeting facilitator — from long-time meeting facilitator Elaine Cogan.
