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 Effective
Not surprisingly, many of our articles and postings have focused on how planning commissioners can be more effective.
Continue to older articles & posts — or return to newer ones — where you see the green buttons at the bottom of the page.
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.”
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.
Diversity on Planning Commissions
How well does your planning commission reflect the diversity / demographics of your community? Results from our questionnaire.
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.
Be the Apple of Your Commission’s Eye
Tired of our talking about those bad apples who serve on planning commissions? In today’s column we offer some balance — with a look at commissioners who deserve your appleause.
Young Planning Commissioners, Part 3
How interested are young adults in local planning issues? And what advice would you give someone interested in serving on a planning board?
Young Planning Commissioners, Part 2
We asked our participants if there was anything that surprised them after joining their planning commission, and what challenges they faced in taking the time to serve.
Does Your Planning Commission Have Bad Apples? – Part 2
Don’t just sweep a Bad Apple’s behavior under the rug. It’s important to keep in mind the pernicious impact that tolerating unethical behavior has both on the planning commission and on the community.
Problem Solving is an Art, not a Science
How planning commissioners can be more effective problem solvers in dealing with the challenging issues they face.
