Variety on the Planning Commission is a Virtue
How wide a net does your commission cast in seeking out new members? asks PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan.
Working as a Team
Articles and postings with suggestions on how planning commissioners can work more effectively as a team.
Continue to older articles & posts — or return to newer ones — where you see the green buttons at the bottom of the page.
When Labels are Counter-Productive
Elaine Cogan considers the wisdom of “labeling” planning board members by their “characteristics.” With responses from our online reviewers.
21 Bright Ideas: Special Issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal
Our Winter and Spring 2006 issues featured 25 bright ideas on a wide range of topics — ranging from walkable neighborhoods to meeting workforce housing needs, from commissioners “on tour” to how art can transform a street.
How Effective is Your Planning Board?
Elaine Cogan looks at ways of evaluating your planning board’s effectiveness.
What Planners Do
Four planners discuss the role of the professional planner; planning commission-staff relations; what commission chairs can do; pre-meeting workshops; and new commissioner orientation.
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.
Who Hires Your Planning Director?
What attributes should you look for in a new planning director? Columnist Elaine Cogan describes what she learned from facilitating a series community forums as part of Portland, Oregon’s search for a new planning chief.
Strengthening Your Group Process Skills
An overview of several group process methods that can help planning boards deal more creatively (and effectively) with issues they face.
Making Planning Accountable
How do measure the success of planning in your town, city, or county? Mike Chandler looks at some basic ways to make planning accountable.
Video-Conference Training for Planning Commissioners
Providing planning commission training is always a challenge. Time is limited and funds are often scarce. Video-conferencing offers an increasingly popular way of overcoming these obstacles.
Working With Planning Consultants
In part I, Greg Dale outlines ten key elements to successfully getting started on a project that will involve consultants; part II examines how RFQs can be used in finding planning consultants; and part III focuses on steps planning departments can take to ensure a good working relationship with consultants.
Consider the Committee
Elaine Cogan on how committees can assist planning commissioners in their work.
Retreat? Advance?
Has your commission been looking for a way to get beyond the regular meeting routine? Some tips on organizing for a successful retreat.
