Sitting on Both Sides of the Table
We posed four questions to 25 individuals who have had the opportunity to serve both as professional and citizen planners. You’ll find their responses quite interesting and informative.
Editor’s Choices for New Planning Board Members
PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville’s selection of articles especially worth a look by new members of planning commissions.
Note: There are more Editor’s Choice articles than are visible on this page — when you get to the bottom of the page, please continue on to “Older Posts” to view the rest of our Editor’s Choice articles.
Practical Tips for Citizen Planners
Are you as effective as you can be in your job as a planning commissioner? Planner Carolyn Braun offers some tips for your consideration.
Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
There’s a growing recognition that transportation systems need to foster livable, sustainable communities — and focus on more than just mobility.
What Planners Wish Their Planning Commissioners Knew
Take note planning commissioners! The Segedys (with apologies to David Letterman) offer their own “top 10” list.
Smoothing the Rocky Road
Planning commissions often struggle with group dynamics when making decisions on difficult issues. A look at some ways to work better together.
Stop, Look, Loiter
Stop, look, and take the time to observe how people interact with the built environment.
Stand By Your Plan
Ten tips from the Segedys to help you better prepare and implement your community’s long-range plan.
Learning to Enjoy Your Service on the Commission
How can you do a better job as a planning commissioner? Long-time PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan offers some basic principles for your consideration.
Meaningful Dialogue With the Public
By engaging in a true dialogue with the public, you may learn some useful information and actually enjoy the give-and-take.
Revisiting Ex Parte Contacts
Just about every planning commission at some time faces questions about ex parte contacts. Greg Dale explains why ex parte contacts can cause problems and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Your Community’s Little Instruction Book
New Planning Commissioners Journal columnists Jim Segedy and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy kick off a series of articles on the basics of putting together a useful comprehensive plan.
C is for Comprehensive Plan
A community’s comprehensive plan is not just a file cabinet full of plans for future streets; parks and recreation; housing; and so on. More importantly, it is an integrated statement of the aspirations of the community designed to achieve a broad array of community objectives.
L is for Land Subdivision
Land ownership and subdivision in America has long been subject to detailed legal requirements and procedures. A look at some of the most significant changes over the past two centuries.
