For planning commissioners who have just concluded a heated public hearing, the happy citizens illustrated above must appear as a cruel joke. Perhaps, however, the citizens have just returned from a dynamic and exciting workshop helping to envision the community’s future!
You’ve worked hard to organize a community visioning initiative. There’s just one problem: how do you get citizens to participate? How do you persuade a cross-section of your community to attend vision meetings and share their ideas about the future? Pick up the phone, recommends civic consultant Otis White.
How do you deal with the “major players” in your community when land use issues are at stake?
How wide a net does your commission cast in seeking out new members? asks PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan.
Neighborhood organizations often provide the most important connection residents have with local government and planning. By working with them, planners can gain a more accurate sense of what residents and businesses need, while helping empower citizens.
PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan provides an overview of ways by which planning commissions can gauge public opinion.
A short primer on the skill of active listening.
With NIMBYs legitimate concerns are often mixed with irrational fears. Planner (and planning commissioner) Christine Robbins offers some insights into how to deal with NIMBY situations.
How can you strengthen community involvement in planning after you’ve completed work on updating your comprehensive plan, when there’s no “hot issue” on the table?
PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan on the value of diversity in planning board membership.
Land use mediation can be an effective tool in aligning divergent interests, developing creative solutions, and resolving heated disputes. An overview of how land use mediation works — and when it’s most effective.
Is it appropriate for citizens who have represented “special interest” groups to serve on local planning boards? Greg Dale considers the ethical dimensions of this question.
Elaine Cogan takes a look at several ways of reaching out to the citizens of your community for whom English is not their first language.
Elaine Cogan looks at how a shopping mall became the location for a creative planning event.
