Crossing America

Planning Commissioners Journal

Last summer, PCJ Editor Wayne Senville completed an extraordinary, six-week long, 3073 mile cross-country trip on U. S. Route 50.

During the trip, Wayne met with more than a hundred planners, planning commissioners, local officials, and citizens in dozens of cities and towns from Maryland to California.

In "Crossing America" Wayne reports on what he learned during his travels, including remarkable efforts to get behind the curtain of look-alike strip development to find local character and identity. From Emporia, Kansas, is the story of the redevelopment of their historic downtown theater. From Gunnison, Colorado, the struggle to integrate a major new development into their small Rocky Mountain city. And, along with a related article from PCJ columnist Hannah Twaddell, the story of three communities looking at highway bypass options.

Wayne's trip also included fascinating detours, such as:
- a visit with Dave Yearout, the planning consultant working to rebuild tornado-devastated Greensburg, Kansas;
- the opportunity in a Washington, D. C. neighborhood to learn about the "Village" movement - efforts in their community to help aging residents stay in their existing homes; and
- a chance to hear about the work of the First Suburbs Coalition in the greater Cincinnati area.

These stories and many more are part of this issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal.

Also included are articles from regular contributors Ric Stephens and Elaine Cogan on important considerations for your planning commission meetings.