Now in our 18th year, the Planning Commissioners Journal provides concise information designed to make planning commissioners more comfortable - and effective - in their role. Available now, the PCJ's current issue, "Zoning for Religious Institutions," provides a planning law primer on several key concepts, and also covers a wide range of topics giving citizen planners the background and perspective they need on planning issues they face.

Included in the Fall 2009 issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal:

Zoning for Religious institutions. The impact of zoning regulations on religious institutions is a complex and evolving area of law. Planner and lawyer Eric Damian Kelly provides a primer on the key issues citizen and professional planners should be familiar with.

Planning for Public Transportation in Rural Communities. Hannah Twaddell argues that there's a strong need for public transportation in rural communities - with benefits both for individuals and local economies.

Circle the USA. PCJ Editor Wayne Senville reports on local planning and land use issues. Three reports from the second leg of his travels:
-- are Cleveland, Ohio, planners' new strategies for the reuse of land realistic?
-- how a Detroit, Michigan, suburb is seeking to reshape its future.
-- why regional planners in northwest Indiana are focusing on 46 miles of lakeshore.
You can follow his travels on: www.CircleTheUSA.com.

Rounding out our issue:
-- Ric Stephens asks "Where's the Art in Planning?"
-- Elaine Cogan offers ideas on how to take sustainability into account.
-- Greg Dale considers the ethical implications of regional impacts.
-- Jim Segedy and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy provide support to "Stand By Your Plan."
-- The Editors of Planetizen highlight recent op-eds of special interest to citizen planners.

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For details on our Fall issue and subscription information: http://www.plannersweb.com/ Our PlannersWeb site features a wide spectrum of informative -- and sometimes offbeat -- news and notes, as well as an outstanding archive of conversations, projects, and ideas. Take a look a where we've been and where we are going. And check us out at Planning Commissioners Journal on http://www.facebook.com/- we'll be happy to hear from you.

For additional information, please contact
Wayne Senville
Editor, Planning Commissioners Journal
P.O. Box 4295
Burlington, VT 05406
www.plannersweb.com