Professional planners can be a great resource for staffing local planning and zoning commissions (especially in smaller communities). That is, of course, as long as they can manage to wear both hats without conflict.
"It’s not often planning commissions get volunteers to offer the level of expertise on land use matters like the kind professional planners bring," says Mark Apel, who offers 7 tips for professional planners to observe when serving on a local planning and zoning commission. Why serve? Not only are you providing a great contribution to your community, but the experience lets planners "see things from the other side of the table, so to speak. This is true in terms of better understanding your community’s staff limitations as well as having a more personal stake in the decisions you make for your community."
In his op-ed, Apel details the following pointers for professional planners who wear both hats:
- Don’t make assumptions about the planning staff
- Do give specific examples
- Do refer to the community plan
- Don’t assume that you have all the answers
- Don’t jump on the soapbox
- Don’t communicate when not on the public record
- Do look for training opportunities
FULL STORY: Wearing two hats? Seven tips for planners when serving on the planning and zoning commission
AICP Certification Maintenance Program to Include Equity Requirement
Two new mandatory topic areas will be required of AICP members to maintain professional certification.
Highway Expansion Plans Benefitted Governor's Real Estate Business, According to Report
Governor Larry Hogan is accused of personally benefiting from the state of Maryland's ongoing highway expansion program.
Boston's Zoning Board Called Out for Conflicts of Interest
The Boston Globe reports on reasons to suspect more conflicts of interest than there appears on the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
San Francisco Slow Streets Bucks Citywide Trend, Reducing Injuries by 61 Percent
Low-cost interventions aimed at slowing traffic are making a major impact on road safety.
How Single-Family Conversions Benefit Both Homeowners and Cities
Converting single-family homes to triplexes can ease the housing crisis and offer affordable, flexible options for more households. Why is it largely illegal?
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research