Tools for a Successful Planning Program

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Tools for a Successful Planning Program

• Growth Management SeminarMay 13, 2005

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Tools

• A Plan
• People
• Implementation

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Why Plan?

• Planning protects what is good about a community,
  addresses and changes what is bad, and
  identifies the possibilities.
• Planning supports community values.
• Planning is good government
• Planning is good business
• Planning makes good common sense

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Step 1 Vision

• What do we collectively value?
• What do we want our community to look like?
• What does quality of life mean to us?
• What is unique about our community?
• What does quality, smart, managed,
  sustainable growth look like?

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Step 2 Datainventory ?assessment

• Economic
• Demographic
• Housing
• Land use
• Natural resources
• Cultural resources
• Community facilities
• Costs of public services

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Step 3 Reality Check

• Vision data assessment reality check
• What are the issues?
• What are the impacts?
• What to keep?
• What to improve?
• What to encourage, discourage?

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Step 4 Comprehensive Plan
Goal A statement of the values and desires of
the citizens of an area. A goal provides the
basis for objectives and policies. Objective A
specific and achievable attainment that is met in
partial fulfillment of longer-term goals. Policy
Indicates specific action that will be taken to
achieve community goals and objectives.
Performance Targets Measures of performance or
numerical requirements to meet the goals and
objectives.

• Define goals and objectives
• Identify strategies
• and action steps
• Set Priorities
• How success will be measured

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Idaho State Law Requirements

• Property rights
• Population
• Schools facilities and transportation
• Land Use
• Natural resources
• Hazardous areas

• Public services, facilities, utilities
• Transportation
• Recreation
• Special Areas
• Housing
• Community design
• Implementation

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Tool Number Two People

• The Community
• The Planning and Zoning Commission
• Elected Officials
• Technical Staff and expertise

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Characteristics of a Successful Commissioner

• Interest in planning
• Time
• Few conflicts
• Knowledgeable
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely
• Ability to Listen
• Objectivity

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Responsibility to Plan

• Prepare and implement Comprehensive Plan.
• Review and recommend changes to the zoning,
  subdivision and other land use codes.
• Review and act on subdivisions, conditional
  (special) use permits, variances, other
  development permits.
• Carry out responsibilities in compliance with
  law, specifically notice and hearing provisions.
• Provide the means for hearing from the public.

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Elected Officials

• Eye on the vision
• Support and provide leadership , but get out of
  the way (hands on, not hands in)
• Commit resources
• Communication and information
• Be inclusive

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Ten Commandments of Good Quasi-judicial
Decision-making

• Follow the Code
• Avoid politics
• Be politically correct and dignified
• Consider all the evidence
• Make a good record
• Make written findings and conclusions
• Support the decision with real evidence
• Impose only lawful conditions
• Do not invade the province of staff
• Think like a judge, act like a judge and
• decide like a judge.

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Staff

• Serve the community plan with the community not
  for them
• Staff provide technical assistance and expertise.
• Trust is critical.
• Provide consistency

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Tool 3 Implementation

• Public Investment and Infrastructure
• Land Use Regulations
• Design
• Natural Resource Protection
• Private Investment
• Other

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Public Investment and Infrastructure

• Capital improvement Plan (CIP)
• Fee and easement purchase
• Impact Fees
• Adequate Public Facilities Requirements

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Land Use Regulations

• Zoning
• overlay districts
• Planned unit development (PUD)
• cluster zoning
• Subdivision
• Growth boundaries
• area of city impact
• annexation policies
• Other
• landscaping
• dark sky
• development agreements

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Design

• Sign regulations
• Architectural review
• Site Plan review
• Historic Preservation

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Private Actions

• Dedications
• Easements
• Deed restrictions
• Land Trusts
• Transfer of development rights

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Natural Resource Protection

• open space
• agricultural land
• water resources
• view corridors
• hillside and slopes
• native vegetation
• storm water management
• solar access

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Other

• Economic development
• Housing programs
• Permit processing and fees

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Monitoring

• Town Hall meetings
• Community surveys
• Updating Plans
• Success Factors

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Discussion