PL599 : The Class : Planning Basics : Planning Process : Planning Process

Planning Process and Documents

Please note!! Opinion paper 2 is due shortly. You are not expected to have all the readings done in order to write your paragraph(s), just the zoning portion. Remember to post your responses at the VCC.

This section is one of the most important to understand. The concepts and processes contained in these readings are really foundation for everyday planning. Theory eventually impacts the common man as it downfilters and changes policies- but the items here are what the public sees on a daily basis.There are two foci here. Make sure you scroll down on this page to review the complete section.

1.The first focus is on zoning. Zoning is a police power and the ordinance foundation for public planning. Zoning codes provide guidance for development, protect properties and areas, and are essential in creating particular city types or neighborhoods. Certain uses can be zoned out of areas, minimum lot sizes can be mandated, and night skies can be maintained through ordinances. Understanding the ordinances in your area is extremely important. There are parameters to what can be done with land. Unfortunately, both individuals and public officials in many instances are uneducated about ordinances. I have seen cases where public or quasi public officials have actually told new businesses they could go ahead and do something when it was actually against the ordinance. This leads to confusion by the business owners and breaks down the trust between the planning department, the public and other public officials. Many times it is the planners who take the heat and are labeled as "too tough," when in fact they were put in that position by others who did not know the codes they live under. The readings include the history of zoning, court cases, and uses (For direct readings links, go to the textbook reading link at the bottom of the page. It provides all the readings).

Readings:

Planning in the USA (ch.4,5 and 6) For those of you who are experienced, these can be briefly skimmed for review.

Design Professionals and the Built Environment (ch 29)

http://www.pvaz.net/pvmc/Prescott_Valley_Municipal_Code/index.html This is Prescott Valley's town code. Chapter 13 is zoning. Look over to see format.
http://www.planning.org is the web site for the American Planning Association. Take a look and see what the hot topics are at the national level

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Things to think about…

Pay attention to the "exceptions," such as variances, non-conforming uses and the particulars such as downzoning and clustering.

What is your opinion on zoning in general and specifically regarding home businesses or other uses that people have questioned in regard to NIMBY (not in my back yard)?

Does zoning guarantee a livable community? What happens without zoning regulation?

Additional Reading:

Hopefully you will become familiar with your local zoning ordinance. Try the county, or your incorporated town/city.

2. Processes and Documents

Planning is actually the result of many different specific processes such as rezoning, variances, new permits, comprehensive plan writing, visioning….. This section will focus on some of the basics. The processes although generalized will give the reader the gist of what goes on and review over some of the actors involved. Examples of comprehensive plans and community plans are provided. Please be aware that the number of elements in future comprehensive plans has changed through the Growing Smarter (plus) legislation. Jurisdictions statewide are addressing this issue currently and are rewriting plans/working on voter approval..

The board of supervisors (county) or city council (incorporated) is the local legislative body that passes ordinances, ultimately decides on subdivision regulations, budgets, and decides the direction of the city. These are elected officials who answer to constituents. In planning matters, members are advised by both staff and the planning and zoning commission.

The planning (and zoning) commission is appointed by the city council or board of supervisors (the legislative bodies). The commission holds public hearings on rezoning requests, zoning ordinance changes, the comprehensive plan, and may review subdivision plats and site plans. At these meetings, applicants, interested parties, and the public planners (staff) speak regarding the topics. Staff provides one point of view/interpretation while the applicant may have a differing one. The commission then makes its recommendation decision. Its main responsibility is to advise the legislative body, but it also can alleviate some of the workload of that body (do a lot of the background work for plans and directions for ordinance changes). Remember, they give a recommendation (which may or may not correspond with the staff's view). The legislative body can refuse the advice.

The board of adjustments is a quasi-judicial panel appointed by the legislative body. The board's main purpose is to decide on variances (note that these are not USE variances) based on land-imposed hardships. It must interpret the zoning code as it is written. Zoning staff, applicants, and the interested public address concerns in the appeal process.
Further appeals must be made by the applicant in the judicial arena.

Readings:

Board of Adjustment (skim especially if you are a practitioner)
Planning Commission Basics (skim especially if you are a practitioner)

Comprehensive Planning for the 21st Century (ch. 1)
Guidelines for Preparing Urban Plans (ch. 2,3) (Creating Plans Process)
http://www.gjcity.org/CityDeptWebPages/CommunityDevelopment/CommunityPlanning/Growth%20Plan%20Doc.htm Grand Junctioon. See the planning process area.

http://www.pvaz.net/Development/generalplan.htm Prescott Valley General Plan 2020. Review sections and overview.
Dewey-Humboldt Community Plan (pp. table of contents, 1-8, 53-55, 75)

Things to think about…

Why does a community want a comprehensive plan? A community/district plan?

What differences in comprehensive and community plans can you see by comparing the table of contents?

Is it better to have elected officials or appointed officials deciding land use matters? Would you change the current set up?

What are the basic elements of the planning process?

Additional Reading:

Look through your community's comprehensive plan.

To complete this Topic successfully, please complete the following activities in the order shown below:

TEXTBOOK READING : Reading

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT: Module 1 write up DUE: Beginning of Module 2, week 6. See syllabus

Go on to Communities and Growth
or
Go back to Planning Basics

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