PL599 : The Class : Creating Character : Creating Character

Both rural and urban areas can help to control their own destinies (within the parameters of the law). By visioning and involving the public, communities are setting courses for themselves. This is very important because what is right for one community may not be for the next. By setting a course of action, a community is refusing just to let things evolve as they will. Communities should know what the citizens want and need. With this information, planning can take place to put the priorities in place. Communities can choose heavy economic development, aesthetics, recreation, housing and more to concentrate on.

Communities set up paths for themselves because of needs and desires. Sometimes there are a lot of negatives about a place. If the economy is undiversified, the town can be disastrously vulnerable to even a small economic downturn or change in technology. Think about the primary resource towns in the West or the meat packing plants of the Midwest. Characteristics like strip commercial or highway commercial may be economically viable, but most people don't want to be known as that alone. I actually have survey answers that state things like "don't let us become like Frontier Village" or "Prescott Valley is an ugly town!" It doesn't matter that the area has much more to offer. To these people the areas have a perceived character, and perceptions are difficult to change. You've seen this in booster ads. Places advertise the positives about themselves. The reasons people move into or stay in an area also provides some answers about what is appealing and positive. Here's a good example of a positive spin. Money magazine (2002) stated that San Francisco is the best place to live in the US. I admit, it has a lot to offer, but for those of us on budgets, IT'S THE 2ND MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE IN THE US. .

When setting a path for a community, needs must be understood along with the public's wants. This is a coupling of studies such as economics, infrastructure priorities, and demographics with public opinion (Check out community needs surveys). Why waste time and effort making the town over into an industrial haven if the residents don't want it? On the other hand, if there is a need and desire to draw positives from an identity, that becomes an important priority.

Maintaining character must be done carefully. To pretend that a city of 50,000 is still a small town is having your head in the sand. Reality is necessary as is knowing what the most important traits of the community are. These you try to save. How can this be done? Use public participation to find out what's important enough to save and maintain. Plan realistically and don't be afraid of creativity. The status quo doesn't remain the status quo over time. Be prepared to stand up for priorities when changes start happening. Public participation can be a great planning ally. Use it to inform, educate, excite, and organize the public. Vest the public in the process. It can be as simple as what my community does. I live in a horse area of 96 lots where probably 25% have horses, burros, goats, llamas, etc... We pay a fee for the horse area every year as part of our homeowner responsibilities. When new people move in they are welcomed and "indoctrinated" with the area's character and horse culture both formally (the homeowner's association and potlucks) and informally (neighbors who ask if you have horses). This is very important in keeping a fluid area's character intact. Flagstaff and other communities use both simple and complex/expensive methods for involving the public. Outside consultants may be brought in to lead the process. Take a look around and see what methods are being used in your communities to inform and involve the public in community processes.

Topics

This module is divided into 2 topics. To complete this Module successfully, please complete the topics in the order shown below:

1. Public Participation
2. Using Focal Points

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