--- Street lighting profoundly affects how or towns and cities look. Robert Prouse provides an introduction to the basics of lighting -- and lighting jargon -- and explains why it is important for planning commissioners and other citizens to not just leave it to the engineers.
--- Atmospheric light pollution obscures much of the night sky. David Crawford, an astronomer and executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association, explains how this has happened -- and suggests ways of dealing with the problem.
--- Thoughts on what the loss of the night sky to light pollution means.
Good Communications is the Key to Good Customer Service
by Ray Quay
--- In this follow-up to his first article, Ray Quay shows how some planning programs have found that improving communications can lead to more effective "customer service."
The Effective Planning Commissioner
Using Visual Aids
--- Visual aids can be a key part of a presentation. Yet we often fail to carefully plan for their use. Elaine Cogan provides some tips -- and warns of some pitfalls.
Ethics & The Planning Commission
Are Your Procedures Fair?
--- Greg Dale explores why fairness may require more than the legal minimum.
--- Courts are increasingly scrutinizing written findings in local land use decisions. Attorneys Gary Kovacic and Mary McMaster provide guidelines for planning commissions and boards when drafting land use findings.
Insights:
Walking Into Trouble -- Planning & Physical Un-Fitness
by John R. Stilgoe
--- Historian John Stilgoe reflects on why the growing "unfitness" of Americans is something planning board members should be concerned about.
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