Planning Boards Survive a Decade of Change
by Elaine Cogan
PCJ columnist Elaine Cogan reflects on ways in which planning has changed over the past ten years.
From PCJ #44, Fall 2001
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... Pluralism. There are few communities that are not being affected by newcomers, with their variety of needs, perceptions, and demands. In some cases, it is the growing non-English speaking population. In others, it is people "escaping" from the city to the country or going the other direction. We have many more lifestyle choices now, and community leaders are expected to respect them. Issues that were never even thought of ten years ago are contentious today. For example, one that has arisen in some urban areas is the controversy over how much parkland to dedicate to allowing dogs to run at large.
Planning is an aspect of civic life that can respond positively to changing conditions, though it may require rethinking about such sacrosanct rules as those governing lot sizes and mixed uses in residential areas. Communities that accept these new challenges may experience some rocky times but generally, they will find themselves enriched. ...
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