About the Planning Commissioners Journal

1. What We Cover: Now in its 17th year, the Planning Commissioners Journal is the nation's principal publication designed for citizen planners, including (but certainly not limited to) members of local planning commissions and zoning boards. Over 7,500 citizen planners in all 50 states and across Canada receive the PCJ. We make every effort to ensure that what we run is clear & understandable to non-professionals -- and put considerable effort into ensuring that each quarterly issue of the PCJ is attractively designed and easy-to-read. The PCJ covers a wide range of planning issues, focusing on how citizen planners can work most effectively. You'll find topics such as: how to deal with the media; the basics of putting together a comprehensive plan; conflicts of interest & ex-parte communications; running an effective meeting; developing good staff-commissioner relations -- and many, many more. Most issues of the Planning Comm'rs Journal include two or three feature articles, along with shorter articles by three or four of our regular columnists: Talented transportation planner Hannah Twaddell provides PCJ readers with insights into transportation-related issues many communities face. Take a look at what Hannah has covered in past columns. Public participation & communications consultant Elaine Cogan has written for the Planning Comm'rs Journal since our very first issue in 1991. Her easy-to-read columns offer a wealth of useful ideas for planning commissioners. The newly married planning team of Jim Segedy and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy also join forces with their new column focusing on planning basics, including how to put together an effective comprehensive plan. Long-time planning consultant (and planning commissioner) Ric Stephens covers a wide range of topics on the dynamics of planning and planning commissions. 2. A Few Words from the Editor of the PCJ: Our columns and articles are tailored to meet the needs we've heard many citizen planners express: plain English explanations of planning and land use issues; insightful ideas on how planning boards can work better; and understandable explanations of basic planning law principles. I currently serve as a member of the Burlington, Vermont, Planning Commission (and also served from 1990 through 1999, including three years as Chair). I've experienced first hand many of the situations planning commissioners face. We're committed to publishing concise articles, written and edited so that you don't need an advanced degree to understand them. Last Summer I spent over six weeks traveling across the U.S. meeting with over a hundred planners & planning commissioners -- many subscribers to the Planning Commissioners Journal -- to better understand the planning issues communities -- large and small, urban and rural -- face. Our staff is also outstanding, led by our general manager Betsey Krumholz -- who has also served for six years as a planning commissioner. Our staff's top priority is being of assistance to our subscribers. Wayne M. Senville, Publisher & Editor, Planning Commissioners Journal 3. Comments From Some of Our Subscribers: "We have subscribed to the PCJ since its inception in 1991. It has filled a void and been a great help to the Commission, not only because of the timely and well-written articles, but also because it has helped the Commissioners understand their role and that they are not alone in the tough issues they face." -- Ed Evans, Planning Director, City of Aiken, South Carolina "The Planning Commissioners Journal is the most valuable publication I have seen for the citizen commissioner. It is an excellent training and educational tool. ... As chairman of my planning commission, I depend on it and highly recommend it to all planning commissioners, zoning boards, and governing officials." -- William E. Moore, Jr., Director, Virginia Citizens Planning Association "A wonderfully effective on-going training tool for rookie commissioners, as well as experienced hands. And it's very reasonably priced!" -- Greg Hoch, Planning & Community Development Director, Durango, Colorado "The Planning Commissioners Journal is without question the best source of down-to-earth, practical information I have ever seen for lay Commissioners. ... This publication should be required reading for all planning and/or zoning commissioners." -- Marcia Banach, Director of Planning, Town of South Windsor, Connecticut "The Planning Commissioner Journal is without a doubt THE 'must have' publication for planning commissioners and elected officials. The 'conversational' style of the Journal's nationally-recognized columnists makes learning fun as well as highly informative." -- Connie Cooper, FAICP, planning consultant and past national president of the American Planning Association "The PCJ is highly informative, readable, and much better adapted to small town and rural planning issues than other resources we have seen. I recommend it to anyone involved in planning." -- Monty Wedel, Planning Director, Riley County, Kansas 4. Subscription Rates & Ordering Information: Our basic rate is $67 for a one-year subscription (or $107.00 for a two-year order). Each quarterly issue contains 20 pages packed with information. If you're subscribing for a small town or city (under 25,000 in population); or for a county or region with a population under 75,000, we provide a discount rate of $55 ($88 for a two-year order). A special feature of our pricing is that additional subscriptions -- if mailed to the same address -- are available for only $12 each. This pricing is designed to allow planning commissions to afford to order individual subscriptions for all of their members. As a subscriber, you'll also receive 25% off all our past articles (available to immediately download), as well as other publications, such as: our Reprint Sets; our Welcome to the Commission Guide for New Members (ideal for newly appointed commissioners); and Elaine Cogan's entertaining & informative Now that You're on Board: How to Survive ... and Thrive ... as a Planning Commissioner. If you'd like to try out the PCJ, you can: Order a trial subscription on-line now (credit card payments only) Download our order form (pdf file) Call us at: (888) 475-3328 (toll free in U.S.) or (802) 864-9083 E-Mail us at: info@plannersweb.com, or Write to: Planning Commissioners Journal, P.O. Box 4295, Burlington, VT 05406