PCJ #71, Summer 2008

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Happy Trails: Greenways for Everyone by Hannah Twaddell Across the country, citizens are increasingly calling for improved and expanded multi-use trails, both for recreational and commuting purposes. Transportation planner Hannah Twaddell outlines a "four-step path" to developing a successful greenway trail.
	Developing at the Edge by Tom Daniels A continuing challenge facing many local planning commissions is how to best plan for new development at the edge of existing settled areas. This can be particularly acute in communities facing growth pressure. A look at some tools and strategies for guiding development at the edge.
An Introduction to Charrettes by Bill Lennertz, Aarin Lutzenhiser, & Tamara Failor Everyone involved in a community planning effort benefits from a process that is accelerated, well-planned, and productive. The goal of a charrette is to bring decision makers and community members together in one place to create a plan that represents a detailed, feasible agreement -- a consensus which can otherwise take months to achieve.
	This Plan's For You by Jim Segedy and Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy In developing a comprehensive plan, one of the most important questions to ask is: who are we? This calls not just for demographic analysis, but an understanding of how your community defines its identity.
Visioning Can Be Planning Writ Large by Elaine Cogan Engaging in a visioning process for your city or town can be an exciting, but challenging, undertaking. A look at the key elements in this process.
	Planetizen Update The Editors of Planetizen highlight five new books of special interest to citizen planners.
Planning Commission Physics by Ric Stephens Does the "physics" of your planning commission reflect a mechanical or a systems model? How understanding of these models (with reflections from a butterfly) can help shape decision-making.

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Coming in our Fall issue due out October 23rd: Geographic Information Systems & Planning | Pattern Books: A Planning Tool | A Problem for Planning Commissioners: Information Overload | Comprehensive Plans Should Answer the Question: Where Do We Want to Go? | 10 Things Planning Commissioners Should Avoid | order a trial subscription In Future issues: Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Management | How Phone Tress Can Increase Public Participation | An Introduction to Transit-Oriented Development | Strategies for Avoiding Contentious Public Hearings | Good vs. Bad Density | Using Zoning Incentives | and much more
Recent Back Issues:	Special Focus Issues:
Summer 2008: Greenways | Developing at the Edge | An Introduction to Charrettes | and more	Winter 2006: Bright Ideas: 21 creative planning-related ideas & programs you should know about
Spring 2008: Car Sharing | Revisiting Ex Parte Contacts | Chairing the Commission | and more	Fall 2005: This Land Is Your Land: on "takings" and property rights, and how planners can respond
Winter 2008: Downtown Futures: continuing a series of reports from planners across the U.S., focusing on downtown issues	Fall 2004: Back to School for Planners: on the impacts of school location, and the relationship between planning and school boards
Fall 2007: Crossing America: a series of reports from planners across the U.S. | Bypass Highways | and more	Spring 2004: Sphere of Influence: water and its impacts
Summer 2007: Planning for Better Roadscapes | Fitting Roadways to Community Needs | and more	Fall 2003: Planning for Historic Preservation: an introduction to historic preservation planning
Spring 2007: "Visitability" & Inclusive Housing | Downtown Economic Development | Engaging the Public | Geometry of Zoning | and more	Winter 2002: Opening the Door: planning for affordable housing
Winter 2007: Introduction to the Use of Pro Formas | Planning for Walkability | Downtown Grocery Stores | and more	Spring 2000: The Promise of America: an historical look at 10 successes & 10 failures that having affected America's cities