COMMUNITY Planning ? What does it mean ?

What is considered to be good community planning ?

What does it look like ?

Who is knowledgeable enough to describe it ?

In answer to these questions I could've written about what I think - but since I'm not an authority instead will share with you information that I've found.

Searching the Internet revealed books written by various authorities on this subject. One such book, Land Use Strategies for More Livable Places, reports on critical aspects to consider when developing a plan for creating a better community.

This report, prepared by The Local Government Commission of Sacramento, California, acknowledges the obvious problems of urban sprawl along with the solutions and how to implement them.

The problems ? Severe side effects from unbridled growth includes air pollution, neighborhoods with no sense of community and separation of children from parents because of endless hours of commutes among other issues.

The solutions ? Moving beyond what is referred to as "piecemeal planning" and instead developing "compact" (high density) - mixed use/pedestrian-oriented communities.

In this 1992 publication, Californians recognized the urgent need to identify a different strategy for accommodating inevitable growth that would require revising planning and zoning ordinances.

They also noted the importance of involving the community's citizens in the planning process and that local leaders must take charge.

But what does this report state are some of the core principles needed in order to create more livable and better planned communities ?

* All planning should contain housing, shops, work places, schools, parks and civic facilities.

* Community size should be designed so that everything is within walking distance of each other.

* Businesses within the community should provide a range of job types for the community's residents

* Location and Character of the community should be consistent with a larger transit network.

* The community should contain an ample supply of specialized open space whose frequent use is encouraged through placement and design.

* The design should help conserve resources and minimize waste.

In summary, the core basics for creating good community planning will include developing a sense of community, planning high density mixed-use development along with securing citizen involvement.

Now that we have a better idea of what our city planning needs to include, can we, Maitland city officials and residents alike, learn from the abundant growth issues that have long challenged California ?

Yes, we absolutely can.

The bigger question now seems to be...will we ?

Ann Lanier
245 W. George Ave.

“Thinking well is wise; planning well, wiser; doing well wisest and best of all.”
~ Proverb