Local governments make some decisions to change the use of land. Most decisions to change the land, however, start with private developers. This chapter discusses the role of land developers and builders in the implementation of plans.
This chapter introduces the idea of dividing the community into zoning districts, with the rules for the use and development of land varying by district.
The chapter describes the subdivision review process and introduces methods of paying for the public facilities that serve new developments – including the sometimes controversial topic of exactions. The chapter also discusses how local governments regulate the quality of development of individual sites.
This chapter discusses techniques of growth management used by local governments to influence the timing of growth at particular locations, including: adequate public facilities (APF) controls, phased growth programs, rate-of-growth programs and urban growth boundaries and urban service area boundaries.
This chapter introduces capital budgets and Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs), fiscal tools used to guide local investments in expanded schools, roads, water and wastewater systems, parks and other public infrastructure.
This chapter discusses the relative lack of regional planning in the United States but gives a handful examples of significant success stories.
Open space helps to shape a community and helps a community to breathe. This chapter deals with the broad range of issues involved in planning for current and future open space in and around a community.