Planning is the work of aligning community resources and actions to achieve desired ends. Planning activities require technical knowledge of subjects ranging from land use and transportation to housing and economics. Communication and expertise in working with the public is also essential because plans, policies, and regulations should reflect a community’s vision and goals. These goals must be clearly articulated, must accurately reflect the values and objectives of community members, and must have a demonstrated link to any resulting policies and regulations; otherwise, there is a risk that the public will not understand, implement, or abide by them. Plans are written to guide community decision making. These documents consider prior and existing conditions of a community and/or its public resources–housing, parks, transportation infrastructure–as well as demographic and economic trends, community goals and objectives, and desired future conditions.

Planning in GNAR Communities

For communities in Gateway and Natural Amenity Regions (GNARs), planning often involves some consideration of how to maintain community character and quality of life in the face of growth and development pressures. This overarching goal may touch on a variety of issues common among GNARs, such as housing affordability, transportation, economic diversity, and environmental quality. However, each GNAR community will have a different answer to the question of what is unique and valuable about it’s character and way of life.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

Those engaged in GNAR community planning often struggle to fund projects and staff time, as small populations provide limited revenue for municipal and county budgets. Public support for planning may be difficult to muster, too. Many GNAR residents grew up with a certain rural way of life that is unfettered by regulation. On the other hand, many newer residents in GNAR communities want to shut the door behind them, and prevent any regulation or development which may encourage others to move in. Even when the funding is available and the public is supportive, a plan may not be realized due to unforeseen events. GNAR community economies are often dominated by one industry–sometimes even a single firm, such as a ski resort–whose trajectory and priorities may heavily influence broader community welfare.

In all instances, collaborative approaches to planning are a practical, effective means of considering and balancing diverse interests and maximizing resources. When many stakeholders in a GNAR community collaborate on a project, it is likely that each party involved will bring something valuable to the table These pooled contributions, combined with the greater impact factor, make these projects more attractive to funders. Collaborative approaches to planning can also be instrumental in helping members of the public agree on how to balance their individual rights with the needs of the community as a whole. Moreover, collaborative planning can help a community prepare for challenges and opportunities that may appear in the future.

Community Planning Toolkit Pages