Planning Commission member training - Cyburbia Forums

Streck · 2010-01-01, 07:40 PM

Can anyone recommend a good pamphlet or forum topic on training a new Planning Commission member.

For example,
What is expected of him?
What kind of construction/planning background is expected of him?
What are his duties and responsibilities in reviewing an item?
What technical knowledge should he have?
Is he expected to be able to read construction drawings?
Is he expected to ratify or question the Planning Director?
Does he represent the city or is he expected to be impartial to city and applicant?
What is the chief complaint about Planning Commission members?
Do you have a Planning Commission "manual" to explain "the rules?"
What is the criteria you would use in recommending selection of a member?

JNA · 2010-01-01, 07:52 PM

Here is an Indiana Resource:

Quote:

Citizen Planner Training Manual
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Part 1: Plan Commission Basics
Part 2: BZA Basics
Part 3: Avoiding Pitfalls
Part 4: Communications
Part 5: Rules of Procedure
Part 6: Ethics
Part 7: Comprehensive Plans
Part 8: Zoning Ordinance
Part 9: Subdivision Control Ordinance
Part 10: Site Plan Review

http://www.indianaplanning.org/citizen.htm

CDT · 2010-01-04, 10:00 AM

APA puts out a booklet "Welcome to the Commission" which I give to my new members. It's prepared by the Planning Commissioners Journal. I also sign my members up for the Planning Commissioners Journal subscription where they get a monthly (I think it's monthly) periodical.

NHPlanner · 2010-01-04, 10:12 AM

NH Has a good handbook I give to my new members:

The Planning Board in New Hampshire - A Handbook for Local Officials

Streck · 2010-01-04, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the handbook and training manual info.

Do you have sit-down training sessions with new members, or are they expected to pick up the necessary skills and knowledge on their own?

ambmason · 2010-01-05, 10:48 AM

You seem to actually have two questions; one about how to choose a Planning Commission member and one about how to train them once you've got them.

In most jurisdictions around here the PC members are appointed, so the best we can do is to make our council members aware of helpful qualities when they are choosing. One thing that is important for training all members, new or old, is to regularly look at the outcomes of projects they reviewed, especially the controversial ones. Let them learn from their mistakes and successes. Incorporating this into regular in-house trianing will certainly get them talking and discussing things more than many of the duller training business.

2010-01-01, 07:40 PM	#1
Streck Cyburbian Registered: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast US Posts: 406	Planning Commission member training Can anyone recommend a good pamphlet or forum topic on training a new Planning Commission member. For example, What is expected of him? What kind of construction/planning background is expected of him? What are his duties and responsibilities in reviewing an item? What technical knowledge should he have? Is he expected to be able to read construction drawings? Is he expected to ratify or question the Planning Director? Does he represent the city or is he expected to be impartial to city and applicant? What is the chief complaint about Planning Commission members? Do you have a Planning Commission "manual" to explain "the rules?" What is the criteria you would use in recommending selection of a member?

2010-01-04, 10:12 AM	#4
NHPlanner Forums Administrator & Gallery Moderator Registered: Apr 1996 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 6,993	NH Has a good handbook I give to my new members: The Planning Board in New Hampshire - A Handbook for Local Officials __________________ "Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how." -- Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation Fund

2010-01-04, 10:00 AM	#3
CDT Cyburbian Registered: Mar 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 174	APA puts out a booklet "Welcome to the Commission" which I give to my new members. It's prepared by the Planning Commissioners Journal. I also sign my members up for the Planning Commissioners Journal subscription where they get a monthly (I think it's monthly) periodical.

2010-01-04, 07:41 PM	#5
Streck Cyburbian Registered: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast US Posts: 406	Thanks for the handbook and training manual info. Do you have sit-down training sessions with new members, or are they expected to pick up the necessary skills and knowledge on their own?

2010-01-05, 10:48 AM	#6
ambmason Cyburbian Registered: Feb 2002 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 41	You seem to actually have two questions; one about how to choose a Planning Commission member and one about how to train them once you've got them. In most jurisdictions around here the PC members are appointed, so the best we can do is to make our council members aware of helpful qualities when they are choosing. One thing that is important for training all members, new or old, is to regularly look at the outcomes of projects they reviewed, especially the controversial ones. Let them learn from their mistakes and successes. Incorporating this into regular in-house trianing will certainly get them talking and discussing things more than many of the duller training business.

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