Facilitating discussion at planning commission workshops

[Suburb Repairman]

We are having a retreat for our Planning and Zoning Commission members in a couple of weeks. We do this every year and have the Commission at a prior meeting select topics they would like to learn more about and possibly pursue. I would really like to do something besides the dull "split them into two discussion groups and give them a tear-pad & easel markers".

I would love some thoughts on methods you've tried or would like to try that really got your group of Commissioners actively involved in discussion and decision making.

If it helps, below are our topics for this year:

The big picture and how it may be changing:

• Environmental and transportation issues impacting long-term growth
• 50,000 people: a landmark population point and what it means for planning (ETJ expansion, mass transit funding sources)
• Methods & techniques for conducting the 10-year evaluation of the Comp. Plan

Framing opportunities to encourage vertical & horizontal mixed use projects

• What cities are getting that kind of development
• What regulatory tools do they use
• What incentives do they offer
• What market conditions are in place

Creating development of lasting value

• Redevelopment and land use compatibility
• Strengthening design and articulation requirements
• Finding our sense of place

[The One]

I would scan through the last five years of Planning and Environmental Law Journal, pick out interesting rulings in your state and pick the top 3 or so that might keep people awake

Think about doing some kind of exercise on design review....if you have such a code....maybe a slide show of design ideas to see what they like or want in the community....

[TOFB]

A good list. Most important is finding a time and place where the group will be at its most dynamic. Tacking on the discussion at the end of a regular meeting rarely works (for me) Actually, I find the Saturday Morning Forum effective. . .

[luckless pedestrian]

OMG I have a headache from that list -

shorten it a little, you can't solve everything in a session - pick a few things that ring out the most to you and keep a few in your back pocket to throw out there if they do work on things fast

The big picture and how it may be changing:

keep things lively - throw a few "bomb' comments to spark discussion

Framing opportunities to encourage vertical & horizontal mixed use projects:

if you are making comparisons to other places, get those other places to come

Creating development of lasting value:

a fun design charrette with a bunch of design profesisonals would be good - use real land (ask first)

[Suburb Repairman]

OMG I have a headache from that list -

shorten it a little, you can't solve everything in a session - pick a few things that ring out the most to you and keep a few in your back pocket to throw out there if they do work on things fast

The big picture and how it may be changing:

keep things lively - throw a few "bomb' comments to spark discussion

Framing opportunities to encourage vertical & horizontal mixed use projects:

if you are making comparisons to other places, get those other places to come

Creating development of lasting value:

a fun design charrette with a bunch of design profesisonals would be good - use real land (ask first)

To clarify: I have no choice on adding/deleting topics--these were selected by the Commissioners as things they want to hear more about on the retreat. These are not necessarily comprehensive discussions--more of just trying to figure out if it is something they feel they should pursue further. The idea is similar to taking a cruise: you get short tastes of some of these different topics, which then help you decide which ones you want to go back and visit a little longer.

We are getting a speaker for the mixed use topic that has been involved in several projects in the state.

We are also doing this on a Saturday at the local university's camp & conference center outside of town (its a really nice casual setting). We want to be as informal as we can so everyone is comfortable expressing themselves.

I'm liking the design review component. We were discussing in a staff meeting today coming up with some different locations in the city and asking the Commission members what makes them special or unique, and if they are not special or unique what could be done to make them so.

[pcjournal]

I'm liking the design review component. We were discussing in a staff meeting today coming up with some different locations in the city and asking the Commission members what makes them special or unique, and if they are not special or unique what could be done to make them so.

Have you considered going back to projects your Commission has approved in recent years and then have them evaluate and discuss how they turned out -- whether they ended up looking or functioning as they expected. Perhaps that might shed light on what's working and what's not in terms of your review or ordinance. Sort of like on Car Talk when they revisit old callers & see how effective their advice was!

This probably won't fit the format & topics you already have set up, but might work for a future "mobile" workshop for your Commission.