Establish a cabinet-level planning office
Action
Ideally the state Office of State Planning will be a stand-alone, cabinet-level department responsible for state planning issues, as well as the review of and coordination with local plans.
An Office of State Planning may be structured a number of ways. A standalone office would assume broader growth-coordination duties, in addition to performing traditional planning functions. A state planning office paired with an Office of Smart Growth would be responsible for the "big picture" coordination of state agency actions toward a more sustainable pattern of development; under that arrangement, the Department of Planning carries out traditional planning functions and works with local governments.
In some states, planning is conducted by an arm of the Governor’s office; in others it is conducted by other state agencies. The lack of an independent agency gives planning less impact, stature, and influence. The most effective planning offices are directly answerable to the Governor. (see Policy #9, Create an office to coordinate growth issues, in the Comprehensive Approaches section).
Establishing a cabinet-level planning department demonstrates that good land use and infrastructure planning is a priority. Such a move also raises the profile of planning and growth coordination among other state agencies.
Process
The first step in creating a new department or office of planning is to inventory the information and functions related to planning that the State already has. For example, all states have a center for census information. Many have existing GIS capabilities, perhaps in the transportation department. And most states provide local governments with some sort of technical assistance or training, have historic preservation programs, and exercise long-range planning functions. Consolidating these and related functions into a single office can create the core of a new planning department.
The roles of planning departments vary from state to state, but include such tasks as technical and planning assistance to local governments, coastal protection, data repository, infrastructure investment oversight, coordination of federal funds, historic preservation, periodic reports on land-use trends, and setting goals and benchmarks. The planning agency should be given the authority to oversee implementation of the state's land-use program. It should also provide technical and financial assistance to support planning and development actions at the local level that achieve the state's development objectives.
In states where there is an Office of Smart Growth, the office typically reviews the state's overall land-use patterns. It conducts land-use modeling and analysis, produces maps that simulate the effects of development on the landscape and facilitates consideration of land use options. Smart growth offices also prod cabinet agencies into action and coordinate communications, marketing and messaging on land-use and growth issues. In states that do not have an Office of Smart Growth, such tasks normally are conducted by an Office of State Planning.
Legislative approval is required in most states before a Governor may create a new cabinet-level department. When the Governor believes reorganizing executive departments will produce effective results, legislatures tend to support the Governor's decision. However, if legislative approval is difficult to achieve, a cabinet-level planning department's goals may also be achieved by giving strong authority to a unit within the Governor's office or to a planning office at the top echelon of another agency.
Examples
- Maryland Department of Planning
Maryland's Department of Planning is an asset to state government, local governments, communities, businesses and organizations because of its ability to provide and analyze relevant land-use research, and to develop smart growth policy tools. For trend analysis, the Department utilizes such technology as computer mapping, satellite imagery, aerial photography and analysis of census, land-use and parcel data. It reviews and comments upon local comprehensive plans, develops technical "models and guidelines" booklets on land-use and planning topics, and provides a range of technical assistance to local governments. The Department also monitors and forecasts changes in development and land use throughout the state, and it produces information on demographic, socioeconomic, political, cultural, geographic and land-use trends. Divisions within the Department of Planning include the State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance, Planning Data Services, Local Planning Assistance, and the Office of Smart Growth.
— Maryland Department of Planning
