Provide training for planning commissioners and local elected officials
Action
States should establish training programs for local planning commissioners and elected officials. In most communities, the responsibility for most land use and development decisions rests with planning commissioners and city and county boards, who are responsible for approving local plans, rezoning and variance requests, and development proposals. Local decision-makers are often unfamiliar with the basics of the local planning and development process, so they do not have a complete understanding of the impact of their decisions or the options available to them. Education on the basics of planning and smart growth principles can help members of these boards make better decisions.
Process
There are many existing providers of planning and smart growth training and education. For example, many local government associations, state chapters of the American Planning Association, and universities provide low-cost, convenient training. Additionally many conferences, such as the American Planning Association's national conference and the annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, provide separate conference tracks or days for local decision makers. The state planning department or comparable agency can connect local decision makers to these opportunities by simply including a list of available training opportunities on a state website. In addition, the State can provide scholarships to local officials to attend training or conferences.
The state planning department or comparable agency could also partner with educational institutions, such as cooperative extension services or the state’s American Planning Association chapter to develop training opportunities or invest in existing training programs. Partnership may involve developing or expanding curricula, training faculty or instructors, or providing funds to lower the cost of training for participants. Cooperative arrangements for joint training can also be reached with private-sector professional organizations, such as the National Association of Realtors®, whose members may be willing to pay fees to obtain continuing education credits by attending the same courses created for local elected and appointed officials.
Several states have amended their planning enabling legislation to require planning commissioners to receive regular training on planning and development issues. Legislation defines how much training is required per year, the areas in which this training is required, the consequences of not meeting requirements, and how the costs of training will be covered.
Examples
- Michigan’s Citizen Planner Program
The Michigan Citizen Planner program is a voluntary program for planning officials, developers, and community leaders. Participants receive about 18 hours of classroom training and complete 30 hours of community service in land use planning. Training sessions are held throughout the state and are bundled together so participants can complete the classroom portion of the training within eight weeks. Training can also be obtained on-line. The cost of the training is $385.
— Michigan Citizen Planner Program - Kentucky’s Continuing Education Program
In 2001, Kentucky became the first state to pass legislation requiring planning commissioners, board of adjustment members, and professional planning staff to receive orientation and continuing education training. According to House Bill 55, all planning commissioners and board of adjustment members are required to receive at least eight hours of continuing education within two consecutive calendar years. All professional planning staff is required to receive 16 hours of education within two consecutive years. The program allows each local planning commission to determine how the training will take place and requires them to cover the cost of training. Commissioners and staff who do not meet the training requirements become ineligible to remain in their positions. Support for this bill was broad: Proponents included the Homebuilder Association of Kentucky, Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Association of Counties, and the Kentucky Farm Bureau.
— Kentucky’s Continuing Education Program, House Bill 55
