SteveR: initial revision

2022-11-12T21:59:12Z

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Training module given by the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative,
on November 9, 2022. Ezra Glenn of MIT's Department of Urban Studies
and Planning presented.

Planning with community support is the only kind of planning that
makes sense. Every time we need to plan, we need to plan together.

When asking people for their input, let them know that they were
heard, and how you intend to respond.

Planning asks where are we now, what do we want to be, and how do we
want to get there? It's the process of deciding what to do, along
with how and where and when. It's an investment in doing things
better.

The planning process is typically broken down like this:
* Define a problem and set goals
* Gather information
* Make projections and forecasts (think about the future)
* Define alternatives (planning is about choices)
* Select a preferred course of action
* Implement

Once you've done these steps, go back, evaluate, and repeat as
necessary. It's really a circular process. To plan with community
support, you include the public in all of these steps. Here are some
tips for including groups in the process:
* Go to their meetings (rather than making them come to yours)
* Make it fun and creative
* Provide information ahead of time
* Connect with people where they are
* Make it their meeting, not just yours
* Make it their process too
* Keep on track and show progress

The challenge is that you don't control the process, but are still
expected to produce a result.

Planning matters; the decisions you make will affect people's
lives. People benefit when things work well.

In Massachusetts, common plans include Master Plans, Housing
Production Plans, Open Space and Recreation Plan, preservation
programs, and Brownfield Area Wide Plans.

Getting the public on board. The goal is to have public participation
throughout the entire process. Try to get diverse representation.
Adopting and implementing plans is much easier when you have community
support.

Transparency, trust, and equity should be part of the process.
Transparency means that everyone should know what's going on. Trust
depends on relationship building. Equity and inclusion matter because
planning is a moral field. When we focus on equity, we're more likely
to get it.

Consensus is another important part of the process. Consensus
involves hearing everyone's opinions and making decisions that respect
those opinions. Consensus is not unanimity or a majority; it's
something we agree to move forward with.

Respect that some people will be more affected than others. Ask and
listen. Ask participants how they will participate; the first step is
agreeing on why we're here.

Follow through. Let participants know how their income affected the
outcome. Acknowledge the input that people gave.

Tools and techniques. There are several frameworks for involving the
public. One of them is the steering committee to guide and oversee
the planning process. The committee allows citizens to shape the plan
and recommendations. Steering committees are often composed of
members of existing groups.

Work can be done with or without a consultant. When you're working
without a consultant, its the members of the steering committee that
will do all of the work. Only create a steering committee if you're
willing to let them steer. The are other alternatives, if a steering
committee isn't appropriate for your situation. Working groups or
advisory committees, for example.

Your effort may have a website or social media component. Be sure to
have a strategy in place before starting to work on the website or
setting up the social media accounts. Decide whether on-line
communication will be one-way or two-way. Ideally, you'll want to
find people who are familiar with these mediums and are able to use
them well. Realize that some members of the public don't use these
forums. It's best to utilize multiple channels for communication.

Consider having an implementation committee, to oversee
implementation, to evaluate, and to propose modifications as
necessary. Think about who's going to do this.

Focus groups and stakeholder interviews are other tools for public
engagement. These are an effective way to reach specific groups.

While you should do workshops, meetings, and events, these shouldn't
be the only outreach tools you use. Think about who you want to be
there, what you want them to know, and what you want to get from
them. Examples are SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat)
analysis, open houses, visioning sessions, neighborhood forums, field
trips, charettes, and group mapping exercises.

Imagine having a map on the table. People will engage with it more
than a map hanging on the wall, or projected onto a screen. Provide
markers or sticky notes for people to put on the map.

Surveys are useful tools for gathering input, and survey results
should be reported back to the public. Good surveys require a lot of
thought. The survey and the questions themselves should be as concise
as possible.

Public hearings are often a required part of the process, but they're
not a great way to form proposals. Hearings should be the last
engagement strategy that you use; never the first.

There's a difference between community-based engagement and
project-based engagement. The former focuses more on community
building; the latter generally involves something more specific.
Project-based engagements are easier when you have the community's
support. Community engagement is the long game.

There's a range of public engagement options. You can inform,
consult, involve, collaborate, or empower. Each involves getting
something from the public, and giving something back to the public in
return.

Question: What are your thoughts on neighborhood defenders, who might
not be interested in consensus, or who might prefer not to see a
particular problem solved?

Answer: You can diffuse any concern that a decision has already been
made. Start with "we expect that there's a problem, and we want to
see if there really is". Sometimes opportunities come from where
people think you're going to go. It's also possible to expand the
scope of who "the public" is.

Regional planning agencies can be an asset here, and generally have
resources to provide.

Question: Do you have any suggestions for encouraging people to answer
surveys?

Answer: Send the surveys out to as many people as you can. You might
consider having a drawing from among survey respondents. Make the
survey simple and quick to do.

Question: What about groups that form to push in a particular
direction.

Answer: Naturally, there will be groups that support and oppose
particular ideas. Try to bring them both into the conversation.

Question: How do you navigate the desire for local autonomy vs the
need to address regional challenges.

Answer: Both have stakeholders. Navigating this balance requires
conversation, respect for each other, and building trust. Remember
that planning processes are deliberative democracy.

[[Category:Notes]]

CPTC: Planning with Community Support - Revision history

SteveR: initial revision