Planning and zoning are the cornerstones of all our development decisions. These decisions, made at the local level, affect
everything from school overcrowding to farmland preservation.
To accomplish meaningful results, 1000 Friends supports
three basic criteria for planning:
- Local
plans should include performance standards to ensure they are on track for
success, and should be enforced through rigorous zoning.
- The
planning process should incorporate citizens' ideas and visions in a
meaningful way.
- The
State should have the ability to require minimum standards in local plans,
but should also provide planning assistance to jurisdictions that need it.
Local jurisdictions, either counties or cities, have the
authority to manage growth under minimal State supervision. As a result, some jurisdictions are leading
the way with innovative policies and smart solutions. Others are paving their way to an
economically and environmentally unsustainable future.
1000 Friends strives to be a resource for local
jurisdictions, developers, and citizens as they tackle these complicated
issues. We also support policies that
help accomplish our criteria for smart planning.
