Preface

Acknowlegments

Part One: Being a decision maker and member of a public body
Introduction ò Properties of decision-making • Decision-making in urban planning • Selected profiles of planning commission members • The role of a planning commission member • The planning commission as a public body • Coalition and division among members • Consensus and dissensus among members • Collective good judgment

Part Two: Substantive aspects of decision making
Introduction • Kinds of information • Public knowledge and private knowledge • Facts • Adequacy and reliability of facts • Values • Continuity and saliency of values • Specific substantive aspects • Character and intentions of applicants • Assertions of need • Assertions of want and preference • Assertions of desert and right • Assertions of interest • The public interest • The goals of the community

Part Three: Formal aspects of decision-making
Introduction • Modes of rationality • Common sense • Reasoning from particulars • Reasoning from rules • Persuasion • Legal rationality
Reasonable, nonarbitrary, and noncapricious decisions • Due process • Performatory language • Official instruments of the commission • Specific formal aspects • Jurisdiction • Representation • Continuity and change in commission appointment • Conflict of office • Conflict of interest • Ex Parte Contacts • Access to the arena of decision-making • Order of presentation before the commission • Deferral of commission decisions • Reconsideration of commission decision • Accounting of circumstances • Making and taking of precedent • Policy formulation and amendment • Plan formulation and amendment

Part Four: Functional aspects of decision-making
Introduction • Formal position of the commission • Informal position of the commission • Planning and politics • Planning as prepolitical • Planning as postpolitical • Specific functional aspects • Advice and recommendation • Cooperation and coordination • Negotiating with an applicant • Regulation and compliance • Granting of incentives • Adequacy of regulatory devices • Relationships to other public commissions • Relationships to agencies of government • Relationships to neighborhood and community organization • Use of consultant • Use and usefulness of the staff • Use and abuse of the commission

Part Five: Making the role of planning commission member
Introduction • Understanding oneself • Understanding others • Deciding for others • Deciding for oneself • Reasoning together

Appendix A: Overview of research strategy

Appendix B: Glossary of terms

Bibliography

Back to Top