PAS QuickNotes (QN)

PAS QuickNotes (QN) provides a timely, concise overview of a single planning topic as well as information on additional resources available through the Planning Advisory Service. QN is the ideal publication to share with planning commissioners and other city officials, new planners, and citizens.

PAS QuickNotes is one of the many benefits of being a PAS subscriber. Only current subscribers have access to QN and the comprehensive resource list that accompanies each edition.

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QNs Available Now

NEW Climate Change and Energy
Planners and planning commissioners have an important role to play in responding to climate change. Are your planning commissioners ready to tackle this challenge? Are you? This PAS QuickNotes will get you up to speed on the relationship between energy, climate change, and planning and introduce you to ways you can address these issues in your work. It will help you and your commissioners rethink long-range visioning, plan making, regulations, development review, and public investment.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Climate Change QN and reference list.

Charrettes
Do citizens and planning commissioners in your community know what a charrette is? This PAS QuickNotes will help them understand the value of these collaborative efforts to solve specific design or planning problems. It provides information on the preparation of a charrette, including funding, organization, and how best to use them as public relations tools. The QN concludes with a discussion of the challenges with charrettes.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Charrettes QN and reference list.

Site Plan Review
This PAS QuickNotes will help your commission better understand site plan review. It explains the roles of professional planners and review boards, along with guidelines and best practices. The QN concludes with a discussion of how site plan review intersects with state enabling legislation.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Site Plan Review QN and reference list.

Teardowns
The teardown trend is so widespread that in 2002 the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed neighborhoods where teardowns occur as being among "America's Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places." This PAS QuickNotes identifies the reasons for the trend and discusses its physical, economic, and social impacts. The QN concludes by considering the requirements for establishing and implementing teardown policy. Regulatory and incentive-based solutions are provided.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Teardowns QN and reference list.

Design Review
Cities small and large work hard to encourage quality development. Without the tools to assess how new projects will fit into the community, a city's planning objectives could be undermined. This PAS QuickNotes explores the use of design review as a tool for managing new developments while nurturing community character. Design review boards, a typical process, and standard features of design guidelines are covered. The QN concludes by addressing design review applications for large-scale retail and corporate franchises.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Design Review QN and reference list.

Inclusionary Housing
Affordable housing has become a significant issue throughout the country as housing costs have surpassed increases in earnings for not only very low-income families, but also for middle-income households. One approach to the issue is the use of inclusionary housing programs. This PAS Quick Notes provides an overview of inclusionary housing and includes discussion about types of programs, developer incentives, design strategies, control periods, and program benefits. The QN concludes by addressing how to put inclusionary housing programs into practice by building community support.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Inclusionary Housing QN and reference list.

Zoning for Mixed Uses
There was a time when single-use zoning served a vital purpose. Traditional zoning codes can be an obstacle to elements that make cities vibrant and livable, such as higher density development and easy access to public transport. This PAS Quick Notes explores the many benefits of planning for a land use mix that successfully blends residential, commercial, institutional, and, in some cases, industrial uses. The QN concludes with a discussion of regulatory tools such as planned unit development that can be used to encourage mixed use development.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Zoning for Mixed Uses QN and reference list.

Complete Streets
In the last decade transportation planners and urban designers have made a significant shift in their approach to the design and intended function of streets. Today many planners are working to create what have been termed "complete streets" — streets that provide for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists. The PAS QuickNotes explores the concept, design consideration, and benefits of this holistic approach to street design. The QN concludes with a discussion of how complete streets can be incorporated into economic development strategies as well as transit-oriented development plans.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Complete Streets QN and reference list.

Conflicts of Interest for Planning Commissioners
Remaining impartial is one of the central challenges faced by planning commissioners. This PAS QuickNotes explores how planning commissioners can maintain both the appearance and the practice of remaining impartial by avoiding conflicts of interest. Different types of conflict are explained as well as what do when conflicts occur. The QN concludes with a discussion of existing ethical rules and guidelines commissioners can follow to avoid conflicts.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Conflicts of Interest for Planning Commissioners QN and reference list.

Form-Based Zoning
For a growing number of communities, form-based zoning is a viable alternative to Euclidean zoning. But the decision to use a flexible approach comes after community leaders understand what form-based zoning means and how it works. This PAS QuickNotes explains the differences between form-based and traditional zoning and discusses the components of the form-based approach, including the regulating plan, building envelope standards, and architectural and street standards. It concludes with a comparison of form-based zoning and form district zoning, providing examples of both.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Form-Based Zoning QN and reference list.

Planning and the Media
The media is important to the planning profession. This PAS QuickNotes will help planners use the media effectively for conveying information to the public. It discusses and offers suggestions for how planning departments should develop a plan of response for media inquiries and a plan of action to pique media interest in topics not being covered. Still, even the best-planned message will be ineffective if not sent through the appropriate medium, which leads to a discussion on the benefits and shortcomings of print and broadcast media.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Planning and the Media QN and reference list.

Public Notification of Land-Use Action
Rezoning is often necessary when changes occur in the urban environment and can adversely affect neighboring properties. Therefore, complying with all public notification requirements for a land-use action is necessary to avoid litigation. Providing inaccurate or inadequate information or failing to notify all affected citizens can be grounds for overturning rezoning decisions. This PAS QuickNotes is a quick study on notification methods, including local advertisement, written notices, and site postings. It covers the timing, content, and delegation of responsibilities for notification and advancements in notification due to technology.

Current subscribers: Log in to PAS Subscribers Only to access the Public Notification of Land-Use Action QN and reference list.