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We regularly work with citizen groups and public bodies (i.e., city councils, planning commissions, neighborhood associations, citizens advisory committees, architectural review boards) and, in doing so, have a solid reputation for facilitating discussion and building consensus on appropriate planning policies. D.B. Hartt advocates four project review structures, used alone or in combination depending on the needs of the project. These four structures are:
- Citizens Advisory Committee
- Joint Reviews with Municipality and Boards
- Focus Groups
- Strategic Steering Committee with Supplemental Task Forces
Citizens Advisory Committee
D.B. Hartt, Inc.
has, on numerous
occasions,
successfully
facilitated and
managed the
comprehensive plan
development process
with a CAC. A
Citizens Advisory
Committee (CAC) is
the nucleus of the
public participation
structure and the
primary body charged
with formulation of
a comprehensive
plan. The CAC is
deliberately
selected so that its
members represent
the full range of
community
perspectives (e.g.,
retail, industry,
schools,
developers/builders,
open space,
environmental,
recreation and other
interests that the
City deems
appropriate).
Joint Reviews with Municipality and Boards
In updating
zoning codes, D.B.
Hartt routinely
plans and
facilitates joint
review meetings with
various municipality
staff and boards
such as City Staff,
City Council, the
Planning Commission,
the Board of Appeals
and the
Architectural Review
Board. The purpose
of these reviews is
for community
officials to reach
consensus on the
philosophy and
concepts for
developing the
detailed
regulations. It is
most important for
this to occur early
in the process to
avoid developing
amendments for
provisions that the
community has
clearly determined
it does not need or
want.
Focus Groups
Focus groups
have been a part of
D.B. Hartt community
planning efforts for
many years.
Examples of project
types where focus
groups have been
utilized include
parks and
recreation,
redevelopment, and
preservation
Strategic Steering Committee with
Supplemental Task Forces
Some communities
have engaged in more
extensive planning
efforts that require
a broader based
citizen
participation
component. In
addition to the
traditional land use
components, these
plans have included
supplemental
strategic
initiatives in the
areas of:
administrative
procedures, capital
improvements,
budgeting
philosophies,
economic
development,
community image,
marketing, etc. For
these planning
efforts, the citizen
participation
structure has
included a steering
committee with
supplemental
“functional” task
forces.
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