ABSTRACT
The American Planning Association's ethical principles urge citizen planners to strive to expand "choice and opportunity" for all persons, with a specific reference to disadvantaged persons and groups. This statement sets an ethical marker that goes beyond behavior-related ethics to a serious and challenging substantive issue. One of the bigger challenges for public officials, particularly for those appointed to serve on bodies such as planning commissions, is the balancing of personal values and special interests with the broader public interest and public planning policy. If the decision makers are considering adoption of a plan or a change to a regulation that will affect a large group of people or properties, they are probably acting in a legislative capacity, and private conversations on those issues are completely appropriate. In addition to ethical issues, conflicts of interest raise serious legal issues and may create personal legal liability for individual decision makers.
