ABSTRACT
Regional planning provides guidance on long-term land-use and policy decisions that affect the future of towns and cities in the targeted region. The number of people who would be affected by regional plans in the long term is high, and therefore participatory decision making at the regional scale is particularly important. There is good reason, however, to practice community design methods and engage in participatory decision making at the scale of regional planning. Regional planning efforts are often undertaken as joint ventures. In an effort to ensure the participation of large and complex resident groups, it is not uncommon for private, nonprofit organizations (PNPOs) to form. PNPOs and joint powers authority’s are instrumental in getting the project description off the ground. Both community workshops and charrettes are frequently organized because the format supports in-depth discussions. Informal activities such as planned street presences are advantageous because staffers can add to the outreach effort while acquiring input from community members.
