ABSTRACT
The French meaning of the name Vivant makes naming this cycle Vivant Cycle much more symbolic since it reminds us of the regulatory paradox of addressing life's complexities by control mechanisms such as a traffic light. Uncertainty, abuse of discretion, and difficulty in communication are major challenges of informalization. These challenges follow a loose progression. Abuse of discretion can be prevented if the system is transparent, that is, if the system allows the public to see what's happening within the city hall. Identifying conflicts and clarifying the community visions also give clear guidance for special review commissions that work with a significant amount of discretion, such as planning boards, special design review commissions and historic preservation boards. When the visions, boards' purposes, and expectations are consistent with each other, the system gains more legitimacy and decisions become less arbitrary. The chapter discusses how to address and eliminate these systemic, and most of the time unnecessary, abuses and distortions.
