ABSTRACT
A charrette is a participant oriented, collaborative, community planning tool for projects that are for defined large geographic areas. The charrette process allows for the inclusion of the community, not just primary stakeholders, clients, and experts. It is an intense approach focused on developing a shared vision that can be implemented (National Charrette Institute, 2010, p. 34). The ideal charrette is a public activity that lasts approximately seven days, not including pre-charrette community outreach or community planning discussions, each of which can last one or two days. Including the preliminary charrette activities, preparation, meetings, research, discussions, and site visits, and post-charrette write up, the entire charrette process can take up to a year. Its success and value depend on systematic preparation.
