ABSTRACT
One of the most important functions of any local planning staff is providing technical advice on zoning decisions to the planning commission and zoning board. Zoning staff reports often contain two kinds of redundancies: stating the same fact twice and making the same point over and over again. Report writers often fail to label information or use subheads that identify the various sections of the report. Planners' report writing is not confined to reports to commissioners. Conditional recommendations and attachments to staff reports also require attention. A zoning case report that recommends approval of an application often includes a list of recommended conditions or requirements to be met by the applicant. The planning staff's oral presentation to the planning commission provides an opportunity to supplement the written report and compensate for any limitations. Zoning cases often involve maps, site plans, architectural sketches, photographs, and other graphic materials.
