ABSTRACT
Traditionally, the purposes of land use regulation have been fairly simple. They include the following: to maintain property values, to stabilize neighborhoods and preserve their quality, to provide uniform regulations throughout each district, to move traffic rapidly in safety, and to control aesthetics and architectural harmony. The practicing planner's equipment for the control of development consists of three main types of tools. The first tools are the ordinances or the "regs," as they are known to practitioners. Regs include such things as the zoning ordinance, the building regulations, the subdivision platting requirements, and the general plan. Standards are the second tools of the planner and deal with public facilities and the related issues of "how big" and "how much." Standards ensure the needs of local residents will be adequately met. The third set of tools in the practicing planner's shop—conditions, exactions, and dedications—is the most negotiable.
