2.1.8  Think About the Form and Appearance of the Plan

It is often assumed that there is such a thing as a standard plan, and that everyone knows and agrees what it will look like and consist of. However, plans come in all sizes and shapes. Plans can be attractive, appealing to the eye and easy to read. Or they can be dull and take a great deal of effort to read.

One thing the community might consider is preparing a colorful and eye-catching "poster plan" to accompany the plan. A "poster plan" is not a substitute for a full plan, or the plan itself, but summarizes and communicates the key elements of the plan, and is prepared for wide distribution.

Poster plans are usually two-sided documents. On one side of the poster is a statement of the community’s vision for the future, plus a list of key policies related to issues such as neighborhood development, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, intergovernmental relations, and transportation. On the other side of the poster, one finds a colorful map of existing and proposed land uses, with the goals and objectives of the plan related to land use, transportation, utilities, parks and open space and community image listed beneath the map.

The point is that the plan needs to communicate. The goal of any plan is to have an impact on how the community develops. A dull, technical document may never be picked up and used. An easy to understand, user-friendly document is less likely to gather dust and, perhaps be more likely to positively impact the community.

All of these issues should be considered before the community begins its planning process. Once they are dealt with, it is time to dive into the actual process.

The next section outlines basic elements of any planning process.