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Introduction <br /> utilities to support development. Other times, one problem may be based <br /> on another, such as downtown or neighborhood deterioration. <br /> Identify Options: There is usually more than one solution to any given <br /> problem. Commissioners should seek out a reasonable range of solutions, <br /> and give them all due consideration. Even ideas that sound a bit "wacky" <br /> at first may have merit, and could prove to be the best option available. , I 0 <br /> t <br /> Help Choose the Best Option: Because most planning decisions affect <br /> the entire community, it is important that the public have a meaningful <br /> opportunity to participate in the decision making process. The planning <br /> commission plays an important role in the citizen participation process. <br /> Implementation: Once the best solution has been chosen, the community <br /> needs to implement it. The planning commission would play a role here <br /> too--developing policies, ordinances (for example, zoning regulations) and <br /> administrative procedures for carrying out the necessary actions. <br /> Evaluation: It is important that the commission evaluate the effectiveness <br /> of the solutions that were implemented. Did it work, or not? If not, what <br /> went wrong or what happened instead of what was anticipated? Will a <br /> different option work better, or does the community need to redefine the <br /> problem? The cycle continues. <br /> Authority to Flan <br /> Believe it or not, land use planning is considered to be an exercise of the <br /> police powers of the state. Therefore, City, Township and County <br /> planning is based on state law (often called enabling legislation). Under <br /> enabling legislation, planning is supposed to begin with an analysis of <br /> community needs and goals which are then formulated into a <br /> Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan then becomes the guiding <br /> policy for community development, and the zoning ordinance and other <br /> land use regulations must be based on this comprehensive plan. <br /> There will be more discussion later in this book about the need for <br /> comprehensive plans and the important relationship between it and land <br /> use regulations. <br /> Minnesota Planning Association <br /> Citizen Planner Handbook Introduction Page 3 <br />