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CHAPTER 16 • Having a comprehensive plan is also useful to assist with the coordination of other land use programs, and to serve as a basis to defend the legality and administration of zoning ordinances. For example, if a council follows the terms of a zoning ordinance that is based on a comprehensive plan, the council may deny approval of a plat that is inconsistent with the plan and ordinance. Additionally,a council may deny a request for re-zoning if it is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. Courts seem reluctant to substitute their judgment for that of a council when the council makes land use decisions consistent with a comprehensive plan. Organization for planning Cities may exercise a wide range of discretion in developing internal planning. In fact,cities need not undertake formal planning activities at all. Planning organization may take several different forms: the council may assume total responsibility, it may delegate this duty to administrative officers,or it may appoint a planning agency or commission. Minn.Stat.§462.354,subd. 1. Councils create these agencies or commissions by ordinance. The role of the planning agency or commission is to advise the • council. City officials may serve as members,and the organization is left to the discretion of the council. Minn.Stat.§462.354,subd 2. Cities are also authorized to create a planning department with an advisory planning agency or commission. In that situation, the agency or commission advises the department, which then advises the council. Usually, it is a good idea to create a planning agency or commission. City officials are often so consumed with daily demands that they don't have time to survey and evaluate the long-range objectives and implications necessary to create and implement a comprehensive plan. Planning agencies or commissions, on the other hand, are usually composed of people who focus on preparing and implementing plans and, thus,can devote their full attention. • --- 379