Cyburbia - urban planning community
Cyburbia hosts the Internet's most active urban planning-related discussion forum, a gallery of user-submitted images related to planning and the built environment, and a selective directory of urban planning-related Internet resources.
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- The (un)reliability of purchased data
From Cyburbian Cardinal: I have often purchased data from vendors (ESRI, Claritas, etc.) who package their market potential and sales estimates. All too often, I find I have to modify it if not throw it away altogether and prepare my own estimates. Their estimates are based on formulas that may work adequately in middle- or upper-income white trade areas, but do not work where there is a significant minority population, in central city neighborhoods, or most rural locations.
The latest case is a study I am working on in the south. According to the data provided, people in this trade area spend less than 20 percent of what a normal household would spend on furniture. They do not buy any shoes.
Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Rigors of private planning practice #17: deadlines
From Cyburbian Planderella: In my 7+ yrs in the private sector, I have learned that deadlines are truly at the whim of the client, especially if it's a governmental entity. I'm currently working on a rather large project that involves several sites each with their own set of issues. I set up a design/construction schedule based on the parameters given to me by the client that gave us plenty of time to do the preliminary design and etc. for the sites. All of a sudden, the schedule is "too long" and I need to move up the deadline so that the plans are completed in 4-6 wks, as all of these sites need to be constructed by the end of the year and not early-mid next year.
Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Feelgood planning: why does it happen?
From Cyburbian Dan: In this thread, I describe a phenomenon I call feelgood planning.
"Projects with poor cost-benefit ratios that are destined to fail or at least underwhelm, but which are promoted and implemented because they bring a feeling of hope to the surrounding community, and possibly because their proponents are in denial about the inevitable outcome. "At least they're doing something." Such projects include new subsidized infill housing in blighted urban prairie areas, pocket parks in rough neighborhoods, and seasonal banners."
Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - US News and World Report: urban planner in top 31 careers
From Cyburbian s1m0n66: I think this is the second year in a row that urban planner has been listed as one of the top jobs/up and coming jobs. Any thoughts on the description/average pay/day in the life? I hear a lot of people making comments of how the salary is sub-par, or can't afford dues, but a median of $68,000 isn't terrible (granted, not going to make you rich either), and it seems to be towards the upper middle of the other jobs listed. It also seems that with the growing "popularity" of the field, pay has been increasing steadily as well. Correct me if this is just me being naive.
Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Another reason why you can't force economic development
From Cyburbian mgk920: Chicago Tribune article:
Suburb's 'shattered dream'
The much-celebrated new subdivision in Ford Heights becomes another example of the forces battering the village
By Lolly Bowean | Tribune reporter
January 30, 2008All along Seeley Avenue in Ford Heights, empty windows stare out from bright, colorful houses onto lifeless streets.
"For sale" and "auction' signs dot the yards of new frame houses that sit abandoned. When the Beck's Corner subdivision broke ground two years ago, it was a sliver of hope in a town that did not have a lot of it. Village leaders celebrated Ford Heights' first community of new homes in more than 50 years'and its modern amenities: Whirlpool appliances, cable and Internet hookups.
Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:25:51 -0500 - Managing department workflow
From Cyburbian southsideamy: I hope this is the right location for this post -- I've got a Planning Director type question.
I'm a planning director in a suburb and I've been challenged by the administration (whom I've seen referred to as "the man" in other posts!) to come up with a creative way to manage department work flow and also a creative way to communicate this work load to the administration.
I think we're doing what most small departments do: white board the site plans and ZBA petitions and manage the other projects as a list of "things to do". But this method doesn't help us communicate the extent of our workload and show our progress on assigned tasks (We're practically swimming in "special projects" like small area plans and map requests). I have a handle on all of this stuff mentally, but I'd like to be able to communicate this information successfully to my reports and to my bosses.We do a monthly Status and Information report that is largely a summation of current projects and site plans we're processing. We also do a weekly staff meeting to review current projects and plan commission/ZBA agendas.
Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Is keeping one horse a farm?
From Cyburbian michaelskis: Under the Michigan Right to Farm Act, it allows a person to operate a farm and not be a nuisance. Being that it dose not define specific area requirements, and this is state regulations, does this supersede existing zoning laws?
Second question is if a person is keeping a horse for personal, non commercial use, is it a farm under the Michigan Right to Farm Act?
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Organizing plan submittals
From Cyburbian munibulldog: One of the difficulties with running a planning/zoning department is that occasionally paperwork appears on the counter or in the mailbox with no real clue as to what the paperwork is for. Generally we can sleuth it out but it is annoying to have to be the file monkeys for unorganized developers. I don't think they realize the number of applications and projects that move through this office.
When developers come in with an application, often there are missing documents. Staff does a submittal review, and then notifies the developer what is missing. If there are a lot of shortfalls in the application, in some cases I have sent the entire packet back to the applicant with a letter stating what is needed for a complete application.
Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - What sparked your passion?
From Cyburbian Dilettante: Reading the treads in these forums, I could tell that lots of people are whole-heartedly devoted to what they do, especially when I read middle aged people deciding to make a career change and start grad school. I want to hear how your passion got ignited.
As for me, I am just at the beginning of my journey. Recently I’ve traveled to Hong Kong, I am astonished by their MTR. As a tourist it is almost impossible to get lost, and so easy to get to your destination; not only for tourist, but it’s also an integral part of the locals everyday commute. This might be because I’m an Angelino (we go every where by car, which I think is stupid…). But I think the design is just simply ingenious, thinking that I can be a part of designing this gets my heart racing. It’s so much more meaningful than my current job, where I just get to save a big corporation a few bucks here and there.
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - 2008 AICP exam being reformulated
From Cyburbian chaznsc: I thought this was noteworthy:
The AICP Exam Committee spent the last year evaluating today's planning practice as revealed by the results of the 2007 job analysis survey. Their evaluation culminated with changes in the content specifications for the AICP exam, to take effect with the May 2008 exam.
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Improvements for commercial corridors
From Cyburbian Veggie: We are looking to improve visual quality of our commercial corridors in the township. Although, we do not have design standards for these areas that specifically recommend site improvement standards etc. For the forthcoming applications for various site plans that replace older strip malls and small individual businesses, suggestions can be made. Any place to start looking for such ideas? Literature with design illustrations for details?
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Subdivison next to shooting range
From Cyburbian imaplanner: I have a large residential subdivision that is proposed adjacent to a legally nonconforming outdoor shooting range. Has anyone ever faced such a scenario? I'm looking for ideas on conditions and other ways to deal with the obvious safety issue involved here.
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Documenting public input while protecting privacy
From Cyburbian Planderella: For those who include the sign-in sheet from public meetings in the appendix to a comp or master plan or just as part of the meeting minutes, do you normally black out the participants' home address or email address? Are you bound to protect the participants' privacy? I've seen it done either way, so I'm not sure if there's a right or wrong way to go about it.
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500 - Board resignation because of media attention
From Cyburbian luckless pedestrian: I have a Planning Board member who is thinking of resigning. She has been taking some hits from the media on her opinions on projects coming before the Board. She is a design professional so she knows what she is talking about. The Town is not used to someone weighing in on things other than checking things off a list of what needs to be supplied and then signing off. Since we have the PUD and through my encouragement of seeing subdivision as a way to plan for neighborhoods, the Board has taken stronger steps with applicants to get them to change their plans around, not necessarily reducing density, just better design. We also have put in some stronger wetland controls. I think she is the lightning rod for alot of ire over the Town telling people what to do and the applicant who has the plans she opines about (appropriately in a hearing, etc.) has alot of friends in town and he is very thin-skinned.
Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:12:32 -0500 - Passing the time at council meetings
From Cyburbian Brocktoon: Many of us are required to attend municipal council or commission meetings. What do you do to keep yourself occupied…besides of course paying close attention to each agenda item? In the past I have you figured out which of the 7 seven dwarves each of the council members resembles.Currently several of us have a standing bet on the time the meeting would end? Since being armed with a crackberry I find my self check Monday night football scores. How about you, what do you and your colleagues do to pass the time at council meetings?
(Cyburbia Forums original post)
Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0500
