Introducing Planning Concepts to Nonplanners

This guide clarifies the technical and policy aspects of urban planning for local officials, in order to give them the ability to effectively collaborate with local planning departments. The guide provides a short list of planning related terms that are discussed later in the guide, such as smart grid, resilience, and value capture. While the information is aimed towards developing countries and emerging cities, the guide is still relevant to many cities in the United States dealing with urban growth and development. It gives ten reasons for planning, five obstacles to better urban planning, summarizes types of growth patterns, advocates for density, and covers topics such as mobility, resilience, and public space.