Centralized Planning

To whom it may concern,

The city and regional planning profession has had a tumultuous history. While city planning originated with the ancient Greeks, the city planning profession has only recently developed as a legitimate enterprise. From its early rise in zoning law, through its descent as the implementers of Urban Renewal, to its resurgence as the promoters of sustainability, the planning profession has sought to continuously improve our built environment and protect our natural environment. While the theories have evolved over time, planning is a central component in all government actions. The role of government is to master plan our society, and the planning profession seeks to implement these policies through the design and management of the physical environment. However, planning has been a solely local affair. Most States that do practice some level of planning only regulate local government actions and guide local decision-making. There has been virtually no federal support for the planning profession outside of scoring higher on grant applications if your local community has a "plan". When will the federal government begin directing local governments, via States, to do real planning?

GUNNAR HAND, AICP