Proposed Guiding Principles from the American Planning Association

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The built environment includes physical features like buildings, streets, and utilities, along with the systems and processes that support them, such as how people move and water flows. It defines the community that shapes people’s daily lives and represents where we live, work, and play. Since the built environment affects everyone's quality of life, it is crucial to maintain a livable built environment through careful planning. Traditional comprehensive plans often treat different parts of the built environment, like land use and transportation, as separate areas. However, the built environment is a complex system with many connected parts.
*Source: American Planning Association

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The natural environment includes the earth’s systems of air, water, soil, and plants, along with their ongoing processes. People rely on a healthy environment for essential services like food, clean air, safe water, protection from hazards, energy, and spiritual well-being. Urban development and human activities can disrupt nature and damage these resources. Therefore, it is important to have comprehensive plans that monitor the health of the natural environment and address any negative impacts. A healthy environment is a shared resource that belongs to everyone, but no one owns it. The community's plan should highlight the value of natural systems and services for the environment, economy, and social equity. While some natural resources are protected by specific plans for air and water quality, the comprehensive plan is essential for coordinating and maintaining natural systems in the community and region.
*Source: American Planning Association

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The community’s economy includes businesses, trades, and productive facilities that support the livelihoods of local people. Economic health is crucial because it creates jobs and provides income. As the economy grows or declines, so do the livelihoods of people. Local economies rely on outside factors, such as regional, national, or global trends. The job market is influenced not only by local businesses but also by decisions made by distant companies or governments. Using local resources more can strengthen the economic resilience of the community and help revitalize the area. Some businesses have negative impacts on the environment, so green businesses, like solar energy companies, may be better choices. They can also reduce the community’s reliance on imported resources like fossil fuels.
*Source: American Planning Association

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Equity in community decisions and services means fairly sharing the benefits and costs. This involves asking key questions to ensure that the needs of everyone in the community—rich and poor, young and old, native and immigrant—are met. Disadvantaged groups, such as young people and immigrants, often do not take part in discussions about community policies and programs, which can lead to their needs being overlooked. Poor and minority communities are often hit hardest by pollution and natural disasters. Because these groups may not have the skills or community connections necessary for access to jobs, resources, and healthcare, the community may need to create special programs to help them. Affordable housing is another important need that falls under this principle. By including equity considerations in the comprehensive plan, the community and its leaders can ensure they think about “who benefits” when developing policies, priorities, and spending.
*Source: American Planning Association

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The World Health Organization defines health as being fully well in body, mind, and social life, not just lacking illness. To support public health, the Healthy Community principle and four previous principles work together. A healthy community ensures that residents have safe air and water, easy access to parks and recreation, nearby local food sources and options, equitable public schools, and fair access to healthcare, along with effective public safety programs. Since the private market may not provide these important public benefits equally, it may be necessary for the government to fill the gaps. For instance, some disadvantaged neighborhoods might be in unsafe or unhealthy places, like polluted areas or flood zones, and public programs can help address those risks. The comprehensive plan is a useful tool for identifying and managing public health risks and for encouraging strong healthy community goals.
*Source: American Planning Association

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Regional planning agencies do not have regulatory power, but they provide important perspectives into regional systems like transportation and water supply. Transportation planning is primarily the responsibility of designated metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) as required by federal transportation laws. Many MPOs and other regional planning agencies are now also addressing related issues, such as open space, environmental protection, housing, economic development, utility infrastructure, and disaster preparedness. These regional agencies help different local governments work together, allowing for joint decisions that go beyond local politics. Local governments’ plans and policies affect each other, influencing new development locations, commuting patterns, and stormwater management. Thus, connecting these plans through a comprehensive plan can help understand and manage overlapping functions.
*Source: American Planning Association