True Community Involvement In Planning

The legislative initiative calls for "a new development process designed to speed revitalization of underused or vacant commercial properties in older communities...The regulations...would allow developers to circumvent virtually all traditional development and zoning codes on approved sites if they agree to give community members substantial say in the project's initial design...It would also give county officials and the public the chance to provide ideas at the beginning of a project rather than after the developer has made a plan." Both developers and citizens could benefit from the plan. "Not only would it allow more flexibility and faster approval, but the community suggestions would also help developers know what there is a market for," said one developer.