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SUBJECTS › PLANNING › Planning Illustrated
Updated 12/08

Planning Illustrated

Contents

Introduction

(or a picture is worth a thousand words)

We've all been there - trying to get across some abstract planning concept at a public meeting. Planning has to do with the future and, most often, involves some change from the current state of affairs. Citizens do not come equipped with crystal balls that allow them to view and understand alternative futures. People are uneasy about change, unless they can grasp what those changes will mean for them, and that the changes will generally benefit them.

Planners use concepts such as density, land area, and various design concepts as shorthand to describe alternative proposals. Yet these are not intuitive concepts for those who do not work on a daily basis with such concepts. In addition, one 20-units-per-acre proposal does not exactly equal another 20-units-per-acre proposal. Project design can transform the appearance of projects, even when of the same density. Citizens may react totally differently to two projects of the same density. As a result, it is essential that planners and public officials illustrate planning concepts in a manner that allows citizens to visualize proposals and that creates understanding of important design concepts. A picture is not only worth a thousand words, it just may represent the difference between moving forward with a beneficial plan, or instead, coping with the consequences of unplanned change.

This Web page provides links to image banks, photo galleries, map resources, search engines, and other tools that can offer ideas and help planners to graphically communicate planning principles, best practices, and potential impacts. The page highlights resources that can help citizens (and planners) to visualize alternative scenarios and concepts. Although it is generally better to use illustrations tailored to local conditions, most planning departments can not afford extensive in-house graphics. Tools highlighted here, such as visual preference surveys and other visioning techniques, will often be worth the modest costs, if they contribute to plans that the community supports.

Please note the different usage guidelines and requests to give credit to the source of the images. In some cases, the images are readily available for non-commercial use. In some cases, you will need permission to use an image. You may also need to download special software such as Real Player to view some of the maps.

If you have information to share or are aware of other Web sites that we should link to, please contact Sue Enger, Planning Consultant at senger@mrsc.org, or call at (206) 625-1300.

Image Banks - Images of Multiple Planning-Related Subjects

  • Cyburbia Gallery - The good, the bad and the ugly images of development, Best Practices, Worst Case Scenarios, Cities and Places, & Other Images.
  • Smart Growth Illustrated, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Walkable neighborhoods, transportation choices, mixed-use, development, others. 
  • Congress of New Urbanism Image Bank - large catalog of new urbanism examples. 
  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center - Image Library - A variety of images of compact development, traffic claming, pedestrian and bicycle paths and facilities, including design details.
  • Urban Land Institute Development Case Studies - Helpful pictures and project profiles of various types of development, but complete case study information available to subscribers only.
  • Seattle (WA) Design Folio - Images of well done parks, public spaces, pedestrian streets, retail and residential streets.
  • Design Center Image Bank, Metropolitan Design Center, College of Design, University of Minnesota – Includes “best of” slide shows on topics such as affordable housing, growth/sprawl, innovative developments, and pedestrian realms. The Patterns slide show has some particularly striking images.   
  • Digital Images Online, University of Oregon Libraries - Primarily Architecture and Art. 

Search Engines with Image Finder

Density Mitigated by Design  

Affordable Housing

Revitalization Photos

Public Buildings

Compact or Cluster Vs. Sprawl Development

Other Images

Technical/Aerial Views/Maps

Other Videos or PowerPoint Presentations on Planning Topics Available for Download or Loan

Making a Point with Humor

  • You Can Plan on It! - Comic Strip on planning and communities, by Herb Ansprawl, featured on the Planners Web. Check with Planner's Web regarding permission to use. 

Tools for Helping Citizens to Visualize Planning Concepts and Alternatives

Washington Jurisdictions (mostly maps and photographs)