Revelstoke, British Columbia

In his introduction to Revelstoke’s Official Community Plan (OCP), adopted in July of 2009, Mayor David Raven made a promise: “This is not a ‘whatever will be, will be’ plan,” he said, “for the future is ours to see.” The mission thereafter: Enable the OCP’s forward-looking vision, goals and policies with a regulatory approach that…

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Early County 2055 | Georgia

Charles B. Rice grew up in Early County, Georgia, and moved away to make his fortune. Upon returning, he was struck by the downtrodden state of the county, and undertook a 50-year visioning effort to turn things around. Recognizing the expansive scope of his challenge, he engaged PlaceMakers to facilitate an economic development visioning process…

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Four A | Conyers, Georgia

When a developer sets out to do something special in a place hit hard by the housing bust, skepticism is to be expected. And when that place is also grappling with the challenges of shifting demographics, misinformation can quickly spiral out of control. Clarity — of intentions, of vision, and of plan — is key.

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Decatur, Georgia | 2010 Strategic Plan

In both the Atlanta metro region and beyond, Decatur, Georgia enjoys a reputation for smart growth and good governance. But it’s not an arbitrary assessment. Since its landmark 1982 Town Center Plan, the city has earnestly and continuously sought the input and contributions of its residents and has, in turn, acted on their collective will…

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Town of Taos, New Mexico

With three diverse cultural traditions and over 400 years of built history, the Town of Taos, New Mexico, is home to some of the most distinctive architectural and planning patterns in the United States. The historic district remains a 16th century Spanish village to this day. So, when it became apparent that the blunt force…

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