City/County Planning Offices

Local government planning offices that gather information on existing physical, social and economic conditions; project future trends; examine alternative courses of action; and develop long and short-term land use plans to guide the growth and revitalization of urban, suburban and rural areas within the community. Planning staff promote effective use of the community's land and resources for residential, commercial, recreational and agricultural purposes; help local officials make decisions about social, economic and environmental problems; plan for the development of parks, schools, public housing and other infrastructure; and address traffic congestion, air pollution, water pollution and a wide variety of other issues that arise as a result of growth and change in a community.