Glossary of Planning Terms
Click here to look up common planning terms.
What's Planning?
Take a walk through "Anytown USA". Find answers to:
- How are communities designed?
- Who decides where to build homes, parks, schools and main-street?
- Who's in charge, and how does it all work?
This section includes a general planning overview and links to great publications and resources to better understand how communities grow. Check out our glossary of common planning terms, positions and departments.
Citizens Guide to Local Land Use Planning
Open the doors to your local planning process!
By following a few easy steps, you'll walk through each aspect of the community development process and understand how your town grows, builds and develops.
- View your city's planning process flowchart to see the path a development proposal takes through city government.
- Get contacts for city officials to learn more about what's going on and how to get involved.
Environmental Review 101: A virtual toolbox
Minnesota's environmental review process can serve as a valuable tool to protect woodlands, wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Stories from the Field
Conversations: Interviews with Open Space Activists tells the stories of six local citizens and the tactics they used to protect special places in the Twin Cities. To obtain a hard copy of the publication, contact or call 612-659-9124.
The North Star Chapter is a partner organization involved in the Embrace Open Space campaign.
Other Resources:
- A Citizen's Guide to Influencing Local Land Use Decisions (pdf, 1.6M) — An easy and fun to read guide. Learn how land use decisions are made in your community and how to influence those decisions. A co-production from 1000 Friends of Minnesota and Minnesota Waters
- Land Use and Transportation Campaign
- Stop Sprawl Campaign
- Get involved!