Community Planning Lecgture Series - ULI Memphis Partnership

"Why Comprehensive Planning is Good for Business"

Lecture Notes on Topics, Themes, and Discussion

• Competitive cities need plans
  • Two types of cities exist and are often at odds with how to create success
    • Deal-making cities vs. Plan-making cities
  • Plan-making cities become the most successful and have the ability to create a clear vision of growth and direction for the city in a positive way
  • Planning, rather than deal-making, makes it obvious where priorities exist and how to leverage resources, assets, and finances
• Plans must cater to the needs of 6 to 7 different generations who are currently involved, and will eventually become involved within the overall planning process
  • Santa Clause planning (Wish-listing) can't be accomplished
    • Take a stance on issues and solutions
      • Saying "No" is still saying something, and saying yes to something else
      • Allows for clarity on issues and challenges
  • Needs are more important than wants
  • Solutions are derived from needs; if they overlap wants, then that helps to provide the best solution
    • Solutions should be connected to the real issues that are present and will be increasing with the future (Need for involving all generations' issues and problems, even those of future generations)
    • Ex: Population growth vs. Land consumption -- NIMBYism and Sprawl
      • Not WHAT's next but WHO's next
• Each piece of the plan needs to fit together not exist separately
  • Chapters must fit and go hand-in-hand to guide places
  • Policy leads to action items which all link together for the holistic vision of the plan based on needs and issues
• Cities need an identity, but that can often be tough to find
  • Culture and history often lead into the ideas and thoughts about a place's identity
  • In Memphis, this often revolves around Blues, BBQ, and the persona of "Grit and Grind" which the Grizzlies have helped to showcase
• Design and the public realm must be conceived together
  • Questions must be asked around the concept of the design and identity within plans
  • Concepts of the city is part of the process of self-discovery for the soul, and identity of a place
  • Design matters for how these elements of identity play out
• If a program, feature, or policy can be implemented currently, do it
  • Don't wait for things which can happen now
    • Builds momentum and buy-in for other elements
• Actionable ability for meeting a plan's vision and showcasing the design concepts

Commissioner Mitchell Silver's Presentation

Commissioner Tim Keane's Presentation