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Planning Consultants and Local Planning

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  • Carolyn G. Loh
  • Richard K. Norton

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Planning consultants are a vital part of the local government planning process. We explore who hires consultants, the types of tasks that they typically perform, and differences in the values of planning consultants and their clients. We conduct parallel surveys of planning consultants and local government officials, and find that the use of consultants is widespread: They are hired primarily to reduce the costs of maintaining in-house planning staff and to provide as-needed technical expertise. Both planning officials and consultants agree on the priority given to well-accepted planning principles, even though each group thinks they hold planning principles in higher esteem than the other. Yet, we find that the actual differences between the self-professed values of the two groups are negligible. Takeaway for practice: This study suggests that both consultants and their clients believe that the advantages of hiring consultants, including supplementing in-house staff, providing workforce flexibility, and offering technical expertise, outweigh the disadvantages of possibly higher costs and lack of local knowledge. The study provides reasons for optimism that outsourcing planning work does not change the underlying planning values of the agencies employing the consultants, or the goals and objectives of the planning work. Research support: Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolyn G. Loh & Richard K. Norton, 2013. "Planning Consultants and Local Planning," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 79(2), pages 138-147, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjpaxx:v:79:y:2013:i:2:p:138-147
    DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2013.883251
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    Cited by:

    1. Dickinson, Daniella & Shahab, Sina, 2021. "Post planning-decision process: Ensuring the delivery of high-quality developments in Cardiff," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    2. Ogunbiyi, James O. & Adeleke, Folake & Oladimeji, Dare, 2024. "Ethical Delimitation of Client Satisfaction, Client Sophistication and Client Influence in Property Valuation Practice in Nigeria," OSF Preprints 8k43a, Center for Open Science.
    3. Norton, Richard K. & David, Nina P. & Buckman, Stephen & Koman, Patricia D., 2018. "Overlooking the coast: Limited local planning for coastal area management along Michigan’s Great Lakes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 183-203.

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