Urban and Regional Planners

Job description

The core of the job is building land-use maps and narrative reports, then bringing them into public meetings where government officials, developers, and residents hash out competing interests over zoning, housing, or transportation. A typical project might mean assessing whether a proposed zoning change is even feasible, mediating a heated dispute over a new development, or ultimately recommending that a proposal be approved, denied, or approved with conditions. Because so much of the work involves managing conflict between stakeholders, planners spend real time facilitating meetings and negotiating alternatives, not just drafting documents. Many eventually specialize, whether by focus area like transportation or housing, or by the type of jurisdiction they serve.

A typical day

The morning is spent on a zoning-code update -- translating a council goal about housing affordability into actual rules on lot sizes and duplexes, with a map of every parcel affected. Midday brings a pre-application meeting where a developer's team probes what the city will accept, and the planner's job is being clear without negotiating away the public interest. The evening planning-commission hearing is the crucible: residents opposing an apartment project speak for an hour, the staff report gets defended calmly, and the vote goes to a second reading. The drive home replays what a better public process would have looked like.

Tasks at the job

• Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
• Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
• Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
• Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
• Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
• Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.

Workplace & working conditions

Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and most of the day is spent sitting at a desk.

There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure. You'll regularly deal with frustrated or upset people as part of the job, and almost all of the work is done as part of a team.

Education necessary or common

Master's degree in urban or regional planning

Common college majors

Licenses & certifications

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)

Career path

Related fields

Courses to take

• AP Human Geography -- cities and land use are the discipline
• AP US Government -- planning is local politics made technical
• AP Statistics -- demographic and housing data literacy
• AP Environmental Science -- land, water, and growth intertwine
• English or AP Language -- staff reports and public communication

Clubs, activities & competitions

• Attend planning commission meetings -- they're public and revealing
• Model UN or debate
• Youth advisory council for your city if one exists
• Geography or GIS club

First steps you can take now

• Look up your city's zoning map and figure out what your own block allows
• Attend one public hearing on a development project
• Learn free GIS basics with QGIS
• Read one urbanism book (like Walkable City) and critique your town with it

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