A regional planner’s job entails creating, researching, evaluating, and implementing various long- and short-term infrastructure and land-use plans in a specific geographic area. This work can include deciding where new roads should be built, determining how many new schools a community requires, and recommending environmental policies for regional development. A regional planner collects and analyzes geographic data, combining it with other data like population density, zoning regulations, and the current use of land. The information gathered is then used to devise strategies for dealing with and managing current population demands, future growth, or revitalizing a stagnant area. Regional planners are frequently employed by local governments, but they can also work for the private sector.
A regional planner’s job can entail many different aspects of the planning process. Some regional planners use physical maps and geographic information systems to collect and analyze data (GIS). Regional planners can also work on developing various types of development plans using the information gathered. A regional planner, on the other hand, examines and evaluates development proposals in a community. Making projections for changes in population density and movement, as well as providing infrastructure and facilities for that future population, is a common part of regional planning.
A regional planner’s work area can vary in terms of size and type. If a regional planner’s primary focus is on urban planning and design, he or she is often referred to as a city planner or an urban planner. Hospitals, public housing, and recreational facilities are examples of facilities and infrastructure that can be included in city and town planning. Non-urban areas can be included in regional planning. This work could be focused on revitalizing rural areas, preserving certain areas for environmental reasons, and recommending how land should be zoned for various agricultural, commercial, and industrial uses. In both urban and rural areas, a regional planner can help with the development of roads, bridges, and other transportation needs.
The term “smart growth” refers to a popular urban planning and design theory. Smart growth emphasizes the avoidance of suburban sprawl and the use of private vehicles in favor of designing and developing more compact urban areas where residents can walk, bike, or take public transportation to school, work, shops, and recreation. Smart growth is promoted by some regional planners and local politicians as a means of avoiding or reducing traffic congestion, environmental issues, and urban decay.