A Year In

I was thinking about the use of social media and planning, or government for that matter. Have I found value in it? I've been doing a Facebook page, this blog and our twitter account for a year or so, I'm not counting.

Are they valuable? I am not sure. I enjoy the opportunity to get information out, and to have a venue, where I can hope to pass information along, and hopefully engage the public to participate more in planning in Dover. Does that happen? I am sure that some study exists to tell me yes, and another to tell me no.

Locally, I know that the twitter and Facebook followers are up. Here in Dover, the Library is the only other department with a Facebook page. They also blog and have a twitter account. We use the tools very differently. I tend to use them more as here's some info, digest it and use it as you will. The Library tends to be a bit more interactive. Their blog site seeks input on books and book reviews. They also use it to pass information (hours, programs etc) to the reading public (figuratively and literally, I suppose).

I am amazed that more Planning offices don't use this tool. It is not overly complicated, and as long as you budget time for it, and stay on it, I think that it doesn't add any more time to my day or week.

I take a systematic approach to it and plan the entries out, as much as I can. I think that like going to gym or eating healthy (both things I am working on), you have to make, and not find, the time to pursue social media. In some ways this is similar to traditional media.

Beginning in January, I told my staff that on average we were going to produce one press release a week. This could be a success we had, or it could be a project or program we are planning. Everyone has to take part in this and help move the ball forward.

I use these press releases to help create posts for the Dover Download, video and email, as well as social media topics. This way we don't lose site of traditional media as we work to use social media outlets.

My wife asked me two questions about twitter the other day, she asked how I compare it to email and how it compares to Facebook.

Regarding email, it seems to me they should be similar, but I find email is much more prevalent. I think that people like the length and like the privacy of sending an email directly, I think people aren't convinced they can say enough in 140 characters. One thing I find is that if I get a question emailed to me, that has an answer which many people should know the answer to, I will use twitter to send a general answer out.

Regarding Facebook, I think twitter is the more appropriate avenue for non-personal updates. Facebook has the fan pages and the like, but it seems that more people follow me on twitter, and more people interact with our information on twitter. Maybe I don't do a good job using twitter to drive folks to the Facebook page.

Anyway, it's an evolution. It is also a comfort level. Just like everything else, there are things we are comfortable with, and the traditional is always more comfortable than the new and unknown. It is good to challenge ourselves and push to try things. Which is why I am going to try and find ways to be more interactive on the social media outlets.

First challenge, is to readers. Is there a planning topic, I should cover or you are interested in? Let me know. Feel free to tweet it, post to our Facebook page, or email it to me (c.parker@dover.nh.gov).

The Signs, They Are A Changin'

So, believe it or not, I had a friend say to me, "you seem like such a nice, laid back guy. Why do you turn into a Sign Nazi when you see signs around town?" That is a good question.

I think there are two reasons, at least, the first is that I place a high value on respect. We have rules and regulations and I find it disrespectful when people choose not to follow the rules (speaking of being conservative have I written yet about attending Oliver North's birthday party in 1993? - true story). The second reason has to do with community character. We have worked hard, I think, with the public, planning board and business community to review our sign regulations to ensure that they are flexible and encourage getting businesses message out, but at the same time helping to reinforce the character this community wants to have.

Truth be told, I much prefer the proactive regulation review and rewrite to the regulatory side of municipal planning, however both are parts of the whole job. So, the Zoning Administer and I drive around town collecting illegal signs, quarterly. Most are the type that get planted into the ground with metal legs. In addition we tackle the ones on utility poles (a rake is a very versatile tool). This past time (November 14th) we picked up 73 signs. This was after we drafted a press release and had information on Channel 22 etc.

After the purge we sent letters to the companies associated with the signs asking them to pick their signs up and pay a fine. One company accused us of planting the signs and going into other communities, and a second company said they'd be right over to pay, and we haven't seen them. Bottom line, apparently the signs are cheap enough that the owners don't care if we collect and toss them (we keep them for 30 days).

So why are the stake signs or utility pole signs illegal? Well, we are very clear in our ordinance about two things: we do not allow off site advertising (this is when the sign is not placed on the lot for which it represents), and we don't allow signs within the Right of Way (including on utility poles). This is mainly for safety reasons, we don't want to have pedestrian and vehicular travel impaired because people are distracted by signs.

I think an overarching reason we look at sign regulations though comes back to the community character concern. In interviewing residents, and the Planning Board, I think it is clear that Dover has a look and feel that we are trying to achieve. It is based upon the mill setting that we have, but I think it is more than that. It recognizes change and evolution, but at the same time it is sensitive to our surroundings. Much of this character is established by the "built environment," roads and buildings, which is why setbacks, massing and height are so important, but I think signs and other appenditures reinforce that character, which is why it is important to be aware of the signs out there.

Thinking about the options, one is hard pressed not to mention Route 1 in Saugus, Mass. Along that stretch of road there is a very cohesive feel which can be described as thoroughfare business. One is not going to mistake the commercial feel and glitz. Is it Times Square or the Vegas Strip? Nope, but at the same time it represents a more commercial and highway feel than Doverites (?) want.

I think we acknowledge the residential nature of the community and the historic downtown we have. Unlike a strip commercial district we have a concentrated downtown that has corridors leading into it with large homes and a more classic restraint to it. True we do have upper Central Avenue/lower New Rochester Road which does have a strip tone to it. What distinguishes that from a Route 1 is that it is a 5 lane roadway, as opposed to a divided highway. Also, next time you drive that area, look at the homes that still exist on Central Avenue. There are still residences mixed in with the commercial pods.

Part of this character argument is that we see these signs at different stages of existence. Day one they are bright and clear and usually clean. Soon after they get grimy with road waste, especially in the winter with snow and salt. Finally, it has been months on the side of the road or on the utility pole, and suddenly the signs look grungy and affected by the elements. They make the City look dirty and un-kept. My experience is that this grungy and un-kept impression isn't placed on the owner of the sign, but on the community as a whole. I think this is why the community has decided that it doesn't want to allow them.

Drive through town and think about your impressions. Do you have a positive one about fresh, clean and maintained areas and a negative one about the areas that don't shine as well? I bet you do. Next time you drive by and see a sign think of it in that frame of reference.

One last comment, I often wonder how effective the stake and pole signs are? Do you drive by a sign see it, and think that's a product or service I want to use (as you swerve to not hit the car in front of you as you were distracted from the road). I am interested so, let me know.

Next week, I'll discuss the difference between regulations and freedom of speech in regards to signs - the perfect holiday blog post (don't you think?).

Communications

One of the hallmarks for the success of planning in Dover has to be our efforts to encourage participatory planning. The department works because we strive to understand the needs of the community and how we as a community want to develop.

We have tried various methods to engage the public and found some to be successful (our google maps for each planning and zoning application) and some unsuccessful (monthly planning discussion sessions). I like the idea of thinking out of the box and trying to encourage as many people to be involved with planning as possible.

I understand that planning is not about popularity contests, and polls, but rules and regulations, and that the flip side is that our rules and regulations should be community derived and proactive, generally, as opposed to reactive.

Blog
This Blog is one of the methods I have found to engage the public. I see, by the side counter, that we have 8 followers. This sounds low, but it amazes me to meet people that say they read the blog through RSS feed readers or other forms of aggregation. I like the free form though process that can be used here and the ability to get information out in a longer format.

Twitter
Speaking of length of posts, I really enjoy twitter as a communication format. As far as social media goes, I'd say it is the best non-personal tool out there. Our feed twitter.com/DoverNHPlanning has a healthy following, and I enjoy the challenge of consolidating a thought into 140 characters.

This tool has been great for sending out links to agendas and meetings. I have also found that people ask questions via tweeting, and then I can respond to every follower (almost 100) with the answer. Seems to me, if one person has the question, so do others.

Facebook
I have a love hate with Facebook. I see the benefit, but find it annoying. I created a FB page for the Planning Department, but find that it is not as intuitive a tool for non-personal information. It really works better for sharing info with friends.

That said, I tend to repeat tweets on Facebook, albeit with a bit more information and characters. The Community Trail and Friends of Willand Pond are also on Facebook and that is good to see efforts like that.

Google Maps
I really like this option. Google Maps are so intuitive and multi-functional. We use the maps to plot the location of project applications for Planning, Zoning and now Conservation commission applications. In the past we have also used the function to document the growth of the Community Trail and the Pay N Display parking meeter locations.

I find that these maps are well used and informative in a positive way.

DoverDownload
The newest adventure we have undertaken is that weekly I am interviewed by the Media Services Coordinator for the City, and give a blurb, or two, about the Planning world for the video DoverDownload. This feature runs on Channel 22 and is also available online for viewing. This tool is good, because it allows for a more personal touch than a straight press release, but also isn't as wordy as a blog (ha ha).

The rest...
While I don't see the need, anymore, for the monthly Planning Discussions, I do hope to have them maybe on an as needed basis or quarterly. I am not sure if no one knew about them, people didn't want to come at 7:30 am or maybe I need to switch colognes.

Email is still the most used way to interact with the public and I am constantly trying to keep up with it. I can be reached at c.parker@dover.nh.gov, and am happy to reply to questions, or assist with understanding plans or projects. I have a in-department policy with email and phone calls. Both must be returned within 24 hours. Even if the response is that you are looking into something, staff need to respond.

Press releases are also a good tool. They are definitely more traditional, but that isn't a bad thing. I think we have done a good job of noting successes and passing information along this way, and will continue to do so.

Overall I see interacting with the public as a trial and effort situation. We will continue to reach out and try to reach people via any means we can. I am open to ideas and welcome the challenge of trying new tools (tumblr anyone?).

Let me know if you have a suggestion, maybe I'll interact with it.

Energizing the Populus about Planning

I have been thinking a lot over the past 6 to 9 months regarding public participation in planning. A lot of it stems from involvement with the recent rezoning efforts. Some stem from other areas, such as Willand Pond, and a final aspect could be linked to the fact I am a social person, by nature.

Over the fall, I attended a workshop on Form Based Code (FBC). This was just before Dover's City Council voted to adopt the proposed zoning, and I was partaking in a conference sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Congress for New Urbanism on Form Based Code. I spoke, with Steve Whitman, our consultant, on Dover's development of the FBC. During the discussion, I spoke to working with the public and redrafting the code to reflect community concerns. One architect, who was also presenting his draft of a code for a community in Connecticut, who I admire, commented that public participation is one thing, but he felt I went too far and had let the public control the document.

I disagreed with him. I understand his concern, those of us with a technical knowledge should work with the public to educate and motivate for new trends etc, and should be proud of the education. That said, we can not be snobs about it. We can not be the educated elite. What we did with the FBC, and other amendments, was work with the end user - the public - to craft the regulations so that they fit the community of Dover (the City of Dover is the municipal infrastructure). The changes we developed are part of our role as facilitators of public discourse regarding community vision.

I think we need to remember that at the end of the day the public has to be ready for new regulations, and has to support them. Somethings take time to develop and need to be reviewed and formulated more than once, and that is OK. In the end I think that my architect friend is not wrong, just has a different set of glasses on than I do. He is looking at planning as a private consultant, and not as a public official. There is a lot of difference.

Getting the public involved in planning is not the easiest thing in the world. Planning is an intangible, and not as easily to relate to as public works, fire or police operations. You can't see a plan as easily as you can see the pothole in the street, or the fire being put out, or the suspect apprehended. Planning is integral to all aspects of the community, and is important, but until a project is in someone's backyard they don't realize they need our profession.

I am hoping over the next year to work on that. Participation and understanding of Planning and its role in the community is important. Whether it is drafting, with public involvement, the Master Plan, reviewing the Capital Improvements Program, or reviewing a plan for conformity with the above, planning is around the public.

I have been lucky to work for the past 12 years for an organization that encourages the public to be involved. I think it is vital that my department is not called the Planning Department, but is called the Department of Planning and Community Development. The Community moniker refers to the fact that Dover is an entitlement community and receives federal dollars to assist with urban vitality. I see it as being beyond that. My staff are active in the community, whether as a basketball coach, a non-profit board member, a participant in community activities (Apple Harvest Day, Cochecho Arts Festival etc) and when recognized myself and those that work for me are happy to discuss issues and goings on. We are proud to be part of the community.

To that end we can do more. I have hoped to really get this blog going more actively. It hasn't happened yet, but will. I have a FaceBook page to come online soon, and have an idea for other interactive functions. Over the past year, we have amended our web site to include a Google Map of projects before the Planning Board. There is more we can and will do with this technology.

A final piece I see is direct one on one discussions. I had the pleasure of meeting with residents in November regarding the zoning code amendments. I held two (2) information sessions that were attended by the public. There was no agenda, and no program. I showed up and was there to answer questions. I would like to continue this process. In that vein, beginning in February I will start what I see as a "Brown Bag Planning Breakfast" I will find a location and invite people to meet with me to discuss whatever planning topics they find important. This will be a simple back and forth discussion, no notes, no recording, no pressure.

My hope is that this forum will be similar to Coffee With the Mayor and allow residents, business owners and development agents to come forward and be part of the process. Watch for the update, and thanks for being part of the community.