The 5 Tools
Of Planning
Tools used by planners to guide growth
Although planning is by nature comprehensive and inclusive, in practice planners are very limited in the extent of power they have to effect change. For them, it is sometimes frustrating to develop well-thought-out proposals, only to have to wait on the judgement of others to see them come to fruition. Planners have available to them only five basic tools with which plans can be implemented. However, if they are properly utilized, they can be very effective. The five basic tools are:
| Tool | Power to implement |
|---|
| Land use controls | Police power |
|---|
| Targeted capital improvements | Power to spend public monies |
|---|
| Taxation incentives | Power to tax/ not tax |
|---|
| Land acquisition | Purchase/ eminent domain |
|---|
| Persuasion | Control of information sources |
|---|
