Appointment of plan commission members is an important decision and should recognize the duties of the commission. Officials should choose individual commissioners that together have the skills and experiences the commission needs to fulfill its purpose, while also reflecting the diversity, interests and needs of the entire community. Below is a set of criteria that can be used to help identify qualified plan commission members.

Commitment to Community Service

Candidates must demonstrate a concern for serving the public interest. Look for individuals who:

• Are willing to attend and come prepared for commission meetings as well as educational workshops, conferences, and other planning events.
• Have demonstrated an interest in community service by serving as elected officials, citizen advisors, or in some other capacity.
• Are able to sustain service throughout their term.

Interpersonal and Decision Making Skills

Desirable candidates should have strong interpersonal and decision-making skills. Commissioners that possess the following traits enhance the commission’s productivity:

• Good communication
• Detail-oriented
• Willingness to learn
• Critical and objective thinker
• Open-minded

Planning Skills and Expertise

Planning involves numerous and complex topics, such as natural resource management and economic development. Therefore, it is helpful to choose commissioners that have skills and experience that can broaden the commission’s collective knowledge. Desirable qualifications include:

• Strong analytical skills (able to read maps and plan proposals and assess potential land use impacts).
• Knowledge of diverse fields such as land use law, real estate, construction, natural resources, economic development, local government, policy development, and other related fields.

Diversity

The plan commission should reflect the diversity and uniqueness of the community it represents. The ideal commission will consist of individuals that reflect various social, cultural, economic and other community interests. A diverse and reflective commission can be achieved using a combination of the following criteria:

1. Physical or Geographic Diversity. A community may consist of various physical or geographic landscapes each with its own unique issues. For example, a community may contain one area dominated by agriculture, another characterized by forests and lakes, and a third more urbanized area. Commission members can be selected to mirror these areas.
2. Jurisdictional Diversity. Interests and concerns often vary by jurisdiction. For example, one town may be pro-growth while its neighbors are pro-preservation. It is important to reflect these interests on the commission, particularly at the county level.
3. Demographic Diversity. Different types of people have different interests and needs. For example, retired citizens may want better health services while younger parents want good schools for their children. Ideally, the plan commission should reflect the community’s demographic, cultural and socioeconomic composition.
4. Professional Diversity. Selecting commission members based on demography or geography alone does not assure representation of important economic or professional interests. Such representation is essential in forming policy objectives and in determining the impact of proposed plans and regulations on different segments of the community. Ideally, various economic sectors and professions will be represented on the commission. The table below shows the professional diversity of a sample group of plan commissioners.

Additional Points to Consider

When selecting members, the personal and professional interests of plan commission members should be carefully considered to ensure objectivity. Individuals who are selected for their land use expertise, such as developers or real estate professionals, may find themselves in a position where a plan commission decision involves a professional acquaintance or personal financial interest.

Occasional conflicts of interest are to be expected and should be avoided by asking members to recuse themselves from the decision-making process (see Chapter 2 for additional guidance). Such occurrences may also be reduced by selecting individuals for the plan commission that do not hold a direct financial interest in local land use decisions.

In all situations, it is necessary to balance the prospective skills and expertise of plan commission members against the potential for conflicts of interest or likely litigation.

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Watch Now: Recruit, Train and Retrain

Learn what to look for in recruiting plan commission members and the type of training to help new and experienced members.

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