Design and planning encompass the process of bringing a vision from an idea to the point of implementation of that idea. Site planning and design require the professional to consider a broad range of concerns in the synthesis of a design concept. There are the physical aspects of the site itself, the vision or program of the client, the designer s own creative inclination, the concerns of the community, and the interests of the end user. The public s interests are represented by a variety of public authorities that exist for the purpose of regulating and overseeing the development process. The land development ordinances are generally intended to act as a set of minimum standards or guidelines. Few ordinances can be applied to a specific site or project without some adjustment or accommodation. The more prescriptive the ordinance, the greater the frequency and scope of the necessary accommodations; the less prescriptive, the lower the minimum standard. Such general standards represent a local view of the minimum requirements for land development and should not be confused with a measurement of design quality. Quality design and development typically need to go beyond the minimum threshold of the local ordinances.

For every developer interested in only the lowest-quality of work and effort, there are others with a broader view of what they do and the quality of their legacy. Because most development companies are businesses and every project is a business activity, site design professionals must balance their clients objectives and the community s standards and...