The community decides what it will do. Then the decision must be implemented. Usually the community must be willing to obtain qualified personnel and funds to accomplish the task. Throughout the previous steps the community should continually review and evaluate the decisions made and the work carried out. These steps are cyclical in nature with feedback at and among all steps involving the public at large, elected and appointed administrative officials, and the planners.
Communities use instruments to implement planning.
Some persons regard the land use planning tools as the only implementing means. This view is too limited, for many additional techniques or methods are available to shape and to carry out decisions. All such planning tools are designed to affect the decisions and actions of people. The public, as individuals and groups, have means to carry out public policy other than through local government. Some people may argue that such ways are not planning tools because they may not fall within the responsibility of local government.