Most communities still have at least fragments of neighborhoods that work fairly well. They are also often threatened by surrounding conventional development. Learn to compare patterns, figure out what works, and what to do about it. Average folks are able to see the big picture. If you live in a place, and plan to stay, you are often able to see the big picture.
Public servants can rise above their current job descriptions.
Reward those who make mistakes trying out new ideas or methods. The people who live in a neighborhood know how it works. They know how it came to be, who and what is important, and why. No professional planner or designer should make decisions or assumptions about a community's future without real input from the residents. Language can get in the way.