First, in the absence of a periodic plan review and discussion of issues, the town administration, in the hopes of holding down property taxes, may pursue businesses that residents feel are inappropriate for their communities. Administrators will not know this unless they ask their residents. Without the planning process there is no formal mechanism to solicit this information. Second, the planning process provides residents with the opportunity to direct their town leaders' actions when deciding on their town's future. The big box retailer or superstore debate is as much about large scale retail as it is about community control and who has it.
Planning is positive in other ways.
It helps a community conserve scarce fiscal resources by directing development in an orderly fashion. It encourages people to think about where their town is heading in terms of demographics, its role in the state or regional economy, how existing natural resources should be used or preserved, and what and where infrastructure investments should be made. A plan of conservation and development contains a clear expression of a community's goals for future development, areas of improvement and assets worth preserving. It should reflect the values and best thinking of the community's residents. It is essential that local citizens be involved in the preparation and update of the plan, not just in its review.