A plan is a guide for public officials and private citizens to use in making informed decisions that will affect their community. IS NOT . An attempt to replace market forces of supply and demand. It helps shape and channel market forces by establishing certain guidelines or rules to manage development. An instrument of immediate change.
Planning is a trial and response process.
Good planning requires continual review of accomplishments and the surrounding environment to adjust the plan when needed. A plan is only a guide for action. The Purposes of Planning . . . The purpose of planning is to help decision makers arrive at informed and thoughtful decisions. Good information, which is the basis of good planning, helps officials predict what might happen in certain situations.