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NOVEMBER 1997
<br />
<br />AMERICAN
<br />PLANNING
<br />ASSOCIATION
<br />
<br />Online Zoning Resources'
<br />
<br />By San jay Jeer, AICP
<br />
<br />Most planners have by now encountered the digital world
<br />of the Internet, online services, and computer networks.
<br />Some explore this online medium by choice, some by chance,
<br />and many have no choice. The Internet provides a myriad of
<br />zoning-related information for planners, as discussed in the
<br />recent PAS Report, Online Resources for Planners (Report No.
<br />474), published by APA's Planning Advisory Service. This
<br />article is a summary of the report's introduction to the Internet
<br />and these resources.
<br />
<br />What is the internet?
<br />The Internet is a global network of computers and communica-
<br />tion networks governed by a set of standards, protocols, and
<br />technologies for communicating between disparate computers,
<br />networks, software programs, and languages.
<br /> It is necessary to understand the mechanics of the Internet to
<br />use its resources effectively. This issue of Zoning News includes
<br />a short overview of the technology, but first-time users and
<br />computer intermediates may find it necessary to consult other
<br />sources.
<br /> The Internet hosts a variety of helpful guides, a few of'which
<br />are listed in the box below.
<br />
<br />FYI Guides
<br />http.'//rs, internic, net/nic-suppo~fyi/
<br />
<br />Beginner's Net Guide
<br />http://www, inetworid, net/begin, html
<br />
<br />15-Minute Guides
<br />http://rs, internic, net/nic-support/15rnin/
<br />
<br />Guide to the Internet
<br />http://www, eft. org/papers/eegtti/
<br />
<br /> Each Internet resource has a unique address, regardless of its
<br />classification as a user, file, program, computer, network service,
<br />e-mail message, or organization. When accessing an Internet
<br />site, it is helpful to know the type of sen, ice that is providing
<br />the resource. Widely used services are the World Wide Web
<br />(WWW or "web" for short), ftp, gopher, e-mail, and Usenet.
<br /> Computer programs, such as the web browser or e-mail,
<br />access Internet services using specific formats, or protocols,
<br />which define the format for communicating on the Internet.
<br />The most common protocols are the hypertext transfer protocol
<br />
<br />(HTTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), post office protocol
<br />(POP), and the network news transfer protocol (NNTP).
<br /> The resources listed in this article are in the Internet's
<br />Universal Resource Locator (UR.L) format, which uses the "at"
<br />symbol (@), the forward slash (/), the colon (:), and others. It is
<br />these symbols, interspersed between normal text, that give the
<br />"acrostic mask" to Internet addresses.
<br /> Resources listed here use the http protocol. That is, each
<br />URL address listed here begines with "http://". Use an Internet
<br />browser ro access these resources.
<br />
<br /> Planners and Information Technology
<br /> Planners employ technology tools for a variety of tasks--ranging
<br /> from word processing to real-time data modeling. They may
<br /> look to the Internet not only for information, but to enhance
<br /> traditional planning functions as well. Many planning software
<br /> programs have also begun to exploit the utility and value of the
<br /> Internet. Planning departments now utilize the web to publish
<br /> planning documents and provide traditional planning services.
<br /> Some use the "Net" for soliciting public comments on planning
<br /> issues, while others see ir as a tool for two-way communication
<br /> to conduct online town hall meetings or design charrettes.
<br /> The impacts of information technology on the planning
<br />profession have been sporadic and somewhat unpredictable. An
<br />early influx of technology created methods for improvements to
<br />the internal operations of agencies and firms, resulting in
<br />automating permit processing, faster publication of better-
<br />quality reports, and improved efficiency in planning for
<br />highways, parks, and housing. Following this came
<br />improvements in databases and geographic information systems
<br />(GIS), which allowed planning agencies to publish statistical
<br />data, maps, and other cartographic products with plans and
<br />zoning ordinances. Now, some communities routinely use the
<br />Internet to handle site plans, subdivision requests,
<br />environmental assessments, and other-traditional planning tasks.
<br />
<br />Planning a~d Zoning Documents
<br />on the Web
<br />An increasing number of communities are publishing their
<br />plans, zoning ordinances, and other development regulations
<br />online. These documents typically serve developers, citizens,
<br />students, research organizations, and other municipalities. They
<br />provide planners with an accessible tool for researching zoning
<br />codes, planning language, and other relevant material.
<br /> Zoning and subdivision ordinances are typically the first to
<br />be posted, followed by comprehensive plans and other
<br />development regulations such as fire, building, and safety codes.
<br />These documents are usually nothing more than simple text files
<br />augmented by occasional maps or images. Some communities,
<br />however, are now beginning to publish elaborate zoning and
<br />plan maps online with sophisticated databases and interactive
<br />features. Online interactive maps, for instance, allow users to
<br />navigate a community's parcel-based map to locate zoning
<br />districts and plan designations. With databases linked to these
<br />maps, they can display parcel information such as size, location,
<br />ownership, and so on.
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