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there will probably always be a need for paper copies for <br />members of the public. <br />Planners should standardize the types of graphics <br />to be used in all staff reports and adopt a standardized <br />format (see References below). And, as San Diego Coun- <br />ty, California, does, there should be a list of optional <br />graphics to be included when special situations arise. <br />The graphics should ideally be integrated with Pow- <br />erPoint presentations of the particular case to the decision- <br />making body and the public to orient them to the nature of <br />the proposal in the context of the surrounding area. <br />We anticipate greater use of visualization tools (see <br />References below) in staff reports. However, we believe it <br />should be the responsibility of the applicant, rather than <br />the planning staff, to develop the images, since it is the <br />applicant who is asking for development permission and <br />is responsible for the accuracy of the images. <br />When photographs, including aerial and satellite <br />photos, are incorporated, it is important that they be <br />dated, with the name of the person taking them or the <br />source of the imagery, like Google Earth. The reason for <br />doing this is that the photographs and imagery are part <br />of the public hearing record and may be significant if <br />there is litigation. <br />The real beneficiaries of digital graphics, we con- <br />clude, will be the public. No longer is it necessary to <br />trudge up to the local government building to pick up an <br />agenda packet. All that must be done is to go to the local <br />government's website and download the material. This <br />democratizes planning by making planning documents <br />and application material available well in advance of <br />scheduled hearings, hopefully leading to a better in- <br />formed citizenry who can analyze and challenge or sup- <br />port proposals for land development. <br />Examples of Staff Reports Using Digital Graphics <br />Here are some examples of recent staff reports where digi- <br />tal graphics have been incorporated to various degrees. <br />• Arapahoe (Colorado), County of. 2015. Colorado <br />Planning Commission Meeting, August 4: <br />tinyurl.com/qejzbej. <br />• Big Bear Lake (California), City of. 2015. Planning <br />Commission Agenda, September 2: <br />tinyurl.com/nanhodb. <br />• Fairfax (Virginia), County of. 2014. Staff Report, <br />February 19 (this is a very long report): <br />tinyurl.com/gggccy6. <br />• Jefferson (Louisiana), Parish of. 2015. Planning <br />Advisory Board Meeting, November19: <br />tinyurl.com/gyw6hjk. <br />• Salem (Oregon) City of. 2014. Staff Report, October 7: <br />tinyurl.com/pk2ewsx. <br />• San Diego (California), County of. 2015. Planning <br />Commission Meeting, September 11 (click on various <br />agenda items): tinyurl.com/neofjsl. <br />0 Figure 7. A photo simulation of a proposed indoor sports center and <br />retail shops in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. <br />0 Figure 8. <br />Recommended <br />site plan changes <br />for Storr Tractor's <br />proposed project <br />in Branchburg, <br />New Jersey. <br />RETA'I,N.LARGE <br />•.TREESINTAC <br />c• <br />ADD <br />EVERGREEN <br />SUFFER <br />ADD <br />SHADE <br />TREES <br />ecornniended Plan Revisions: Storr Tractor <br />e Caton Hintz, PC <br />ZONINGPRACTICE 146 <br />AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION Ipage 6 <br />