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In terms of which should take precedence - the zoning ordinance or comprehensive plan - when the two conflict, regardless of what the new legislation dictates, the response was firmly in support of the zoning ordinance. Seventy-two percent of the respondents indicated that the zoning ordinance should take precedence. Their reasons can be grouped into five general categories: o 0 o 0 0 the zoning ordinance is a legal, enforceable instrument with the power of law zoning is more detailed, specific and basic zoning retains local control since zoning decisions are made by a locally-elected body zoning is more current than the comprehensive plan zoning is more easily understood, more practical and more upfront For the 28 percent of the communities that indicated that the comprehensive plan should take precedence, the primary reason noted was that the comprehensive plan establishes the long-term direction, goals and values for a community and provides a framework for individual zoning decisions. In this way, the zoning ordinance is meant to effectuate the comprehensive plan, not direct or control it. A few respondents were quite strong in their support of the comprehensive plan, with one community asking, "Why do we have a comprehensive plan if it doesn't serve as a guide for the development and redevelopment of services in a community?" Finally, respondents were asked whether the new legislation will create a problem in their community in implementing either the comprehensive plan or the zoning ordinance. Ninety-one percent answered no. Again, their answers can be categorized into five areas: Zoning has always been the controlling document. Inconsistencies are being resolved. Both documents are taken seriously enough that inconsistency is not a problem. Inconsistency is of less importance in fully-developed communities than in developing suburbs. The comprehensive plan is not a working document; it merely collects dust. For those few communities that indicated that the new legislation would present a problem, explanations fell into three general categories: The comprehensive plan establishes a city's goals, values and direction for the future. The zoning ordinance is meant to effectuate the comprehensive plan, not direct or control it. Where a community has its own comprehensive plan but is under another jurisdiction's zoning ordinance, giving precedence to the zoning ordinance removes local control. The new legislation is contrary to the concept of comprehensive planning. It was interesting that a few communities who noted that the comprehensive plan should take precedence still anticipated no problem with the new legislation. Logically enough, those communities were usually communities that did not consider inconsistency a problem.