Forecasting 2021: 7 Trends for Planners
Planners helped lead communities through rapid changes brought about by COVID-19 — from a new retail reality to increasing demands for broadband to expanding outdoor spaces. What does 2021 hold for planners?
2021 Planning Trends Summarize
We've gathered seven trends (plus helpful resources) to keep your eye on as you prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead in 2021 and beyond:
1. Digital Transformation
From smart cities to e-commerce to educating and working from home, every community across the country has undergone rapid digital transformations and will continue to do so. Technology has helped keep people connected and provide planners with access to real-time data to help make hyper-local decisions.
APA RESOURCES
Smart City Digital Twins
Flying Taxis are Coming: How Communities Can Prepare
Increased Remote Work Could Mean Big Changes for Cities
2. Fiscal Impacts and Economic Recovery
Municipal budgets will remain stretched, requiring planners to do more with less. Enter creative thinking in how to address daily and future community needs through different thought processes such as "lean" and design thinking. Planners are also vital in helping ensure communities have an equitable recovery, correcting mistakes from the past to ensure everyone has a chance to be successful following the pandemic.
APA RESOURCES
Slowing Down to Speed Up: Improving Planning Process with Lean
Design Thinking
3. Online Public Engagement
The need for physical distancing has disrupted public engagement events and activities. Planners are continuing to think outside the box on how to keep community planning moving forward while ensuring all community members have an opportunity to participate, safely. From moving meetings online to helping to bridge the digital divide, planners will continue to navigate new and creative ways to keep the voice of all community members front and center in planning.
APA RESOURCES
Online Public Engagement Collection
How COVID-19 Has Underscored the Digital Divide podcast
4. Cannabis
The ballot box in 2020 saw an additional five states legalize cannabis for medicinal or recreational use, bringing the tally to 38 states. From shop location to cultivation and processing, planners are at the head of figuring out marijuana-related land uses without undermining public health, safety, or welfare.
APA RESOURCES
Marijuana-Related Uses Collection
Regulating Medical and Recreational Marijuana Land Use
Planning the Process from Seed to Sale
5. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Planners should advocate for policies that support equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of planning at local, state, and federal levels. While all planning work should be grounded in equity, planners can help correct past wrongs and reduce disparities that exist across communities.
APA RESOURCES
Planning for Equity Policy Guide
More and Better: Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Planning
Eliminating Racial Segregation Is Good Economic Policy
6. Resilience and Climate Change
Climate change is a threat to the future safety and sustainability of our communities. With upcoming changes at the federal level and as communities continue to reinvent in the aftermath of COVID-19, planners are uniquely positioned to help communities prepare for and address the multitude of challenges brought about by climate change.
APA RESOURCES
Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface
Climate Migrants Are on the Move
7. Public Health
Public health jolted to the forefront of national conversations last year due to the pandemic and will continue to be a focus this year and in the years to come. From having equitable public space to opportunities for improving community health and well-being, planners are working in tandem with public health professionals to help create equitable, safe, and healthier communities.
APA RESOURCES
Toolkit to Integrate Health and Equity Into Comprehensive Plans
Healthy Communities Policy Guide
Metrics for Planning Healthy Communities
Top image: Getty Images photo.