The importance of embedding local staff in a charrette team
Print
EmailSuccessful project implementation requires the understanding and support of those who must implement the charrette plan.
Successful project implementation requires the understanding and support of those who must implement the charrette plan. Very often this includes members of the local planning staff whose responsibility it is to create and administer any policy and/or development standards resulting from the charrette.
A good example of such a project is one that includes the writing of Form Based Codes. The adoption of Form Base Codes represents a major departure from conventional zoning standards and can result in substantial procedural changes for the staff members who are responsible for day-to-day code administration. Unless these staffers are involved in the creation of the codes, they may resist their adoption.
In this case, it is important to involve both management and administrative staff throughout the project. Embedding code staff in the charrette team allows them to become co-authors of the code. When staff is involved in the creation of the new code they take ownership and they are more likely to do the extra work necessary to implement it. Importantly, this also reduces rework by assuring that the new code is a good fit with the existing regulatory framework.
