I had the opportunity to attend the MPAC Mayor’s Forum last Friday. The event was the first public review of a new study by Davis/Hibbitts on attitudes toward regional planning. You may have seen some of this quoted in the Oregonian on Friday.

I’m trying to get a hold of the PowerPoint file, as there are some great questions on transportation with some important insights. But meanwhile, here a key learning we need to absorb for making the case for good regional planning.

Appeal to their pocketbooks, not just their values.

While the poll clearly affirmed that citizens support planning to protect our quality of life (83%), a strong 76% also agreed that “Land use planning helps protect the value of my home.”

Similarly, when asked about farm and forestland, the responses lined up like this:

76% lean toward preserving farm and forestland for their value to the economy, versus 18% that lean toward opening up these lands to business expansion.

So lets keep keep in mind that planning tastes great AND it’s less filling.