Communites adopt land development plans to determine the future look of their community. This can take place on the township or the county level.
Knox County residents and farmers have different views on how to develop land. Their opinions express different ways to keep land for agricultural use while allowing for urban development.
Whether you live in an urban or rural community, it is important for you to think about what you want the future of your community to be. In the following exercise you can analyze your community's land development plan or zoning laws.
 Photo by Mike Shelton | As you explore this portion of the website, keep the following questions in mind. Then, come back and answer these questions as a class. Write a letter to your county commissioner or regional planning office stating your recommendations and ideas. If your township or county does not have a land development plan or zoning laws, discuss why you think this is. Decide whether or not you think a plan or laws should be adopted. If you do decide that a plan or laws should be adopted, write what you think the best possibilities would be for your area. If you decide that you like having no plan or laws covering development and zoning, write why you like this. Remember to include why you think these recommendations and ideas are important. |
 | 1. Does your county or township have one of the following: a land development plan and/or zoning laws? |
| 2. What is this plan? What are the laws? |
| 3. Is your community urban or rural? |
| 4. List a few things you like about the way the land in your township or county is developed. |
| 5. List a few things you dislike about the way the land in your township or county is developed. |
| 6. What aspects of your township's or county's land development plan or zoning laws would you change? Which ones would you keep? Why? |
| 7. Based on these ideas, write a class letter to your county commissioner or regional planning office with your recommendations about the land development plan or zoning laws in your area. Remember to include what parts you like and what parts you feel need to be changed. Also, tell them why you think these changes need to be made. |
