What knowledge and skills do urban planners need?
Urban planners are trained as problem solvers. In order to find a solution to a specific problem, a planner may draw upon tools derived from economics, statistics, engineering, and architecture—among other fields. Perhaps the key skill that planners bring to their work is the ability to see the inter-connections between different facets of urban living. For example, if a suburban community restricts development of low-cost housing, allowing on only expensive housing to be built, how will the community provide enough workers to fill a range of jobs that will be needed by employers in the future? What will be the cost to attract employees—affordable housing, public transportation, private buses for employers? Or will a community fail to take action and pay the price by losing employers? What may initially appear to be separate problems—housing, land use, and economic development—planners see as closely linked. Planners learn to take a step back, to take a broader view of any subject. Pla
