Planning Boards at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

The weakness of subdivision control is that it controls neither the amount nor the location of subdividing. The abuse of this privilege by irresponsible speculators has resulted in literally hundreds of thousands of lots being thrown on the market, remaining unsold, and eventually becoming tax delinquent. Planning boards, in general, derive their authority from the local legislative body within the framework of a state enabling act authorizing municipalities, and sometimes counties, to create such boards. They are appointive ; the members are unpaid, except in New York City. To be at all effective, there must be a paid staff of men trained in the field of professional planning. If the board becomes politically objectionable, funds are withheld and the board becomes inoperative.

To help find small nails and tacks left in floorboards, slip an old nylon stocking over your hand and run it lightly over the boards. To check if the boards are uneven, lay a straight batten across the run of the boards. Pull the curtains or turn out the lights, then shine a flashlight behind the batten. Light will shine through where the boards undulate. Where the boards are badly worn, try lifting them and turning them over instead of buying new ones.

In a few cities, notably New York City, the planning board reviews the budget of capital expenditures. In New York City the planning commission (the title in that city) actually prepares a five-year capital budget and sends the current year's budget to the board of estimate, which can delete but not add. Such procedure is rare; in general planning boards are limited to review and to making their recommendation or to silence.