When should the public be involved in a countywide planning process?

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Public involvement works best after the plan goals have been defined because it lets residents and stakeholders focus their input on how to achieve those goals, not on deciding what the goals should be. With goals set, the public can critique proposed strategies, identify feasible actions, consider trade-offs, and help prioritize programs, which strengthens legitimacy and supports adoption. Early engagement can inform needs, but meaningful influence on the plan’s content comes when the goals are in place. Involvement only for regulatory compliance reduces participation to a box-ticking exercise, and waiting until the adoption phase limits the public’s ability to shape the actual plan.