This publication is intended as a quick-start guide to help citizens get up to speed on the terms, procedures and key issues in development. This effort is motivated by one central belief: The surest way to create neighborhoods, towns and metropolitan regions worthy of passing on to our children is to engage the full, informed participation of the people who live in them. It is our hope that, by leveling the playing field for citizens even a little bit, we can help make planning and development more collaborative and less adversarial.