We got so much interest from builders, clients and the municipal planners, who have a big say.

"It is a matter of deep concern for every small-business owner and municipal planner."

Most of these cases have evoked anxiety in the neighborhood about esthetics and property values, municipal planners say, but little notice even a few streets away.

After attending Paul Smith's College in New York State he returned to Connecticut and worked as a municipal planner.

Each year a different project theme is developed by a team of MCA members, architects, and municipal planners.

The idea of "traffic calming" to create pedestrian-friendly streets is a hot topic among municipal planners these days.

Community wireless gave municipal planners "the validation that a lot of those ideas could work," Mr. Richardson said.

Community representatives are often invited by municipal planners to contribute to ARPs.

Lake Oswego, Ore., is an affluent Portland suburb where municipal planners have tried to keep big-city troubles at arm's length.

The plans caused controversy since the municipal and regional planners wanted the area to be used for recreation purposes.