As any good business knows, a good website is critical. A
good website provides an impression, serves at a repository for
information, functions as a means of communication and works as a
vehicle for a transaction, among other important uses.
A local government website is no exception. The municipal
laws? The address of the parks department? The baseball
field's hours? The next meeting of the board of
adjustment? Paying a water bill? All can be found or
achieved through a good website.
What does this have to do with land use or litigation, you ask?
Well, tons and tons.
In the land use space, a good local government website is
critical. The zoning map? The next agenda for the
upcoming meeting of the governing board? The minutes from the
last meeting of the planning board? The geographic
information system (GIS), or other means of gathering property
information? All of this is available at the local government
offices, sure, but efficiency and even accuracy can be enhanced
when the information goes digital and can be accessed on a website.
We spend a great deal of time researching local government
websites for information whether we are working with, for or
against a local government in the land use space. Better
information leads to better government, better development and
better communities. And a good website can provide and
deliver that better information.
The City of Raleigh, where the Land Use Litigator is based, was
recently recognized as one of the 10 Best Local Government Websites
for 2014 by Government Technology and eRepublic's Center for
Digital Government. For its part, Wake County, in which
Raleigh sits, is named in the top 5 of the best county government
websites.
The rankings for the Digital Government Achievement Awards can be
seen here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.