A little town called Vienna, MD has sought the assistance of responsible and qualified planners for their future to ensure their sense of place and community values.

On their little web site they say of the town: "A historic cross roads village dating from early colonial times, the town has managed to preserve much of its charm and quiet lifestyle for over three centuries…"

They are doing just that:

Vienna Mayor Outlines Annexation Plan to Preserve Quality of Life, Sense of Place in Eastern Shore Town

As development surges all across the Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore, Vienna Mayor Russell Brinsfield wants to spare the 280 residents of this tiny 300-year-old town the risk of ''cookie-cutter McMansions on 20-acre lots'' by annexing 376 acres of adjacent farmland for 300 future homes in clusters near public trails and parks, which would leave two-thirds of the tract as open space.

''I see what's happening in other parts of the Shore, and I think we can do better — do something that protects that special sense of place and our quality of life, instead of just reacting to developers,'' says Mayor Brinsfield. ''I think this gives us the chance to control our own destiny.''

A preliminary comprehensive plan, drafted with extensive community input and approved by town officials in January, envisions new houses matching the old ''in a seamless extension of streets'' centered on a proposed town square with a new Town Hall, writes Baltimore Sun reporter Chris Guy, noting that experts call it classic smart growth. ''We see Vienna as a model of how conservation and growth could actually go hand-in-hand,'' says Washington-based Conservation Fund Vice President Erik Meyers. (Smart Growth Network)

A look at Vienna's plans and visions for the future shows a basic and great start to not only the planning of their own town but good principles to follow for all towns. Preserving community values and sense of place is what all town leaders should be interested in.

If you don't like the town where you are, tell your leaders they should be doing better. Doing better starts with planning.