There is a growing trend in Europe and the United States towards local use of the referendum to decide land use matters. Local communities are taking a more active role in planning the building programmes around them. Using examples from the United States this book includes an analysis and overview of direct democracy, the increasing use of ballot box planning to settle land use issues, legal considerations of ballot box planning and the future of this type of urban management.There is a growing trend in Europe and the United States towards local use of the referendum to decide land use matters. Local communities are taking a more active role in planning the building programmes around them. Using examples from the United States this book includes an analysis and overview of direct democracy, the increasing use of ballot box planning to settle land use issues, legal considerations of ballot box planning and the future of this type of urban management.Preface Direct Democracy and Its Place in Democratic Theory Ballot Box Planning in the United States Legal Considerations in Ballot Box Planning Barnstable County, Massachusetts Managing Growth at the Regional Level Portland, Maine Preserving the Working Waterfront San Diego, California Preventing the Los Angelization of San Diego Seattle, Washington Capping Downtown Growth Conclusions