Appendix A - Website Effectiveness Checklist for Urban Planners
Planners can check the items below on their own, except those marked with an asterisk (*). For those items, it's recommended to collaborate with experienced developers.
The website complies with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards (contrast, alt text, keyboard navigation).*
All interactive elements (buttons, forms, menus) are accessible by keyboard and screen reader.
Font sizes are legible on both desktop and mobile devices.
Videos and audio content have captions and transcripts.
Error messages on forms are clear, specific, and actionable.
Users can increase text size or switch to high-contrast mode.
The site is responsive and functions on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.
Pages load within three seconds on standard and slow internet connections.
PDFs and downloadable documents are mobile-friendly and properly formatted.
GIS tools and zoning maps function correctly across devices.
The homepage provides a clear purpose statement for the site.
Users can find key information (zoning maps, public hearings, applications) in three clicks or less.
The navigation menu is clear, logical, and free of jargon.
Every page has a descriptive, easy-to-understand title.
There is a search function that delivers relevant results.
The content uses plain language instead of technical planning terms.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for common user concerns.
There is a clear way for residents to provide feedback (surveys, comment sections, contact forms).
The site includes a public meeting calendar with dates, times, and links to agendas.
Users can subscribe to updates (email alerts, RSS feeds, or push notifications).
Past public comments, meeting recordings, and decisions are available for review.
Zoning and land use changes include clear explanations, maps, and visual aids.
The website has multilingual support for non-English-speaking residents.
If IP tracking is used for engagement, it is anonymized and privacy-compliant.*
Forms (permits, zoning applications) are easy to complete and submit online.
Users receive confirmation emails when submitting applications or comments.
The application processing status is trackable online.
Residents can report urban issues (e.g., potholes, and code violations) directly through the website.
The website has an SSL certificate (HTTPS) for security.*
User data collection is minimized and follows privacy laws.*
A privacy policy is visible and easy to understand.
No personal information is required for basic site access or public engagement.
The website clearly states how public input will be used and stored.
The site design is clean, modern, and free from clutter.
Maps and visuals are high-quality, labeled, and easy to interpret.
Buttons and links are visible and action-oriented.
The website follows a consistent color scheme and branding.
The website is search engine optimized (SEO).*
Key pages have meta descriptions and proper headers.*
Pages can be easily shared on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
Public meeting materials are available as shareable links instead of only PDFs.