Across the United States, there has been increasing protest over the placing of industrial land uses. While confrontation appears to be common in all types of communities, it appears to be particularly severe in rural and exurban communities. This trend has many causes. Some are based on past experiences, some on legitimate concerns over environmental degradation, and some on a reaction to reported industrial disasters. In virtually all cases, the protest and concern ultimately are played out in terms of zoning, which gives local citizens a direct say in what will happen on the ground in their community. It is our opinion that there is a Zen to zoning whereby one can identify the soul of a community: The zoning ordinance is the one planning-related document that clearly identifies the values of a community and the importance that citizens place on the environment.