Try saying "multiple municipal comprehensive planning code" five times fast.

That's not a problem among those in a coalition of five Butler County towns whose planners say the tongue twister could be a smart-growth savior.

The five communities are as different from each other as big-box malls are from cow pastures.

That's what makes the case for cooperative land use more compelling, said Cindy Davis, the Butler Township zoning officer who is shepherding the proposal.

The city of Butler wants more stores and businesses.

Penn's largest strip mall has maybe five stores, although a $64 million sewer project promises to up the ante.

Summit is mostly woods and farmland, while Butler Township has the big-box shopping plazas.

Combined with tiny East Butler, the five towns are seeking state funds for a joint plan that would meet each community's interests at a reduced cost.

"The folks in Summit Township may not necessarily have the need for the same type of facilities that the city has, but that's the beauty of it -- to see what's appropriate for each," Ms. Davis said.

"We're planning ahead so that the things we want to have are in the places we want to have them," added John Mossman, a member of the Butler Downtown Revitalization Committee.

The communities are seeking a grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development that would pay for half of the estimated $304,000 cost of the plan. The local communities would then cover a proportionate share.

The kickoff was held Oct. 23 at the Butler Township Recreation Center, Ms. Davis said, as the communities discussed their individual and collective needs.

At the core, she said, lies the city of Butler.

"It's the center of our community, and if the outlying towns think what happens in the city doesn't affect them, it just doesn't work that way," Ms. Davis said.

The challenge, she said, is to ensure that the plan is a win-win for each community plus the region.

What makes Penn unique among its neighbors is the future impact of an extensive sewer project that began in the spring. One way or the other, the infrastructure upgrade will attract developers.

A good land plan, said Penn Manager Greg Primm, should help direct development in the right locations.

"Penn is a residential and agricultural township with limited opportunity for commercial growth, something the township wants to ensure by taking a multi-municipal approach to planning," he said.

While future development is a cautionary tale in places like Penn, Butler is looking for a revitalization.

Mr. Mossman said his group and the five-community coalition are sharing a recently authorized downtown needs survey. Butler is also set to hire a Main Street program manager.

"One of the things I've said repeatedly is the city of Butler is the identity of all the communities that are involved in this. People don't say, 'I'm from Penn Township' or 'Summit Township.' They say, 'I'm from Butler,' " he said.

The city is essentially landlocked, so any large-scale development would take place beyond the city limits.

"But there are certain things that people in any one of these separate municipalities all want. Even though I live in the city, my son and I hunt. We don't want all the forested area around here to disappear," he said.

Incompatible zoning can unravel the best-laid plans. At the same time, smart ideas left in a vacuum are useless.

"This can't be a nice little book that sits on the office shelf," Mr. Mossman said of the joint plan. "It has to have some executable projects as part of the plan."

So far, Ms. Davis said, things are on track. She's optimistic about the plan's chances of getting state approval, particularly because it involves five communities.

"The state is pretty supportive of these sorts of partnerships," she said.