Attention in US literature and practice addressing sustainable development has focused on a limited number of communities such as Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. These communities have been identified as making difficult decisions and ground-breaking policies to advance sustainability initiatives. However, these communities are considered by some to be atypical and their experiences do not relate to the typical US city. The US landscape is dominated by more "average" places. Explores the use of a graduate level planning class to help bring sustainability concepts to a more typical US city, Columbus, Ohio. Examines impediments and opportunities that were encountered in the process, and identifies three key factors that have characterized the Columbus experience: timing, leadership, and a non-continuously successful process. (Contains 5 tables.)