Problems of small-town planning are not from lack of plans, they’re from lack of judgment and foresight. Even the smallest towns have plans, regulations, task forces, etc. Problems come from planners (both professionals and residents on committees) who lack the judgment to distinguish between big and small matters (and so waste time on the small). They may also lack foresight (and so cannot distinguish between likely and unlikely outcomes).
Attention to detail is only useful if one can sort details by immediate and future significance.