Fundamental Concepts of Land Use Planning

Friedman definition

Planning is primarily a way of thinking about socio-economic problems, oriented predominantly toward the future, is deeply concerned with the relation of goals to collective decisions and strives for comprehensiveness in policy and program

Glasson definition

A sequence of actions which are designed to solve problems in the future. Planning problems tend to be social and economic. Time horizon of the future varies according to the type and level of planning

Hall definition

Deliberately achieving some objective by assembling actions into some orderly sequence

Keeble definition

Art and science of ordering the use of land and siting of buildings and communication routes so as to secure maximum practicable degree of economy, convenience, and beauty

Greed definition

To do with property and land, and therefore with money Highly political activity inextricably linked with prevailing economic system, and reflective, in policy-making, of the booms and slumps of the property market

Serote definition

A comprehensive, long-range and multi-sectoral effort to attain a set of goals by deciding upon a mix of alternative strategies; It may have a time frame of 3 to 30 years

Planning (formal defition)

the sequential process consisting of stages and activities strategically designed to effectively achieve pre-set goals and objectives.

Land use planning definition

• rational and judicious approach of allocating available land

  resources to different land using activities

• detailed process of determining the location and area of land required for the implementation of social and economic development, policies, plans, programs and projects.

constitutional framework

• defines power of the government (federal, state, sub-

  state, city, township, village)

powers of the government

1. power of eminent domain

2. power of taxation

3. police power

power of eminent domain

Government has the right to take property for public purposes; payment of just compensation, due process of law

power of taxation

Government has the right to impose taxes

police power

Regulate activities of the private parties to protect the interest of the people – health, safety, public welfare

short term

[duration of plan]; 1-3 years e.g. expenditure plan

medium term

[duration of plan] 5-7 years e.g. development plan

long range

[duration of plan] 10-30 years e.g. CLUP; 20-50 years e.g. Masterplan

type and level of planning

Time-horizon of the envisaged future varies according to the ____

5 sectors

1. environmental

2. economic

3. social

4. physical

5. institutional and fiscal management

environmental sub-sector

natural resources, natural hazards, air and water quality, pollution

economic sub-sector

tourism, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, industry, commerce, and trade

social sub-sector

residential/housing, schools, social welfare services, health, population management, sports and recreation, parks and natural amenities, protective services

physical sub-sector

infrastructure, transport network, utilities: power and water supplies, communications, sewerage, and solid waste

process oriented

[shift in modern planning] before: product oriented, now _____

strategic

[shift in modern planning] before: all inclusive, now ___

integrated (trans-border)

[shift in modern planning] before: compartmental due to administrative boundaries, now ___

community based

[shift in modern planning] before: agency lead, now __

bottom up

[shift in modern planning] before: top down, now __

focused participation

[shift in modern planning] before: open participation

what is the land use planner’s role

• shape physical layout of settlements

• concerned with problems with spatial dimension

questions in the planning process

• What is the present situation?

• Is change desirable/needed? If so:

  • What needs to be changed?

  • How can the changes be made?

  • Which is the best option?

attributes of the planning process

• science and art

• multi-disciplinary

• comprehensive

• dynamic

• continuous/iterative

• participatory

• cyclic/spiral

• time bound

science and art

[attributes of the planning process]; requires quantifiable tools as well as subjective creativity

multi-disciplinary

[attributes of the planning process]; Requires the expertise of various disciplines; economics; engineering; sociology; architecture; law; geography etc.

comprehensive

[attributes of the planning process]; Covers all aspects of man/women and his/her environment; physical, social, economic, political administration and the natural environment, participatory

dynamic

[attributes of the planning process]; Changes overtime, technological change; cultural norms and traditions; not static; responsive to new demands and needs of people.

continuous/iterative

[attributes of the planning process]; Plan is prepared, approved, implemented; reviewed and evaluated; replan again based on new demands of the time.

participatory

[attributes of the planning process]; values the engagement of MULTI-SECTORAL stakeholders.

cyclic/spiral

[attributes of the planning process]; Unending process; Always goes back to where it started; Were the problems solved? Goals and objectives attained? At what level of satisfaction?

time bound

[attributes of the planning process]; Plan must have a time perspective; short, medium, long range; Basis for plan review and assessment.

Generic Planning Process

1. problem structuring

2. identification of alternative responses

3. implementation

4. monitoring and evalution

problem structuring

[Generic Planning Process]; defining objectives and identifying constraints (political, social, economic, etc.)

identification of alternative responses

[Generic Planning Process]; listing of possible solutions and estimating costs and benefits of the alternatives using a predetermined criteria

implementation

[Generic Planning Process]; specifying a sequence of activities to realize the plan

monitoring and evaluation

[Generic Planning Process]; determining if plans have been properly implemented and the extent to which they have produced the desired outcome