GE 271 Handout 1

Page 1: Introduction

  • Overview of the course: GE 271 - Land-Use Planning

  • Course provided by The Copperbelt University, Geomatic Engineering Department.

Page 2: Outline

  • The full outline includes:

    • Introduction

    • Spatial Planning

    • Principles of Land-use Planning

    • Goals of Land-use Planning

    • Types of Land-use Planning

Page 3: Introduction to Spatial Planning

  • Definition: Core element of spatial planning is to prepare and make decisions about future land use.

  • Components of regional planning include:

    • Establishing the spatial or physical structure and development.

    • Integrating with a formalized planning system of a state.

    • Setting a framework for land use decisions at the local municipal level.

  • Scale for regional planning ranges from 1:50,000 to 1:100,000.

Page 4: Land-use Planning

  • Land-use planning focuses at the local/municipal level to guide land and resource uses.

  • Main instrument of land-use planning: Zoning.

  • Typical phases of land-use planning:

    • General or preparatory land-use plan covering the entire municipality (scale 1:5,000 to 1:50,000).

    • Detailed land-use plan for smaller areas, generally more legally binding (scale 1:500 to 1:5,000).

Page 5: Levels of Spatial Planning

  • The local municipal council holds ultimate responsibility for all functions of land-use planning.

  • Other bodies complement this role by promoting:

    • Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

    • Establishing policies, criteria, tools, and procedures.

Page 6: Definition of Land-use Planning

  • Land-use planning defined as a process aiming to:

    • Regulate the use of land for desirable social and environmental outcomes.

    • Promote efficient resource use.

  • It is a systematic and iterative procedure aimed at enabling sustainable development of land resources to meet people's needs.

Page 7: Objectives of Land-use Planning

  • Aim to influence and control land use changes, ensuring:

    • Land is used for the most beneficial purposes.

    • Maintenance of environmental quality and conservation of land resources.

  • Zoning is a key regulation mechanism, outlining:

    • Types of activities permitted on land.

    • Space allocated for these activities.

    • Building siting and shape regulations.

Page 8: Advantages of Land-use Planning

  • Enhances urban economic development.

  • Promotes conservation and sustainable use of resources, ensuring orderly land occupation.

  • Establishes mechanisms to prevent development in risk-prone areas.

  • Guides actions of governments towards effective land-use planning.

Page 9: Disadvantages of Land-use Planning

  • High costs associated with land-use planning processes.

  • Susceptible to bureaucracy and administrative delays.

  • Time-consuming due to the complexity of planning procedures.

Page 10: Principles of Land-use Planning

  • Focused on sustainability, balancing social, economic, and environmental needs.

  • Encourages communication among stakeholders for consensus on land use.

  • Promotes civic engagement and involvement of affected populations in planning.

Page 11: More Principles of Land-use Planning

  • Plans must be realistic and tailored to local conditions.

  • Importance of vertical integration, combining local needs with higher-level provisions.

  • Emphasizes horizontal integration through interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination.

Page 12: Continued Principles of Land-use Planning

  • Transparency in decision making is crucial to avoid deprivation of rights.

  • An iterative process, allowing for revision and repeated steps in planning.

  • Connection to financial planning, considering sector budgets and their influence on land-use planning.

Page 13: Goals of Land-use Planning

  1. Public Health: Achieving patterns of land use that protect health.

  2. Provision of Services: Strategic location of essential facilities (parks, schools, hospitals).

  3. Environmental Protection: Regulatory measures for sensitive areas (wetlands, ecologically fragile lands).

Page 14: Types of Land-use Planning

  1. Integrated Participatory Land Use Planning: Aims to enhance local spatial planning.

  2. Integrating Spatial Planning into Existing Development: Blends spatial aspects into existing local development initiatives.

Page 15: Further Types of Land-use Planning

  1. Local Agreements: Tools for decentralized management of natural resources, establishing community rules.

  2. Government maintains a supervisory role without direct interference in local management.