1. GEOGRAPHY 442 Day 6: The Planning Process

2. 2 Housekeeping Items I will pass around the usual announcement items, along with the attendance sheet. Start looking through the list of tool topics to decide what you want to present on. Craig- were you able to find out about the item in the master plan? Any update on the Geography Union or WDCAG plans? Steve B. still hasn't come through with the VIUSU document, so I will put the draft on reserve. There's a planning forum on peak oil and climate change next week in Vancouver, if anyone's going over for something else.

3. 3 Understanding the Planning Process There are different ways of conceiving of the stages in the planning process. One scheme is in terms of: building the information base analyzing problems and specifying goals formulating policies, plans, and designs action planning (e.g. implementation). The first three are relevant to our project.

4. 4 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ Another (similar to SEED) is: definition of goals through consideration of contexts (physical, social, economic, and administrative) and public participation consideration of situation characteristics, opportunities and constraints refinement of goals or redefinition of problem development of specific objectives generation of strategies implementation measures and monitoring.

5. 5 How the Planning Process is Conceived is Linked to Overall Planning Philosophy The main historic schools of thought are as follows: Synoptic (rational-comprehensive)‏ Incremental (“muddling through”)‏ Transactive (dialogue and mutual learning)‏ Advocacy (representing the interests of the underdog), and Radical (seeking major changes in institutions). Strategic (e.g. SWOT analysis) is sometimes treated as a separate approach. Each reflects a different view of the role of experts, developers, politicians, ‘interest groups,’ and activists.

6. 6 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ The challenge is to balance being systematic and consistent with being flexible (“mixed scanning”)‏ One can start from first principles, one can collect primary data and do analysis, or one can rely on established norms, standards and rules of thumb Regardless of the philosophy or process, land use planning, at its heart, is about “matching different users…to the supply of land...by the proper siting and sizing of land uses.” This will always be about values, and values will change. It is good to be explicit about what these values are.

7. 7 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ Information is never neutral. One has to decide what information is relevant and important, and what problems one will choose to focus on. At the same, new data-gathering and analytical techniques (e.g. SEED or Mark's matrix) can trigger a rethinking of issues and priorities. Three types of information are needed: users- types, numbers, characteristics, activities, satisfaction, needs and preferences land- suitability for specific uses and capability to support knowledge of existing policies and practices re land use location/ allocations, laws, regulations, and programs (the land use “guidance system”).

8. 8 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ The focus of analysis is on the gap between what exists and what could or should be, and what land resources are available to fill this gap. Such analysis can stimulate a rethinking of goals, information-gathering, and plans. In identifying & explaining gaps, there are two approaches: norms and standards- overcrowding indices, maximum walking distances, optimal gradients, minimum lot sizes develop evaluative criteria from user and land surveys- suitability for specific uses and capability to support. Analysis should not only identify and measure problems, but also provide explanations of their causes.

9. 9 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ Synthesis involves compiling the results of several analytical streams and creating solutions that optimize several variables, and seek balance between competing needs and goals. How we do this reflects our conception of the “good city.” Synthesis results in a plan and strategies for implementing it.

10. 10 Understanding the Planning Process (cont’d)‏ Implementation involves executing the plan. Without good implementation, a plan is just words and intentions Monitoring is important to see if the desired results are being achieved; if not, plans & strategies should be modified Plans differ in their length from short-range (immediate), medium (5-6 years), long-term (20-25 years) to extremely long-range (50-100 years), and can be general or particular.

11. 11 Hands-on Exercise Today, I would like to spend some time in small groups using acetate sheets and markers to analyze the Campus Master Plan in terms of strengths and weaknesses.... I would also like to start selecting dates for the tool presentations.