5. Planning Philosophy and Concept

Question 1

Define planning, then differentiate Strategic Planning and Statutory Planning according to Matt Low!

Answer 1

• Planning: Determining a desired future outcome, then causing that outcome to occur
• Strategic planning: making and determining the plan
• Statutory planning: planning regulation (causing, why should we do that, what are the implication for others? how should we do that?)

Question 2

Explain why should planning be conducted according to Matt Low, and what it is trying to achieve (mention 3 aspects)! Where does politics intervene in the planning aspects? What is the property industry role in planning?

Answer 2

• Because land is a common good
• Planning is the interface between property development and broader PESE context by finding a BALANCE between property owners rights, others (land owners)’ rights, and common good (community)-intervened by POLITICS
• Property industry navigates and leverages the condition of planning (as defined above)

Question 3

Explain the 2 terms describing why should planning be conducted according to Levy!

Answer 3

• INTERCONNECTEDNESS
  ○ a property use (development) affects others’ (neighbourhood) through:
  § The amount of traffic it generates
  § Physical attributes (air quality, noise levels, water quality)
  § Visual and social qualities of the area
  § Prices and vacancies (who can live in the community)
  § Its contribution in shaping its character (liveability)
  § Fiscal health of the community (facility obligations that result in taxes)
  ○ Thus, there is a DISTINCT PUBLIC INTEREST in use of land with public control, (PRIVATELY OWNED-regulatory process, PUBLIC OWNED-direct public investment)
• COMPLEXITY of relationships between people in the modern community (HIGH IN POPULATION number - SIMPLE and direct NEGOTIATIONS between private landowners are INADEQUATE to promote equity), involving HIGH MONETARY VALUE (billions of dollars of capital investment - because with complexity, people are NOT SELF-SUSTAINING)

Question 4

Explain what the common good is, mention its 3 aspects, and why should it be a consideration in determining land use?

Answer 4

• The common good has externalities; “what you do with your land can affect other people’s property rights”
• Aspects: Economic (growth, job vacancies), social (equality, service access), environmental (wildlife, open space) objectives
• Considered in determining land use to promote EQUITY between land users (community) and try to AVOID NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES

Question 5

Why was there the need for Howard to devise the Garden City concept? Explain 2 ways that Garden City concept addressed these needs!

Answer 5

• To design an ideal city with a better living as British cities were unpleasant to live in: overcrowding, lack of sanitation and clean water supply, poor public health, poverty, slums
• By ZONING (separating those with negative externalities, industrial-residential) and LAYOUT (grids, helpful for transport, grand avenue in the middle)

Question 6

Explain Ward’s statement that says “society essentially evaluates the success or failure of planning by its impacts rather than the intentions embodied in policies, still less in the underlying ideas”, and explain 3 factors that may lead to this outcome!

Answer 6

Society evaluates planning through what impacts them, which is the implementation that does not necessarily reflect what the intentions/ideas suggest (e.g. plan: Melbourne, liveable city. implement: apartment without direct sunlight)

Factors:
○ The society believe they should benefit from planning as it is for the betterment of the community
○ Planners have less control of implementation due to POLITICAL and INSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES intervention
○ Planning impacts arise from INTERACTION of IDEAS-POLICIES with ECONOMIC-SOCIAL FORCES, many are outside of planners’ control

Question 7

Explain the 6 planning ideas as planning concepts!

Answer 7

ACTIVITY CENTRES AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
○ Higher density along PT, PT-based (imply height approvals, jobs and PT accessibility, and government infrastructure investment - likely to STRENGTHEN RE MARKET)

URBAN DENSITY AND CONSOLIDATION
○ Decrease car use-travel distance-time, increase service accessibility, efficient use of infrastructure, maintain agricultural land-protect environment
○ Tools: zoning, urban growth boundary, activity centres, infrastructure investment

ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
○ Cities as a function of globalisation (competition in investment, people, trade)
○ Tools: good- infrastructure, connections to other urban areas, people – industry precincts, technology parks – liveability, affordability, creativity

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
○ Planning as a COLLECTIVE activity, levels: inform, consult (external), partner, empower (led)

URBAN EQUALITY
○ Between different suburbs/neighbourhoods to reduce crime, social issues & costs, to increase liveability & quality of life, productivity
○ By distributing good transport at good price, increased affordability in inner and middle ring suburbs, employment opportunities, healthy (open) places, access to commercial & social service, UGB, densification

THE FUTURE OF CITIES
○ Mobility, financing infrastructure, efficient use