Masterplanning Flashcards
Basic 9 steps of the planning process
- Identify issues
- State Goals and Objectives
- Collect and interpret data
- Prepare plans
- Draft Program for Plan Implementation
- Evaluate Impacts of Plans and Implementation Program
- Review and Adopt plans
- Review and adopt implementation programs
- Administer Implementation Program
Differences between a comprehensive and a strategic plan
Comprehensive plans are broad and sometimes general, covering a range of topics that might be related to the area or function of the plan. Strategic plans consider only the topics and relationships that have a direct relevancy to the subject of the plan.
What are considered as essentials topics of a comprehensive plan?
Land use, transportation, housing, and community facilities
In addition to land use, transportation, housing, and community facilities, what other topics might be covered on a comprehensive plan?
Economic development
Historic preservation
Natural hazard
Farmland preservation
Parks, recreation, and open space
Urban Design
Examples of typical data needed for base plan information
Base maps, aerial photographs, GIS map layers
Typical Natural Environment data needed for plan preparation
Climate, topography, soils, vegetation, water features, habitat areas, natural hazards
Typical Existing land use data needed for plan preparation
residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, open-space lands, vacant urban lands, farmlands
Typical Housing data needed for plan preparation
Inventory of housing, housing condition, vacancy rate, affordability
Typical Transportation data needed for plan preparation
Street network, street capacity, traffic flow volumes, parking supply and demand, transit facilities by mode, bicycle networks, pedestrian networks
Typical public utilities data needed for plan preparation
Water supply, wastewater disposal, stormwater management, solid waste management, telecommunication services
Typical Community services data needed for plan preparation
Administrative centres, education facilities, parks and recreation facilities, health services, public safety facilities
Typical Population and Employment data needed for plan preparation
Population size, population characteristics, vital statistics, labour force characteristics
Typical local economic data needed for plan preparation
Employment, retail sales, cost of living
Typical special topics data needed for plan preparation
Historic sites and buildings, archeological sites, urban design features, existing zoning
Reasons to prepare a comprehensive plan
View the “big picture”
Coordinate local decision making
Give guidance to landowners and developers
Establish a sound basis in fact fact for decisions
Involve a broad array of interest in a discussion about the long-range future
Build an informed constituency
Required elements of a comprehensive plan
Land use, transportation, community facilities (inc. utilities and parks and open space), housing, economic development, critical and sensitive areas, natural hazards, agricultural lands
A statement describing formally what the community wants to become. May be enhanced with measurable objectives for each goal.
Vision Statement / Goals and Objectives Statement
SWOT Analysis
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
(Opportunities, problems, advantages, and disadvantages
Land Use Plan
[define] Page 7 Steiner
What is the relationship between an urban design plan and a comprehensive plan?
And urban design plan give 3D physical form to policies described in a comprehensive plan
Key elements of an urban design plan
The urban plan, the preparation of design guidelines for buildings, the design of the public realm
At what point would a slope be considered “steep”
15%
When completing a slope analysis, what topographies should you look for
Steep slopes and flat areas
What would work (and not work) on a moderate slope (5-15%)?
Split level or terraced structures work for moderate slopes, recreational fields and parking would not be a good choice
When analyzing the site topography, what elements should you look for
Slopes (low, moderate, steep), high points and low points
What topographic features best suit the placement of important buildings, public walks and trails and what component of the analysis do these areas make the best use of?
Feature: High points and ridge lines (utilizing viewsheds)
What soil types are best suited for siting structures?
Adequate load bearing capacity, avoid poorly drained soils and wetlands
What shows evidence of a poorly draining soil
Find answer
Best soils for recreational fields
Permeable soils (to provide drainage)
What soils are best utilized for stormwater management?
Permeable soils
Features to avoid in a floodplain
Enclosed structure and their appurtenances, entrance roads
4 key criteria considered in site planning (in order of importance)
- Access
- Organization of the dominant land uses
- Environmental protection
- Circulation
Key considerations when locating access points to a site
Safe distances from existing roadways/intersections and entrances to other properties.
Visibility (vegetation / topography)
Methods for environmental protection
Minimize impacts on the land:
Avoid crossing or impacting surface water
avoid damage to existing vegetation
Topographical factors for locating a stormwater pond
At the middle and lower elevations of a site
Topographical considerations for slab on grade residential homes
Slopes less than 10%
Key issues to consider for laying out recreational sites (5 steps)
- Location and orientation
- Access, circulation, and parking
- Surfacing
- Perimeter Containment
- Support facilities
Suitable sites for play structures
Flat area with a reasonable distance from hazards and reasonable distance to drinking water, restrooms, and other conveniences.
Examples of opportunities on a site
Nice views, specimen trees, focal points, areas of water retention, edges of natural/cultivated landscapes
What aspects of the site can be considered a constraint in the planning
A site element that reduces the functionality or aesthetics of the planning design/program.
Examples: junkyards, unsightly buildings/structures, road noise, poor draining soils, etc.
