public participation in planning decisions (lesson 3)

Question 1

Under what authority is there a legal obligation for public participation?

Answer 1

In any plan that is under Local authority and not National, there is an obligation according to law for the participation of the public.

Question 2

What are the advantages of public participation in planning decisions?

Answer 2

Advantages -

1. Promote democratic values
2. Strengthens public trust in the planning process
3. People understand that the desire is to plan a proper plan; less stress
4. Planner’s addition of knowledge about the site, thus helping more accurate and correct planning.
5. Reduces public objections.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of public participation in planning decisions?

Answer 3

Disadvantages -
1. Information overflow/irrelevance
2. Hiring manpower to talk to the residents and many times the residents behave in an inappropriate manner
3. High costs versus low benefits
4. Abuse by interest groups, poor risk management
5. Not everything is within the planner’s authority (for example property).
6. Barriers to disadvantaged populations

Question 4

What are the 3 ways of public participations?

Answer 4

1. DoP - Delegation of Powers - the public or its reps make a decision fully/partially.
2. Sharing - choosing a preferred alternative from diff options
3. Consultation - receiving “feedback” from the public regarding the planning alternatives (provide the public with information that will help to understand the procedure)

Question 5

What are the 5 techniques for public participation?

Answer 5

1. Publishing the plan and decisions to the public, with deadlines for objection
2. Major bodies must be asked before issuing new regulations (Attorney General directive)
3. Public hearing procedure (victims can speak and receive a platform)
4. Public referendum
5. Obligation of adequate representation of genders or Arab sector

Question 6

What are the two approaches in the decision making model?

Answer 6

The decision-making model in a democratic process is divided into two approaches - the private interest approach versus the public interest approach.

Question 7

What is the private interest approach in the decision making model, and what is it supported by?

Answer 7

In the private interest approach, a political process is made of public participation that tries to influence the public who needs to buy, for example the price of a house and TMA 38.

It is supported by economics

Question 8

What is the public interest approach in the decision making model, and what is it supported by?

Answer 8

In the public interest approach supported by jurists, it says that the public interest is increasing and the gaps need to be narrowed.

But it is very difficult to move processes in such a way.

Question 9

What is the right of argument and what are its two procedures?

Answer 9

In planning processes, the right of argument is that anyone who sees himself as a victim can object in the channels intended for this.

The right of argument operates in two procedures, a planning procedure and an administrative procedure.

Question 10

What is the administrative procedure in the right of argument?

Answer 10

The administrative procedure is characterized by claims of a personal nature (an individual point problem).

Question 11

What is the planning procedure in the right of argument?

Answer 11

The planning procedure is characterized by claims of a public nature (problems on a broader scale).