Urban Growth Policy within your Community - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: URBAN GROWTH POLICY WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY Topic: Urban Growth Policy within Your Community Introduction Cities in the United States of America serve as the economic centers that harbor the culture and history of the nation. The cities are mainly characterized by wealth, opportunities for the locals and immigrants, cultural diversity and vibrancy in development. They also host a number of homeless people and job seekers; the poverty within the cities is also significant challenge mainly caused by corruption, racial segregation, oppression and division resulting from the diversity of cultures (Gottlieb, 2007). Development of good policies to govern cities would ensure a strategic and conducive business environment, better infrastructural services to the residence and better standards of living to the residents. The relationship between the policy makers and the residence of different cities fluctuates depending on the policies, government development and behavior. The urban policies in the cities are aimed at ensuring job creation and housing to the residence, this is achieved through an urban based development policy from the federal government. Policies are made in such a way that employers in the urban areas do not suffer (Gottlieb, 2007). This done by ensuring that they benefit from the incentives based on their places of business. The urban policies have ensured that important facilities such as the places for markets, cultural centers and other important facilities are integrated in specific locations so as to maximize the use of space and ensure creativity within the cities. Though development advancement as well as the management of public properties in the cities has proved to be crucial to its economic prosperity, the vulnerable groups in the society face a stiff challenge in coping with these policies. This is basically attributed by the urban policies that privatized public properties thus criminating them when these policies are applied. Sprawl growth The urban Sprawl is attracted by the opportunities in the markets, therefore making it difficult it difficult to be controlled by a single city policy. Control of the Sprawl growth is both a responsibility of the local and the federal government. The coordination between the rural and the urban authorities should be enhanced to ensure that pressure on land use meant for development of industries does not encourage development of Sprawls. Los Angeles is one of the cities that have embraced smart growth at the expense of Sprawl growth with the aim of a future sustainability (Gottlieb, 2007). Los Angeles Land Use Policy The strategic position of Los Angeles city makes it one of the most important international trade centers. The market forces and the policies governing land are some of challenges that the industrial development in the city face. The market trends and policies governing the public properties are regionally and nationally influenced. Some policies and business activities in the port of Los Angeles may not be handled by the city. However continuous conversion of industrial land to residential places has prompted the city’s policy makers to develop policies that would protect industrial Land from being depleted. Citing from the city policy on land use, the city would be able to handle the trend of unemployment and low standards of living by developing industries that would sustain the residents. The policy is aimed at developing criteria of limiting the construction of residential areas at the expense of industrialization. The policy also aims at preserving and increasing the number of jobs in the city by attracting and increasing investments in the industrial sector through the land use policy. From statistics, the city added over a million new residents and in a span of twenty five years, contrary to this over 50, 000 jobs were lost (Estolano, 2008). Development of real estates was the major driving force towards the high population increase with less concern in job creation. Basically development of real estates in the city was encouraged by the policies spearheading development of industries in the city in 90s to boost a rapid economic development. Due to the rapid growth in the population and constant decline in employment opportunities, the city planners and policy makers opted to create policies that emphasize industrialization as a priority in land use over development of residential estates by conversion of industrial land. The policy also raised the requirements for development of residential houses so that only sophisticated developments are achieved in the city (Los Angeles City Planning Department , 2007). Basically the policy is being viewed in different dimensions by the affected parties. The downtown communities for instance suggested that more of the industrial Land should be converted into residential areas so as to ensure a fair development within the city. Generally the policy seeks to ensure that the city raises a more sustainable population where the residents access more job opportunities Impact of the policy on the community The policy enhanced strategic developments that ensured sustainability and industrial investment in the future. It not only preserves existing jobs but also create more which are basically important in moving the residence into a higher class. According to the analysis, industrialization ensures a raise in the standards of living of the population compared with the dependence on retail jobs. On average, the industrial jobs offer an average 0f 47 000 USD compared to retail jobs that offers an average of 29 000 USD. Therefore the conversion of industrial land to residential would not be economically viable even though the industrial land is cheaper compared to other uses of land (Los Angeles City Planning Department , 2007). The policy is against a rapid growth in the real estates by conversion of the industrial land. However the primary objective is to create jobs and sustain the existing ones for the benefits to the community. Migration of population to the city has somehow been controlled by managing the conversion of the industrial land to residential. The facility development is basically raising the economic status of the city by providing services both to the residence and non residence. The rezoning has also reduced the cost of obtaining the legal requirement for doing business in the city. The strategy of Los Angeles is suitable for international trade. In most cases, trading activities in the city involves warehousing, transportation and logistical services. These facilities require a large track of land. However, these provisions have limited view of providing fewer jobs as compared to development of real estates. The city’s policy ensures more trade and industrial investment in Los Angeles. The city also encourages the establishment of greener industries. The major sectors of economy identified for investment by the City Agencies were transportation, health care logistics and entertainment. Industrial land is crucial in establishment of these sectors (Los Angeles City Planning Department , 2007). Development of industries however may cause problems in the residential areas since a larger population working in the industries requires residential homes. Such considerations are important as they have a great impact on the viability of the policy. According to (Estolano, 2008) the number of High school dropouts in the City was estimated to be 54.7 % in 2005 in a study conducted by the Harvard University (Gottlieb, 2007). The school dropouts leave out of school unskilled thus becoming difficult for them to cope the outstanding challenge of securing good jobs. Basically such challenge may be out of control for the City to change the trend but definitely they would impact negatively on its economy. Most of the residential buildings within the industrial land belong to the low income earners. They face high risk of infections due to the industrial pollution resulting from the industrial waste, noise pollution and bad odors emanating from the industries. Overcrowding also encourages the growth of criminal activities within the city. Basically the strong policies on Zoning will provide a guideline in ensuring that resident’s living standards are better as compared to the time before the policy was implemented. The critics of the policy argue that the policy should be made from the federal government as ties with several other areas of economies. They also believe the change in the market trend may render the policy a failure. Though the policies benefits are long term, the influence from outside the city is inevitable thus the control of the land use has created some negative impact in the population. The population in the city require more residential house which may have to be developed through the conversion of some industrial land. Implementation of the policy may frustrate development of real estates which can only be achieved through conversion of some industrial land. Though the policy allow the land to be developed by the real estate developers, tight regulations on allocation may discourage the potential investors thus decreasing the rate of investment as well as the reduced economic growth in the area. Direct impact of the policy on the community Sustainability Job security is one of the major impacts that the policy has impacted on the community. Basically the enterprise zones specifically developed for empowerment on some specific businesses and job openings are situated in the Industrial land. The areas assigned for job empowerment have been compromised to some extend and requires a strategy to salvage it from falling out priority. This may lead to suspension of funding from the federal government. The policy ensures development of a system whereby the remaining land is properly utilized for a maximum production. Zones designated for job and business empowerment are specifically funded by the federal government; suspension of funding may arise when the zones are rendered not viable (Gottlieb, 2007). Transportation The city planning in the city of Los Angeles through the Department of Transport has been involved in the land use assessment regarding the circulation problems and measures to take in order to improve the city transport sector. The truck routes are specifically of greater significance in the city since it aids in the distributions of the goods from the industries. Huge investments have been done for instance; in the Alameda corridor railway lines were constructed. This is basically railway line linking the two ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The interconnection with the bus terminus ensured the achievement of a sufficient ride within the city (Gottlieb, 2007). Smart growth The blueprint is designed to guard the conversion of the industrial areas to residential housing. The framework however recognizes the need to develop other sectors in the city without compromise. Though the city planning prioritizes housing, commercial estates and a recreation center, importance of industrialization has also been featured as an important investment that would improve the economy of the city. Employment for the residence in the current trend and in the future will highly depend on the availability of land for use. The land policy in Los Angeles is basically affected by its international strategic position as a market hub between the US and other parts f the world. Transportation being the major industry attracting the international investors was given priority as it eased the congestion and facilitated more trade thus creating more employment to the residence. As a transportation centre, the City takes advantage of industrialization as more investors would prefer such a place because it reduces the cost of transportation to the international market (Gottlieb, 2007). Many cities in the North America have adopted polices that restrict encroachment of residential housing to the industrial land. Taking for instance in the city of New York, the International Business Zone, has been specifically protected for use in conducting businesses. It does not allow any development of residential estates in the area. The strategy by the New City to protect the industrial zones has enhanced job creation. For example the city makes over 300 new jobs yearly directly thorough this strategy. Conclusion The urban policy in the city of Los Angeles is economically based and has been developed to ensure the residence in the city obtains job security now and in the future. The policy has a number of advantages to the society as it encourages a smart growth in the cities and discourages the growth of Sprawls. Transportation sector in the city receives a priority as it is expected to collaborate with industrialization thus changing the fortunes of the city. Provision of better services and infrastructure is the main objective of the city as well as ensuring smart growth and development hence achieving sustainability in the long run. The effectiveness of the policy however has to be well scrutinized by the stakeholder to ensure its economic viability as well as upgrading the living standards of the residents. Refereneces Estolano, C. (2008, 01 30). To Preserve (or Not)-City of L.A.'s Industrial Land Use Policy. Retrieved 04 10, 2012, from Urban Insight : http://tpr.urbaninsight.com/2008/01/30/preserve-or-not-city-las-industrial-land- use-policy Gottlieb, R. (2007). Reinventing Los Angeles: Nature and Community in the Global City. Los Angeles : MIT Press. Los Angeles City Planning Department . (2007). Los Angeles’ Industrial Land:Su Stai ing A Dynamic City Eco Nomy. Los Angeles : CRA/LA. Read More