Exploiting Maslows Theory in Urban Planning - Research Paper Example

Exploiting Maslows Theory in Urban Planning By Introduction The need-package of any place initially appears as fragments of a jigsaw puzzle for an urban planner who needs to position all of them correctly to get the right picture before formulating a plan. Therefore, at the nascent stage of urban planning the vision and creativity work as the main drivers of underpinning the planning issues. However, the planner faces a newer challenge at the time of submitting the plan, regarding its cogency and comprehensiveness, where it becomes essential for the planner to become fully convinced regarding proper placement of all issues that can have a bearing on the proposed development. Thus the moment before submitting a plan is crucial for a planner, since there is no cardinal rule for identifying or checking the issues pertaining to the sustenance and development of an area. This paper thus explores the possibility of exploiting Maslows (1943) theory of needs to underpin the main issues in any urban planning that a developer needs to consider when submitting a plan for a new development. Background The objective of any urban plan should be to integrate land use planning toward improvising the existing economic, social and natural environment of a community. Therefore it should contain both urban renewal and new construction proposals that would cover the specific needs of a place (What do town planners do 2010). The above proposition culminates into a broad-based concept of the plan. For example, there should be clear impression that the planner acknowledges the significance of maintaining natural environment, besides making clear provision of basic civic amenities like well-spaced housing, sanitation, water, disaster management, well-placed markets and business centres, adequate roads with futuristic provisions, community activity zones, and landscape architecture to entice the visitors. The plan should indicate that it aims to uphold the cultural heritage of the region and to meet the special requirements of the community of the region, while providing solutions for sustenance and development of the area. Every region has its own specific requirements to match with modern times, which brings forth the issue of proper prioritization of the projects proposed in a plan. For example, if a place needs to develop its tourism before anything, then the plan should revolve around that theme, where the planner should focus on place-making for the travellers, since urban environments that make the most of existing place assets and "energise" or activate such places and spaces is what most of the travellers look for (Dales 2010). In general, a plan is expected to highlight its scope, neighbourhood and local historic district descriptions, demographics, its correlation with economic development etc., besides depicting proposed transportation systems, parks, recreation, and open space. However, the main concern of the plan should be to correlate all of them with the actual needs of the resident citizens and visitors. It is here Maslows (1943) "Hierarchy of Needs" theory can come in handy, which identifies five human needs like basic, safety and security, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs as the driver of a fuller life. Basic needs: It covers air, water, food, clothing, shelter. Safety and security needs: It covers all kinds of safety issues involved in the lives of the citizens. Social needs: Humans love to interact and develop a sense of belonging to a community. Esteem needs: this involves recognition from others as a useful component of the society. Self-actualization: This need involves realization of ones existence under the context of the greater world. Exploiting Maslows Theory in Urban Planning This study now explores what could happen if the developer considers the proposed area of planning as a human needing to fulfil its five needs: Basic Needs of the area: This involves planning issues like civic amenities, Easily accessible business centres, good roads, well-placed markets, and proper housing. Safety and security needs of the area: This involves issues like positioning disaster management systems such as fire-fighting or earthquake management systems, besides safety and security of the pedestrians and drivers. Social needs of the area: Business centres, community halls, parks, playgrounds, etc. Esteem needs of the area: This involves proper display of local culture and heritage, besides quality education facilities that would earn recognition from the visitors and boost the esteem of the citizens. Self-actualization: The area should become an epitome of ideal living among all places – and for that matter, the planner should identify aesthetic issues. For example, Gaudis designs (Appendix - 1) show how simple architectural details can depict the aesthetic sense of the region. Evaluating an urban plan from such a viewpoint can be instrumental in underpinning the elements of the statements of policy in an outline like below: The development and use of land of the proposed area The conservation and improvement of the physical environment Pollution control of the natural environment The development of communication, utility and transport systems Processes regarding land conservation and futuristic use of the same Clear depiction of the proposed development of the civic amenities such as Provision for health and social services management Garbage management Water supply Educational and cultural institutions Scopes for recreation Scopes for open and shared spaces Scopes for disaster management throughout the region Scopes for maintaining the law and order in the entire region Scopes for cemeteries and crematoria Areas identified for urban renewal, such as Housing Preservation of heritage buildings and sites of historical interest. Since a plan is essentially a policy document, it should contain only the appropriate facts in support of the policy statements with occasional references to other related documents (Nellis 2006). Alongside, the issue of timeline would also occupy the mind of the planner, because a plan without timeline is like a car without wheels. Preparing Final Checklist before Submitting the Plan The above outline would enable the developer to generate a final checklist that can be instrumental in underpinning the main planning issues pertaining to the development of the proposed area. For example, the Williston (Final Plan 2009) town had its own needs regarding sustenance and development, and accordingly it generated its own checklist: 1. Document evidencing meetings with the planning staff; 2. Each sheet containing date, graphic and written scales with a north arrow, besides the tax document, the title of the proposed development and appropriate pagination; 3. A location map underpinning the proposed site of development, besides additional areas surrounding that site, depicting properties, roads, water bodies, and district boundaries; 4. The boundaries of the development sites along with complete boundary survey of their subdivisions, clearly depicting the locations including all kinds of land distribution, such as areas earmarked as dedicated to open space, shared space, building, etc. It should be prepared and certified by a licensed surveyor; 5. Owners details for all abutting properties featuring on the location map; 6. Signed instruments in support of the open space developments as well as its future management; 7. Clear depiction of all existing and proposed easements, driveways, roads, parking zones, streetlights, street greeneries, pavements, paths, trails or other utilities like wastewater treatment; 8. Presentation of the proposed elements in both plan view and profile along with adequate details of construction that would justify their inclusion in the project. A licensed designer should prepare these elements; 9. Clear depiction of sewerage routes certified by competent professional; 10. A grading plan accompanied by a runoff and erosion control plan; 11. A landscaping plan clearly depicting the location and specifications of all existing and proposed landscaping and vegetation; 12. An outdoor lighting plan featuring both existing and proposed outdoor lighting; 13. A site maintenance plan of the similar nature; 14. Complete elevation and floor plans for all proposed structures, accompanied by the architectural details that amply demonstrate their lawful compliance with the set standards; 15. A master sign plan provided for commercial or industrial developments that may involve multiple tenants or occupants; along with signed property tax transfer form, if applicable; 16. Each page containing an approval signature block for the signature of the authority of approval; 17. Two copies of the plans and all accompanying documents with cover sheet and table of contents, accompanied by the copy of receipt of payment (if applicable) of application fee; 18. A signed development agreement for the signature of the authority of approval (Final Plan 2009). Conclusion Every area has its own bag of needs besides its unique identity built over time and therefore all issues pertaining to the sustenance and development of that area emanate from those two factors. Thus it appears that if the developer can identify the real needs of the area and correctly read its identity, then it is possible to underpin and incorporate such issues in a cohesive manner. From this perspective Maslows theory of needs can be instrumental in building a refined checklist of needs that should be considered by the developer at the time of submitting the plan for development. References Dales, J. (2010) Better urban design is essential for more sustainable travel [online] available from http://www.rudi.net/information_zone/features [accessed 25 July 2010] Mango Studio (2010) A bus stop along the Paseo de Gracia designed by Gaudi [online] available from http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2007/10/barcelonagaudi.ht ml [accessed 24 July 2010] Inspired by Nature. (2008) Palm fronds in bronze fence [online] available from http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/tag/hardscape/page/2/ [accessed 24 July 2010] Final Plan Checklist. (2009) [online] available from http://town.williston.vt.us/vertical/Sites/%7BF506B13C-605B-4878-8062- 87E5927E49F0%7D/uploads/%7BEE2A32F9-D2B6-4F8E-8B8B- 72724CFB70B1%7D.PDF [accessed 23 July 2010] Maslow, A. H. (1943) A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, pp. 370-396. Nellis, L. (2005) Make no small plans [online] available from http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11462&page=2 [accessed 24 July 2010] What do town planners do. (2010) [online] available from http://www.idealcity.org.au/town_planning-6-what_planners_do.html [accessed 23 July 2010] Appendix – 1 Even a bus stop can lift the aesthetic taste of a region A Bus stop in Barcelona (Mango Studio, 2010) Closer Detail of the fencing of Park Guell: Palm fronds in bronze fence. Barcelona (Inspired, 2008) Read More