Urban Planning Theory and Decision Making - Term Paper Example

Running header: Urban planning Student’s name: Instructor’s name: Subject code: Date of submission: Urban Planning Theory and Decision making Introduction Urban planning is both a political and technical process involved in control of land use and urban environment design in a bid to guiding the evolvement of orderly settlements and communities in urban areas. There are many theories that guide participants in urban planning. As such, planning can be termed as rational planning or democratic planning. While democratic planning recognizes and gives room for public participation in the planning process, rational planning has little to do with public participation (Lane, 2011). In rational planning, planners recognize a problem and establish and evaluate a planning criterion for the problem in question, come up with alternatives which are implemented in addition to progress monitoring for the alternatives. On the other hand, democratic planning encourages public participation in the entire planning process. Public participation is deemed important as in most cases the public is the beneficiary of such projects. Such participation gives the public a chance to make their concerns incorporated in the entire plan thus guaranteeing its success. This case study looks at the development of an integrated management plan as well as a master plan for the entire East Balmain Foreshore reserve with an aim of establishing the potential impact of public participation in a democratic planning process. The project The project involves the development of an integrated management plan as well as a master plan for four high profile parks within the local authority area of Leichhardt. Of the four parks, Illoura reserve, peacock point and Looks avenue reserve are community lands and hence governed by local government act of 2003 which calls for public participation in the planning process. The public consultation process takes a number of forms including use of mails and emails as well as consultative forums in which members of the public give their input into the plan. In this case, the planners together with the council have engaged all stakeholders in a bid to ensure that all their inputs are considered in the final draft of the plan. In addition, the draft park plans of management for the East Balmain Foreshore reserves have to be publicly exhibited and allow sometimes for public input in a bid to enhance public participation. Although the use of a rational planning process would have been less time consuming and hence more economical for the plan, the method may not be suitable for such public projects as failing to involve the public may lead to the rejection of the entire plan (Stilwell and Troy, 2001). As earlier stated, planning is both technical and political and hence it has to involve the input of all the concerned stakeholders if it is to be deemed acceptable. The use of a consultative/ participatory process and hence democratic process for this plan is critical to the success of the project in a number of ways. First, such a process will ensure that the community is fully informed about the plan as well as its content. As such, enough information regarding the plan of management is availed to all stakeholders in a bid to obtaining feedback about the plan proposals. This would give the council an opportunity to incorporate feedback from various stakeholders into the management plan where possible in addition to providing multiple opportunities for on going dialogue between the various stakeholders (Greet, 2006). As such, this will result in build up of positive, trust based relationship with the stakeholders hence guaranteeing the acceptability and success of the plan of management as well as the master plan. The main issue in the project and why it is an important case study This project by Leichhardt council is mainly is mainly concerned with the development of an integrated management plan as well as a master plan for the entire East Balmain Foreshore reserve areas. The areas of concern addressed in the plan of management as well as its associated master plan include Thornton Park, Looks Avenue Reserve, and Illoura Reserve as well as Peacock point. The plan of management and its associated master plan is prepared in accordance with the legal provisions of the Local Government act of 1993 which requires all park plans of management be prepared for all community land. As essential management tools, plans of management are prepared and written by the council in consultation with the community in a bid to ensure adequate public participation and hence their acceptance. The plans identify the important features of the land in addition to clarifying how the council will manage the land especially as regards how the land is to be used or developed. Planners may choose to use rational or democratic approaches in planning on how to develop land. As such, this case study is deemed important as it is a case of community consultation and hence enables us to identify the potential implications of both rational and democratic planning outcomes. The major stakeholders involved in the plan It is important that all the stakeholders and would be beneficiaries of the project be involved in the planning process. Their involvement gives the planners an opportunity to incorporate their views and concerns about the project in the plan. This acts to improve the project’s/ plan’s acceptance by the society and hence its success. In this case, the planners have involved the local residents and the park users as the direct beneficiaries while the council is involved as the management body with the responsibility of taking care and control of the project. During the consultation process, the various stakeholders have raised a number of issues that the planners will need to address or incorporate in both the plan of management as well as the associated master plan for East Balmain Foreshore reserve areas. The major areas of concern raised during public consultation meetings bordered on areas of environmental concerns, animals in the parks, shading, recreation facilities such as basketball pitch, erection of a formal memorial park for the six Sydney Harbor Crash victims in Thornton Park among others. A more comprehensive list of the concerns raised during the consultation meeting can be found on Balmain East POM meeting minutes attached in this essay as an appendix. As such, giving the stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the planning process is expected to increase the project’s acceptability and hence enhance its success. The consultation/participation process design, its strengths and weaknesses and how the objectives of the process match the significance of the case. The Leichhardt council highly regards the need for open, participatory as well as participatory governance which is a foundation of democratic and responsible government. As such, the consultation process was conducted in accordance with Leichhardt council community engagement framework that outlines how the council maintains its commitment of consulting, informing and consulting the public in its planning and decision making process. The consultation process entailed the use of letter, sms and email services, letterbox drop, council newsletter, Newspaper adverts, notices, flyers and community notice boards, suggestion boxes, drop in sessions, consultative meetings/forums, interviews and surveys. All this forums were used both in disseminating information as well as seeking for public input into the plan. The most notable and probably most effective method used in this case was public consultative meeting where the all the stakeholders were invited to a meeting in which those who attended raised issues that the plan should address. These have been summarized in the minutes attached as an appendix in this essay. Although the consultation design may adopted by the council may have been a bit expensive, it was no doubt a perfect way of ensuring that as many people and stakeholders participated in the planning process and aired their views hence making the plan more acceptable which would guarantee its success. This was in line with the plan’s objective of involving all stakeholders in the planning process. The objectives effectively matched the significance of this case as they have clearly shown that consultation during all levels of planning can positively impact the success of the plan by making it acceptable to the stakeholders concerned. This in turn guarantees the success of the plan as minimum/no resistance would be expected from any stakeholder. How the consultation/participation process was implemented, its outcomes, whether the process could have been improved and how this would have affected the outcomes. As stated above, the consultation process was implemented in accordance with the council’s community engagement policy. For instance, a consultative meeting was held on Saturday 27 October 2012 where the stakeholders raised a number of issues. Other strategies used included use of mails, Flyers, Surveys among other strategies. In all this cases, the planners received valuable input from the stakeholders that could be used to improve the plan. Although a number of issues have been raised by the stakeholders, no determination on the outcome of the community consultations have been made so far. However, this determination is due to be made on the 11th December at 7pm during the council’s December ordinary meeting to be held at Leichhardt Council. Conclusion The case study was important in emphasizing the need for public participation in ensuring the success of the planning process. References: Lane, B2011, Participation, decentralization and civil society: Indigenous rights, democracy in environmental planning, Journal of Planning Education and Research, vol.22, pp.360- 373 Stilwell, F&, Troy, P2001, Multilevel governance and urban development in Australia, Urban studies, vol. 37, no.5, pp.909-30. Greet, D2006, Strategic issues in public private partnerships, an international perspective, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing. Appendix Issues of concern to stakeholders raised at the public consultation meeting Improvements are needed in biodiversity across all foreshore parks. There will be a strategic approach to planting with a bush corridor with involvement from Council’s bush care group. Animals live in all areas of Illoura Reserve (there were tawney owl’s living in dead tree’s that were removed which was disappointing) Management protocols for events such as New Year’s Eve should not be included in the POM, they should be addressed on a year to year basis. Leave the basketball court where it is. It is well used by adults and kids. It is safe and balls don’t go into the harbour. There is also a cave there that kids play in. Don’t plant any trees in the open space area in Illoura Reserve. It is widely used by the community for informal sport. In recent ‘clean up and opening up’ of Illoura Reserve, there were approximately 50 trees removed (weed species only) How many actual trees are were in the original plan done by Bruce McKenzie and how does this differ to the plan now. The original design from 1970’s had no view to the water, there is more density in planting now Since the removal of the trees in Illoura Reserve there is more natural light, sun and less dampness. There is adequate shade already in Illoura Reserve. Illoura Reserve has to be integrated from the foreshore to residents views Maintenance needs to be better in Illoura Reserve More planting around the playground in Illoura for shade – it is a bit small Cable Rider is supported Playground equipment should all be in one area Value of the natural landscape at Illoura for children to have unstructured play experiences Val Moss memorial should be put in Illoura Reserve Dog on and off leash area’s will be revisited in Council’s LCAMP review which will be under way soon Boardwalk was favoured from Illoura to Peacock Point to allow access for prams and wheelchairs. It would be built above the rocks – not directly on top of them to allow for marine life to be maintained The rocks where the boardwalk in Illoura is suggested is a natural playground. People and dogs swim there – put stepping stones in Better wheelchair access is needed with paths in all Parks Pooling of water issues in the centre of Illoura Boardwalk needed from Weston Street in to Illoura Reserve so you don’t have to walk up and down the stairs Park is dark at night – is more lighting possible Don’t break up the open space area of Illoura with ‘rooms’ it is great now for picnics and events A formal memorial for the six Sydney Harbour Crash Victims to be put in Thornton Park Northern Carpark configuration to allow for more car parking is supported Support for more trees. Just depends on what type and where they are planted We enjoy sitting in the parks and watching what happens on the Harbour Illoura reserve is great as it is – spend money elsewhere Majority of residents supported the POM and planting of tree’s Thanks to Bruce and Council for a beautiful park Read More