The Urban Planners - Essay Example

Urban planners are professionals who operate in the field of urban planning to maximize the efficiency of a community’s infrastructure and land. Their work is to formulate plans for the management and development of urban areas. They use these plans to analyze the compatibility and use, as well as the social, economic, and environmental trends. While developing their plan for a region, planners must consider a wide range of issues. Such issues include air pollution, sustainability, crime, traffic congestion, land values, and zoning codes (Smith, 2006).
These planners are normally hired by developers, private planning firms, and private property owners to help in the large-scale planning of both communal and commercial developments. Planners who are in the public role often serve the public and act as valued technical advisors in the community’s political environment (Garvin, 2002). Urban planners develop often develop long and short-term plans for the use and revitalization of land. These plans facilitate the growth of urban and rural communities, as well as the region in which they are allocated. They assist regional officials to reduce economical, social, and environmental problems. This is done by proposing the location of schools, and roads among other infrastructure. In addition to that, they recommend zoning regulations for private possessions (Smith, 2006).
According to Grogan (2002), Planners promote the best utilization of public land resources which are meant for commercial, residential, institutional, and recreation purposes. They often formulate plans relating to the development of new infrastructure, for instance, new schools, new roads, and public housing. Moreover, they help in making decisions about resource development and protecting the environment in its totality.
Planners and developers are often involved in environmental issues like wetland preservation, pollution control, the location of new landfills, and forest conservation. Planners may assist in the drafting of legislation on social, environmental, and economical matters, for instance sheltering the homeless, new park, or making the region very attractive to businesses (Smith, 2006).
Urban planners study and report on the current utilization of land for residential and community purposes before making plans for community development. Their reports include information on the capacity and location of schools, airports, highways, libraries, and recreational and cultural sites. They also provide records on the characteristics of the community, industries in the community, and employment and economic trends. They try to use the data obtained to optimize land use for public structures and facilities (Robert, 2003).
The planners often prepare reports that show the cost of their programs and how they are carried out. Furthermore, they examine the suggested facilities, to know whether they will meet the needs of the growing population. They keep records of legal and economic issues and are responsible for building codes, zoning codes, and environmental regulations. In addition to that, they ensure that the developers and builders are in a position to follow the codes and regulations (Garvin, 2002).
Planners also deal with the land issues that arise due to population movements. For instance, in Huntsville, population growth and economic development have led to the creation of more jobs outside the urban areas (Robert, 2003). As a result, the need for public transportation will increase, and it is the responsibility of the planners to model and develop suitable transportation systems and report them to the planning boards as well as the public (Garvin, 2002).
Computers are a very necessary urban planning process; planners use them to analyze and record information collected, and to prepare reports and proposals for government executives. Spreadsheets, computer databases, and analytical techniques are used to forecast future trends in employment, transportation, housing, or population. Urban planners can map land areas using computerized environmental information systems; they can overlay maps with ecological variables like population density (Wheeler, 2003). Computerized information can also help in the manipulation of geographic information to produce alternative use for the development of urban areas.
Most urban planners confer with civic leaders, land developers, and public officials so that they act as mediators in land disputes; they normally present alternatives that can be accepted by opposing parties. Planners prepare material for community programs, appear before the legislative board, and contribute to the discussion in civic meetings to explain and defend their suggestions (Garvin, 2002).
According to Barbara (2001), urban planners focus on specific areas of specialization. The most common areas are code enforcement and community development. Apart from focusing on the crucial areas, planners require to keep the great pictures in mind and to ensure that the community gets the best from them (Robert, 2003).
Planners usually travel to survey the features of land under consideration for regulation or development. Planners frequently attend weekend meetings or public hearings with public groups. However, they may encounter the pressure of tight schedules and deadlines, as well as pressure due to proposals concerning land use and urban development (Wheeler, 2003). For one to become a planner; he or she should undergo some training. One should pursue courses related to architecture, economics, health administration, law, earth science, and demography (Robert, 2003).