Urban Planning

Chapter 1

U R B A N P LA N N I N G ?
U r ban pl ann i ng i s a pro ce ss th at h e l p s a c it y make de ci si o n s f o r i ts f u t u re . So met imes re f e rre d to si mp l y as pl anning , u rban planni n g tou c h e s many aspec t s o f o u r li v e s. Fo r e xam p l e , it hel ps a c ity an sw e r qu e sti o n s l ike :
Where should homes and businesses be built? What should buildings look like? When should roads and sidewalks be fixed? How should jobs be created?

WH AT IS

u r b a n p l a n n in g p r o c e s s . S o meti mes it is s m a l l p r o c e s s in vo l ving only go ve r n m e n t o f f ic ia l s ; s o m e t imes i t is a l a r ge p r o c e s s in vo l vin g a ci tys e n t ire p o p u l a t io n .

R ESEAR C H
E ve r y go o d d e c is io n is b a s ed on a c c u ra t e in f o r m a t io n . T h a t i s wh y m o s t p l a n n in g p r o c e s s e s s t a r t wi th s o m e s o r t o f re s e a rc h . U r b a n p lanni ng c o n s id e r s wh e re a c it y h a s b e e n , wh ere it is n o w a n d wh e re it e x p e c t s to go i n t h e f u t u re .

Fro m smal l to w ns to bi g ci ti e s, m o s t gover nments g o th ro u g h so me so r t o f

For exampl e, u rban planne rs mi gh t a s k quest io ns l ike:

Where are people moving to? Which roads get the heaviest traffic? How many school-aged children live in the city? What kind of job opportunities exist?

Urban planning is like a budget that a family makes for itself, only on a much bigger scale.
P l a n n in g is a c o l l e c t ive p r o c e ss between c it y l e a d e r s a n d re s id e n t s t o env i s i on a b e t t e r f u t u re . S u c h d e c is io n s are of ten h a rd we m u s t d e c id e wh ic h need s are m o s t im p o r t a n t t o b e s t p re p a re f or th e f u t u re a n d t h e n p l a n c a re f u l l y h ow to u s e o u r t im e , m o n e y , a n d o t h e r re s ou rces .

In addit io n to data, u rban pl a n n e r s consider reside n t pre f e re n ce s a n d a n a rea s physic a l ch aracte r i n o rde r m a ke the best dec isio n s po ssi ble .

W E A L L PLAN
You mig ht not re ali z e i t, bu t i n a s e n s e , we re al l pl ann e rs. M o st o f u s do i t e ve r y d a y . Take fo r e xample , a h o u s e h o l d budg et . When w e bu dg e t f o r o u r f am il ie s , we tr y t o dec ide w h at i s th e be st u s e o f our resourc es - w h e th e r to spe nd m o n e y ea ting out , t o spe n d ti me f i xi n g t h e k i tc hen sink, or to sav e u p f o r a n e w c a r .

R ESO U R C ES
Mo n e y is u s u a l l y t h e f ir s t a n d someti mes o n l y t h in g t h a t c o m e s t o m in d wh en we c o n s id e r re s o u rc e s . B u t it s n o t th e only re s o u rc e a va il a b l e t o a c it y . A ci ty can a l s o u t il iz e re s o u rc e s s u c h a s :
Skills and culture of its residents. Land and waterways within the city. Connections to neighboring cities and places.

Con sider ing

all

av ai lable

re sou rc e s

in ve s t in g in t h in gs l ike t ra n s portati on, p a r ks , j o b s , a n d s a f e t y . A c it y can rarely s p e n d a s m u c h re s o u rc e s a s it wou ld li ke o n t h e s e in ve s t m e n t o p p o r t u n it i es . A ci ty t h e re f o re h a s t o d e c id e wh ic h res ou rces c a n b e m a t c h e d t o p o t e n t ia l in v es tments - in b o t h t h e n e a r f u t u re a n d l ong- term.

a llow s us t o make be tte r de ci si o ns.

Like a familys budget, urban planning builds on the resources we have, not the resources we wish we had.

I N V E S T MENTS
After examini n g th e v ari o u s re sou rc e s a v a il abl e, a c ity mu st also lo o k a t t h e b es t w ays t o spe nd th o se re so u rce s.

T YP ES O F P L AN N IN G
A l a r ge - s c a l e p l a n n in g p r o ces s th at in vo l ve s a n e n t ire c it y m igh t i nclu d e m a n y d if f e re n t kin d s o f p l a n n in g s u ch as :
LAND USE PLANNING - planning that focuses on where businesses, homes and parks should be located. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - planning that is primarily concerned with the job skills and trying to attract certain types of businesses to a city. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING - planning that addresses how people get around the city and region. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING - planning that considers how to conserve, protect and utilize our natural resources.

Planning Is The Bridge Between Resources And Opportunities.

T here are many i n v e stme nts a ci t y c a n m a ke and every o ppo rtu n i ty co me s wit h i ts ow n benefits an d co sts. Pla n ning invo lv e s di f f i cu lt trade - o f f s . As a famil y c h o o se s be tw e e n i n ve s t in g in fo o d, ho u si ng , e du cati o n , and entertainment, a city must choose between

T here is a larg e amo u nt o f o v e r l a p b et w een diff e re n t ty pe s o f plan n in g. Bet t er resu lts o f te n co me f r o m a p l anning land use, pro ce ss th at add re s s e s e co no mi c de v e lo pm e n t ,

Of c o u r s e , a p l a n is o n l y a s good as t h e a c t io n s t h a t f o l l o w it . S u cces s f u l c it y p l a n s re q u ire a c t io n , n ot only from local go ve r n m e n t , but als o f r o m it s p e o p l e , o r ga n iz a t io ns , and b u s in e s s e s .

transpo r t at i o n and th e e nv i ro nm e n t .

wORk ON IT.

Lets

way s t o co n n e c t:
INSpIRINg cITIZENS TO SHapE

Detroits Future!

2929 RUSSELL ST. DETROIT 48207 OffIcE (313) 259-4407 HOTLINE (313) 962-0389 www.DETROITLONgTERm.cOm INfO@DETROITLONgTERm.cOm

facEbOOk.cOm/ DETROITwORkSpROjEcT

TwITTER.cOm/ DETROITLONgTERm