PLANNING 02

Plan Making Process, Elements of Urban Design, The

Image of the City and Signs and Symbols in Urban Design
MODULE 3
1st Semester, AY 2021
Section B Monday- 3:30PM- 6:30PM and Section A Tuesday- 4:00 PM-7:00 PM
Thesis Adviser : Arch.EnP. KIRBY S. MERCADO uap, piep
Contact link:
Email: arkithesidents@gmail.com
FB Messenger: Kirby Mercado
PLAN MAKING
• A plan is an adopted statement of policy, in the form of text,
maps, and graphics, used to guide public and private actions
that affect the future. A plan provides decision makers with
the information they need to make informed decisions
affecting the long-range social, economic, and physical
growth of a community. This section provides an overview of
plan making as applied to a wide variety of plan types
PURPOSES AND APPLICATIONS
OF PLANS
Plans are used when making decisions concerning the future of an area or of a
specific topic under consideration. For example, a plan may be used to identify:
• Housing needs—and recommend a program to meet them
• Transportation needs—and propose alternative systems and modes to
meet them
• Open-space preservation areas—and present mechanisms to protect
these areas permanently
• Priority investment areas—and recommend programs to stimulate
growth
• Strategies for a specific area, such as a downtown, corridor, or
neighborhood Some specific applications of plans include:
• Providing residents, local officials, and others with an interest in the area
with an overview and projection of development and conservation in the
planning area, along with a summary of trends and forecasts.
• Serving as the basis for the local government enacting and
administering regulatory measures, such as zoning and subdivision laws,
and establishing urban growth boundaries.
• Serving as the basis for making budget allocations for capital
improvements, such as parks, utility systems, and streets.
• Serving as the basis for many other public programs, such as those
relating to growth management, historic preservation, economic
development, transportation systems, and open-space preservation, for
example.
PLAN AUTHORITY
• Plans may be expressly authorized or required by statute or administrative
rule, depending on the type of plan and the state in which the community is
located. For example, every state has its own planning statutes, one part of
which authorizes or requires communities to prepare a comprehensive plan,
referred to in some states as general or master plans. The statute specifies
which elements are included in the plan and the process required for
developing and adopting it. States also often use their administrative rule-
making powers to further specify, refine, and interpret the statute.
• In addition to state planning statutes, federal and state programs established
by law sometimes require that plans of a certain kind be prepared as a
condition for participation in the program. The table here includes examples of
plans authorized or required by state or federal statute.
PLAN INNOVATION
• Although state planning statutes and federal and state regulations provide
general guidance about plan content and process for some plans, plans can
vary greatly from the prescribed themes. In recent years, planners have
begun to break away from tradition by reinventing what plans look like and do,
shaping the form of plans to fit the unique content and process requirements
of the community.
• Moreover, some of the most exciting and effective plans in recent years take
advantage of new ways of thinking about what a plan should contain and how
it can be presented. Interactive electronic participation, benchmarking, Web-
based plans, scenario analysis and modeling, and visualization techniques
are a few of the new components and techniques found in plans today. Many
of these innovations are featured in the plans described in the first part of this
book.
• SCOPING CONSIDERATIONS-The subsections to follow comprise
a general checklist of some of the most basic considerations to keep
in mind when determining the scope of any plan.
• Time Frame-What is the time period covered by the plan? Plans
almost always cover a time span of longer than a year, and usually
address a period between 5 years and 20 years. The time period
may be determined by statute or by the subject matter and process.
Philippine Planning Time Frame ( 3 years CDP and 10 years
CLUP)
COMPREHENSIVE VERSUS STRATEGIC
Are all topics covered or just those important to the chosen strategy? Plans that
employ a comprehensive approach consider a broad range of topics related to
the area or function of the plan, even if some topics are only relevant in a minor
way.
• Plans with a comprehensive orientation are sometimes more general in
their treatment of a wide variety of subjects, providing depth only when
needed.
• Alternatively, plans with a strategic approach consider only the topics
and relationships that appear to have a direct relevancy to the subject of
the plan, hence to the strategy.
Consequently, these plans are more focused and can usually be completed
more quickly and with fewer resources.
 Community Involvement

• The issues, findings, and recommendations of a plan should take into account
the knowledge and concerns of existing residents, businesses, and other
interests in the planning area, and the anticipated concerns of those interests
in the future. Issues to consider are those with a connection to local, regional,
statewide and even global matters. Consequently, an important scoping task is
the creation of a legitimate and effective process for involving a wide variety of
interests in the preparation of a plan. Successful public involvement processes
are designed to fit the unique context of the plan.
In-House versus Outsourcing

• Who should prepare a plan? Choices typically include in-house staff, outside
consultants, community-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or
volunteers, or a combination. The best mix results from a realistic assessment
of in-house staff capacity in terms of hours and expertise available, funds
available for outside consultant services, and the capacity to train and lead an
NGO or volunteer effort.
Binding

• Plans are officially adopted or endorsed by a governmental body and thereby

become a statement of its policies. Depending on the state and type of local
or regional governance structure, the governmental body may be the local
legislative body, the planning board or commission, a council of governments,
or regional planning agency.
BASIC PLAN STRUCTURE
The structure of a plan usually consists of two basic components:
-A core
-Followed by a number of elements.

The specific contents of a plan depend upon numerous factors, such as:
-The type of plan being prepared
-The purpose of the plan
-The scope being addressed.
Consult the chapter on types of plans for information on plan contents for specific
types of plans
The Plan Core
The core includes the following:
• A statement of authority to prepare and adopt plan
• Background data, including area history, existing conditions and trends,
and data projections
• Documentation of stakeholder interests and stakeholder involvement
process
• A vision statement or statement of goals and objectives for future
conditions
• An evaluation of plan and design alternatives
• A program of implementation
The Plan Elements
The elements of a plan consider, specifically, the plan’s various
topics. The elements that must be included depend upon the plan’s
purpose. For a comprehensive plan, the land use, transportation,
housing, and community facilities elements are considered
essential—they form the foundation of the comprehensive plan. Other
elements are added as considered to be appropriate, based on the
plan’s scope and as required by state law
Elements frequently included in a comprehensive plan or often
prepared as separate functional plans include the following:
• Economic development
• Historic preservation
• Natural hazards
• Farmland preservation
• Parks, recreation, and open space
• Urban design
GOALS, OBJECTIVES,AND ASSUMPTIONS
Universal to all plans is an identification of the goals, objectives, and
assumptions of the plan. Reaching consensus on these three
components is often quite difficult, if not impossible. Sometimes,
agreement can be reached only in the broadest of terms; often,
participants reach “incremental” agreement using negotiation and
compromise. Intensive communication between those preparing the
plan and the stakeholders is required here.
Goals
-A goal is a statement that describes, usually in general terms, a
desired future condition
Objectives
-A set of measurable objectives should accompany the goals
established for the plan. An objective is a statement that describes a
specific future condition to be attained within a stated period of time.
Typically, these objectives are more numerous than the goals, and
they are organized according to the topics in the goals statement
Several questions can be asked at the outset of the planning process
to determine the objectives of the community. Examples of such
questions include:
• What type of development pattern do the stakeholders want?
• What type of transportation system and network does the
community want?
• What forms of housing do stakeholders want in the
community?
• What program of uses do stakeholders want for the downtown
area?
Assumptions
-An assumption is a statement of present or future conditions
describing the physical, social, or economic setting within which the
plan is to be used. At the outset of the process, it is necessary to
identify the basic assumptions concerning the planning area
TYPICAL DATA NEEDS FOR PLAN
PREPARATION
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
MAPS AND IMAGES • Climate
• Base maps • Topography
• Aerial photographs • Soils
• GIS map layers • Vegetation
• Water features
• Habitat areas
• Natural hazards
EXISTING LAND USES HOUSING
• Residential • Inventory of housing
• Commercial • Housing condition
• Industrial • Vacancy rate
• Institutional • Affordability
• Open-space lands
• Vacant urban lands
• Farmland
TRANSPORTATION
POPULATION AND
• Street network
EMPLOYMENT
• Street capacity
• Population size
• Traffic flow volumes
• Population characteristics
• Parking supply and demand
• Vital statistics
• Transit facilities by mode
• Labor force characteristic
• Bicycle networks
• Pedestrian network
LOCAL ECONOMY SPECIAL TOPICS
• Employment • Historic sites and buildings
• Retail sales • Archaeological sites
• Cost of living • Urban design features
• Existing zoning
DOCUMENT STRUCTURE
• Whether published on paper, as a series of posters, or on the Web,
it is important to create a clear, usable plan document. When
creating a plan document, consider the reader’s needs. The
document should clearly reflect the planning process and serve as a
useful tool for future users.
Name of the Plan
• Identify a name for the plan that is simple, sensible, and
incorporates the planning area or topic name.
Table of Contents
• Provide a table of contents so that readers find the plan easy to use
and can go directly to a topic of particular interest.
Time Frame
• Provide the dates of all pertinent planning milestones, such as
initiation of the planning process, completion of the first draft, and
when certain benchmarks might be achieved.
Acknowledgments
• Include an acknowledgments page that lists the names, titles, and
affiliations of individuals who contributed to the production of the
plan
Glossary/Terminology Key
• A glossary can explain technical or local jargon andacronyms, and
describe unfamiliar places.
 Planning Institutions in the Philippines
• Disconnect between Spatial Planning and Economic Planning
• NEDA as de facto “National Development Council”
• NEDA-ICC screens investments and infrastructure
• HUDCC as czar on “housing and urban development”
• HLURB as quasi-judicial authority on “land use” and residential subdivisions
• Regional Development Councils – merely advisory in nature, no direct electoral
mandate except in ARMM and CAR, can not execute projects
• Provincial Development Councils
• Municipal Development Councils
• Barangay Development Councils
Segmented Planning by Various Units
• National Anti-Poverty Commission – and its 11 “basic sectors” councils
(NGOs/POs)
• Disaster Coordinating Councils – various levels
• Peace and Order Councils – various levels
• Agrarian Reform Councils – various levels
• Agriculture and Fisheries Councils – various levels
• Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils – various levels
• Metropolitan clustering – inter-LGU councils, voluntary cooperation
Hierarchy of Planning Institutions
Level Preparing Adopting Body Reviewing Approving
Body Agency Agency

National NLUC Technical. National Land NEDA Board President

Comm Use Committee

Regional RLUC and NEDA Regional Dev’t. NLUC NEDA Board

Staff Council

Provincial PLUC and Staff Sangguniang RLUC HLURB

Panlalawigan

Metro City Devt Sangguniang RLUC or HLURB

HCC / ICC Council and Panglungsod MMDA
Staff

City/ Municipal Devt Council Sanggunian PLUC Sangguniang

Panlalawigan
Hierarchy of Plan Documents
Hierarchy of Physical
Framework Plans
Hierarchy of
Development Plans
(Medium-Term)
Linkages between National & Sub-National Plans
State of Local Development Planning
• Urban focused land use plans – Many CLUPs do not have detailed local land
use policies for production, protection, and coastal zones
• Tendency of LGUs to overestimate projected requirements in reclassifying
agricultural lands
• Many land use plans are not linked with economic levers or drivers such as
taxation and investment incentives,and livelihood / poverty alleviation
strategies ;
• LGUs with good action plans, including CDS cities have not prepared or have
outdated conceptual or comprehensive development plans
• Some LGUs have recycled plans to meet requirements of two or more donor
programs
List of LGU Plan documents required by National
Government Agencies (source: DILG)
NGA-mandated plans
• Action Plan for the Protection of Children
• AFMA Other sectoral plans mentioned
• Annual Culture and the Arts Plan
• Anti-Poverty Reduction Plan • Nutrition Action Plan
• Local Coconut Development Plan • ICT Plan
• Disaster Management Plan • Local Shelter Plan
• Food Security Plan • ADSDPP
• Forest Management Plan • Plan for the Elderly
• Gender and Development Plan • Plan for Health and Family Planning
• Integrated Area Community Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan • Coastal Management Plan
• Local Entrepreneurship Development Plan • Information Strategic and Management Plan
• Sustainable Area Development Plan
• Local Tourism Plan
• Small and Medium Enterprise Development Plan
• SAFDZ Plan
• Solid Waste Management Plan
• Watershed Management Plan
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

Urban Design involves the design and

coordination of all that makes up cities and
towns:
Buildings
Buildings are the most pronounced
elements of urban design - they shape
and articulate space by forming the
streetwalls of the city. Well designed
buildings and groups of buildings work
together to create a sense of place.
Public Space
Great public spaces are the living
room of the city - the place where
people come together to enjoy the city
and each other. Public spaces make
high quality life in the city possible -
they form the stage and backdrop to
the drama of life. Public spaces range
from grand central plazas and
squares, to small, local neighborhood
parks.
Streets
Streets are the connections between
spaces and places, as well as being
spaces themselves. They are defined
by their physical dimension and
character as well as the size, scale,
and character of the buildings that line
them. Streets range from grand
avenues such as the Champs-Elysees
in Paris to small, intimate pedestrian
streets. The pattern of the street
network is part of what defines a city
and what makes each city unique
Transport
Transport systems connect the parts of
cities and help shape them, and enable
movement throughout the city. They
include road, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian
networks, and together form the total
movement system of a city. The balance
of these various transport systems is
what helps define the quality and
character of cities, and makes them
either friendly or hostile to pedestrians.
The best cities are the ones that elevate
the experience of the pedestrian while
minimizing the dominance of the private
automobile.
Landscape
The landscape is the green part of the
city that weaves throughout - in the form
of urban parks, street trees, plants,
flowers, and water in many forms. The
landscape helps define the character and
beauty of a city and creates soft,
contrasting spaces and elements. Green
spaces in cities range from grand parks
such as Central Park in New York City
and the Washington DC Mall, to small
intimate pocket parks.
Image of the City by Kevin Lynch
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN : SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
IN URBAN DESIGN

Ornament and Decoration

-The ways in which the main elements within the city are arranged to form a
pleasing and memorable pattern.
Both words mean embellishments.
Ornament has more formal overtones- the architectural work associated with
certain architectural styles or the work of individual architects.
-Installation of sculpture, fountains, obelisks and similar features into the urban
scene.

Decoration is used to describe populist activities

-Placing of gnomes in the front garden
-Topiary work
-Decorating the city for festivals
Primary Role:
-Unifying parts of the city into comprehensive wholes.
-Emphasize and clarify the five components (by Lynch) and so strengthen the
city’s image and enhance its attraction for citizen and visitor.
-Contribution to formal qualities of the city such as visual order or unity,
proportion, scale, contrast, balance and rhythm.
Functions:
-To go beyond the decoration of individual buildings and to enrich the decorative
themes of a locality.
-To enhance the physical, social and spiritual qualities of location.
-To develop the “legibility” and “imageability” of the city. (a legible city can be
easily visualized in the minds eye, having a clearly defined, easily recognized,
and distinctive perceptual structure.)
Ornaments of a city:
-Streets and squares
-Parks, waterways, and its main buildings
-Sculpture and fountains
-Public building location
-Items of street furniture (telephone boxes, railings, signs, seats)
-Soft landscape features (trees and shrubs)
-All objects in the street (whether utilitarian or not, they are things to be seen
and part of an organic whole)
Decoration for Visual Pleasure
The aesthetic and visual appeal of decoration depends upon four factors:
-The quality of the space which is both the setting for the decoration and which
in turn is enhanced by it.
-The physical form and the pattern of decoration
-Circumstances under which the decoration is seen (for instance, weather
conditions particularly the quality of light).
-The perceptual framework of the observer (his or her mind, how she or he sees
and what has been seen before).
Physical Variables of Decoration:
Unity
Environment to have an understandable simple pattern of signs and cities.
Establishments of centers or places (proximity), directions or paths (continuity) and
areas or districts (enclosure).

Proportion
Some central idea, a visual element or group of related elements should dominate the
whole composition. In urban design, the dominant may be the main town square
around which the main civic buildings are arranged.
Dominance of one decorative theme: the repetition of roof materials, pitch, skyline,
ridge, the consistent use of floorscape materials and patterning and the choice of
street fittings.
Scale
Relationship of buildings and urban space to the size of a architectural envelope
and the act of healing or making the city whole are both closely related to the
correct scaling of the urban landscape.

Harmony
All elements conform to certain ratios which relate continuously to all other
ratios.
City must be experienced to be appreciated, it is to be experienced by all
senses: sounds, smells and texture is important – the cool sound of a fountain
spray or sonorous distant smell, the smell of garlic, hot chocolate and gauloise
cigarettes on Parisienne streets, the rising heat from sunny pavements, or chilly
dark shadows in distant alleyways.
Balance and Symmetry
Visually well adjusted. A simple pair of scales is used as an analogue for
balance in design. Symmetry is the balance of formal axial buildings. Formal
symmetrical decoration is best viewed from the central axis.

Rhythm
Rhythm is a basic characteristic of our nature: a pattern imposed by the mind-
children in the dark listening to the tick-tock of the clock magically turn the
sounds into a rhythmic beat.
Rhythm in architecture is the product of the grouping of elements, of emphasis,
interval, accent and direction. It is the sense of movement by the articulation of
the members making up the composition.
Contrast
Good design should avoid monotony, and therefore it should have interest and
accent. Contrast have to be kept within proportion to avoid perceptual overload.
Contrast of horizontals from the verticals; contrast of form and antiform of
buildings and space, of street and square, soft and hard landscape, or color and
texture.