Urban Planning and Development

• Study notes on urban planning and development.

Introduction to Urban Planning (Week 1)

• Planning operates at different scales, from micro-level (individual blocks, neighborhoods) to macro-level (entire regions, metropolitan areas).
• Planning decisions are interconnected, with transportation choices affecting various aspects like housing, school design, and infrastructure.
• Planning impacts all facets of the built environment, often unnoticed by the public.
• U.S. transportation preferences lean heavily toward automobiles.
• Housing preferences typically favor single-family homes.
• School designs are often car-centric, featuring prominent drop-off systems.
• Infrastructure examples include bus stop locations and parking requirements.
• Zoning regulations affect main street development.
• Cities have higher population density, diverse economic opportunities, and advanced infrastructure.
• Urban boundaries include city limits, metropolitan areas, and commuting zones.
• Urban challenges include NIMBY opposition, housing affordability, and public transportation access.
• Global urbanization is defined as an increasing percentage of the population living in urban areas.
• Urbanization saw a rapid increase following the Industrial Revolution.
• North America and Europe are highly urbanized, while Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization.
• Course requirements include two exams, debates, a final project, and class participation.
• Debate topics include the roles of planners and managing growth.

Urban and Metropolitan Areas (Week 2)

• The U.S. has undergone an urban transformation from rural to urban and then to suburban areas.
• By 2010, 84% of the U.S. population resided in metropolitan areas.
• City organization is defined by site (physical attributes) and situation (accessibility).
• Land value is highest in the city center and declines with distance.
• Private urban functions include residential, commercial, and industrial activities.
• Public urban functions include education, government services, and parks.
• Functions of a Central Business District (CBD) include commercial activities, transportation hubs, and corporate headquarters.
• A CBD is characterized by intensive land use and high pedestrian traffic.
• Physical development has shifted from monocentric to polycentric organization.
• Population patterns show suburban growth exceeding city growth.
• Infrastructure development, such as water systems and road networks, has influenced urban development.
• The availability of 30-year mortgages and the Levittown model have impacted housing.
• Zoning regulations and environmental considerations have shaped urban planning.
• Recent trends prioritize sustainability through green spaces and mixed-use developments.
• Remote work trends impact both urban and suburban areas.

Grid Patterns and City Centers (Week 3)

• Fine-grained grids were historically used in cities.
• Modern developments feature collector road systems that are less pedestrian-friendly.
• City centers historically developed as central compounds in ancient cities.
• City center types include religious, political, and economic centers.
• Latin American cities often feature a central plaza design in Planned Centers.
• New England towns are characterized by a nucleated village design.
• Creating new centers is a modern development challenge.
• Alternative center examples include shopping malls and university campuses.
• Successful centers involve social interaction through public spaces and community activities.
• Transportation connectivity and accessibility is important for successful centers.
• Examples of centers: Kent State University's student center plaza and the revitalization of Cleveland's Public Square.

Core Planning Needs and Ideologies (Week 4)

• Core planning needs include aesthetics, efficiency, and social equity
• Major planning ideologies include order, aesthetics, and symbolism, exemplified by the Grand Manner and City Beautiful Movement.
• Addressing inefficiency involves managing urban congestion through zoning laws.
• Social equity is addressed through housing solutions and public housing programs.
• Maintaining property values concerns zoning development and exclusionary zoning.
• Chicago's White City is an example of the City Beautiful Movement.
• Haussmannization in Paris involved creating grand boulevards.
• Modern challenges include urban sprawl and infrastructure servicing.
• Gentrification involves inner-city revival.

Government Levels and Planning (Week 5)

• The federal government manages national parks and military bases.
• State governments oversee universities and state parks.
• Local governments include counties and municipalities.
• Annexation examples involve Cleveland and Akron.
• State and federal roles include regulatory authority through zoning laws and land use restrictions.
• Funding is provided for transportation and community block grants.
• The political nature of planning involves planners, public officials, and residents as stakeholders.
• Challenges include NIMBY syndrome and financial constraints.
• Low-income housing projects face federal requirements and community resistance.
• Growth control measures address environmental concerns and encounter developer opposition.
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) include AMATS and NOACA.

Study Tips

• Review key concepts such as scale, complexity, and ubiquity of planning.
• Pay attention to historical trends and their impact on modern planning.
• Use regional examples to understand practical applications.
• Prepare for debates by understanding the primary roles of planners and growth management strategies.
• Start the final project early, choose an interesting topic, and relate it to the course material.
• Utilize required readings on Canvas .
• Engage actively in class discussions.
• Write practice essays.