City and Regional Planning - Environment and Ecology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Ecology and Environment

Download City and Regional Planning - Environment and Ecology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Ecology and Environment in PDF only on Docsity! City and regional planning • City (urban) planning: the professional pursuit that attempts to design cities to maximize their efficiency, functionality, and beauty – Planners advise policymakers on development options, transportation needs, public parks, etc. • City planning grew throughout 20th century – Expanding urban populations, inner cities decayed, and wealthier residents fled to suburbs • Regional planning: deals with same issues as city planning, but with broader geographic scales that must coordinate with multiple municipal governments Docsity.com Zoning • Zoning: the practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use – Homeowners and businesses know what can and cannot be located nearby. Docsity.com Smart growth • Smart growth: urban growth boundaries and other land use policies to control growth • Proponents promote: – Rejuvenating older existing communities • Building “up, not out” – Focusing development in existing areas – Favoring multistory shop-houses and high- rises Docsity.com Principles of smart growth • Mixed land uses • Compact building design • Range of housing opportunities and choices • Walkable neighborhoods • Distinctive, attractive neighborhoods • Preserve open space • Develop existing communities • A variety of transportation choices • Predictable development decisions • Community collaboration in development decisions Docsity.com New urbanism • New urbanism: neighborhoods are designed on a walkable scale – Homes, businesses, and schools are close together • Functional neighborhoods in which most of a family’s needs can be met without using a car • Zoning rules must cooperate with new urbanism. – Denser development must be allowed. Kapolei Docsity.com Parks and open spaces are key elements • City dwellers want escape from noise, commotion, and stress. • Natural lands, public parks, and open space provide greenery, scenic beauty, freedom, and recreation. – Protect ecological processes • Parks originated in America at the end of the 19th century. • Even small spaces can make a big difference. – Playgrounds, community gardens, greenways Community Garden, Oahu • Ala Wai • Diamond Head • Dole • Foster • Hawaii Kai • Kaneohe • Makiki • Manoa • Moiliili • Wahiawa Docsity.com Urbanization impacts resource consumption • Resource sinks: cities must import resources from long distances – Food, water, fuel – But cities maximize efficiency of resource use • Urban ecological footprints are much larger than their actual land area. 90% Docsity.com Urbanization impacts resource consumption Year 2000 eee aoe Geothermal aie ia) ee QUESTION: Review Which statement is false, regarding cities? a) They must import resources from far away. b) They rely on large expanses of land for ecosystem services. c) People living in cities feel more connected to nature, particularly since TV can let them see nature shows. d) Cities tend to concentrate people, allowing for more efficient consumption of resources. e) Cities promote a flourishing cultural life. Docsity.com “Sprawl” is defined as: a) Increased resource extraction from rural areas b) Creating more livable cities c) The spread of low-density development outward from an urban center d) The spread of high-density development outward from an urban center e) Constriction of urban areas into smaller, more rural-type communities QUESTION: Review Docsity.com Urban sprawl has created many problems. Which of the following is NOT a problem created by urban sprawl? a) People are forced to drive cars to get almost anywhere b) Air pollution such as carbon dioxide c) People lose weight worrying about traffic congestion d) Less land is left for open areas and farms e) Older communities lose tax dollars QUESTION: Review Docsity.com