Urban Planning and Development - Lecture Slides | GEOG 4210, Papers of Urbanization

Download Urban Planning and Development - Lecture Slides | GEOG 4210 and more Papers Urbanization in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Urban Planning & Development What is Planning? What is Planning? Initial theme for this section of the course: defining planning Planners work in many different settings, solving many different problems But what is planning exactly? What is Planning? Planning is really a multifaceted activity An activity that has implications for what happens in the Natural environment: human disruption, either positive (fixing previous problems) or negative (creating more problems) Human & built environment: what happens to our cities and neighborhoods What is Planning? What is Planning? 2 What is Planning? What is Planning? What is Planning? Our focus in this class will be predominantly on the human & built environment side of planning However, we can’t ignore the relationship of cities to the natural areas in which our communities are embedded What is Planning? Cities have two basic needs that planning helps to fulfill 1. Need to solve problems associated with the community’s development 2. Need to achieve goals for the community -- implement a vision for life in the community What is Planning? Q: from the DQs for this week, What does “urban planning” mean to you? What ideas related to planning can you think of? Are there any particular issues now being faced by planners in Denton or other Metroplex cities? Problems vs. Goals One of the problems we face in the US is the difficulty of travel across such a big country Planners addressed this problem in the 1950s One solution: the interstate highway system 5 Problems vs. Goals Transportation for a Livable SF: Vision Goal 1 – Shift transport modes from cars to other transport means: make it easier to live in the city and not use a car Goal 2 – Improve the Pedestrian Environment: integrate pedestrian travel into neighborhood plans, make it possible for people to walk to work and shopping Problems vs. Goals Transportation for a Livable SF: Vision Goal 3 – Improve conditions for bicycling: creation of bicycle paths and routes to make bicycling more attractive Goal 4 – Improve public transit: identify key routes and improve service so public transit becomes more attractive Goal 5 – Support the city government’s local “traffic-calming” initiatives San Francisco has certainly done a lot to achieve these goals in its neighborhoods Problems vs. Goals One Question: What is “Traffic Calming”? Reduce traffic volumes and speeds on targeted streets and in specific neighborhoods Create incentives for drivers to avoid certain streets – make certain roads less attractive for through traffic Goal: improve the neighborhood environment for residents and pedestrians Identify particularly high crash zones where traffic calming might help One Example From North Carolina Analyze the neighborhood to look for auto-related issues Problems vs. Goals Q: Have you seen traffic calming methods being implemented? What do you think would be an effective way of making drivers slow down or avoid using certain streets? 6 A Few Traffic Calming Methods Speed Hump Problems vs. Goals Advantages/disadvantages? A Few Traffic Calming Methods Traffic Circle (or “Roundabout”) Problems vs. Goals Advantages/disadvantages? A Few Traffic Calming Methods Road Narrowing: “Choker” Problems vs. Goals Advantages/disadvantages? School A Few Traffic Calming Methods Road Narrowing: “Choker” Problems vs. Goals Advantages/disadvantages?