Zone planning régimes

Recent discussion of Enterprise Zones in England has been concerned with attributing development to the financial package of incentives operating, rather than the simplified planning régime, the author reconsiders the question of the significance of the new forms of planning procedure and suggests that, in the long term, the experiment will have lasting significance for the planning system itself.     

What are the effects of contamination risks on commercial and industrial properties? evidence from Baltimore,Maryland

Using the hedonic pricing approach, this paper investigates how the information released on public registries of contaminated and potentially contaminated sites affects nearby commercial and industrial properties in Baltimore, Maryland. The study found that industrial properties are virtually unaffected by proximity to a site with a history of contamination, while commercial properties do suffer an external cost due to the proximity to a contaminated site. This external cost is not cleared once the site has been cleaned up or has been pronounced to be harmless. It also found that the impacts of urban economic development policies, such as Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Zones, have had positive effects on industrial property values, but less so on commercial properties. In sum, brownfield properties in Baltimore are not particularly attractive investments for developers, and there is little potential for self-sustaining clean-up based on appropriate fiscal incentives, such as Tax Increment Financing. It is doubtful that ‘one size fits all’ measures to encourage the clean-up of contaminated sites can be successful in this context.     

Privatisation,liberalisation and simplification of Statutory land use planning in Britain

A central government Consultation Paper issued in 1984 argues the case for simplified planning zones. These are seen to offer greater speed and certainty to developers and are closely related to the Enterprise Zone concept. This paper examines the context to the proposal, reviews the details of the Consultation Paper, and identifies the nature of the response to the idea.     

Optimization of regional economic and environmental systems under fuzzy and random uncertainties

Environmental problems associated with socio-economic development have been growing concerns faced by many regional and/or national authorities. However, effective planning may encounter difficulties since uncertainties existing in a number of impact factors and pollution-related processes are often not well acknowledged and reflected. This study advances an interval-fuzzy chance-constrained programming (IFCP) method for planning regional economic and environmental systems, where uncertainties presented as intervals, fuzzy sets and probability distributions can be tackled. The developed method is applied to a real-world case for economic and environmental planning in the New Binhai District in the Municipality of Tianjin, China. Two scenarios based on multiple environmental constraints are examined. The results can help identify desired alternatives for planning regional development strategies, where compromised schemes are provided under an integrated consideration of economic efficiency and environmental protection under multiple uncertainties.     

Parkmanagement as a tool for careful industrial land‐use planning

During the second half of the 1990s the combination of ecological and economic targets in industrial land‐use planning became an official part of spatial‐economic policy in the Netherlands. A growing number of business locations are now being developed or re‐developed as ‘sustainable business sites’. At the same time, ‘parkmanagement’ came into existence as a new tool for development and control of business sites for industry and services. Parkmanagement is now regarded as one of the obvious instruments to realize sustainable (or ‘careful’) land use on business parks. However, there is now a question about whether it is wrong for local governments (which in the Dutch case are responsible for most land development schemes) to have so much participation in parkmanagement initiatives. There is a threat that local governments are welcoming parkmanagement as a fashionable way to impose new regulations on business establishments, and ignore the evidence from practice. Such evidence shows that parkmanagement is most successful when organized with the involvement of private enterprises. This would also be more in line with the modern interaction‐oriented planning theory (consensus planning). The paper describes the principal dilemmas facing local governments in business site development, the theoretical options for influencing the development process of the sites, and the set of actions that could be part of a parkmanagement strategy. These can be arranged on a ‘ladder’ or range of activities, from rather simple facilities serving individual companies' needs, such as maintenance and security, to more complex co‐operation projects in combined transport or energy supply, and ultimately lead to schemes for connecting material flows of production processes. The successive stages of the ladder of business site facilities can be combined with different forms and stages of process organization.     

Designing sustainability for whom? Recent housing developments in Southwest Montréal

This paper sets out to show how urban sustainability issues have been addressed by social, political, and economic actors involved in housing production in Montréal. Specifically, it looks at how the environmental question has been incorporated into the practice and discourse of recent housing schemes. Principles of sustainable development such as adaptive reuse of industrial buildings and infill housing that allow for reinvestment in inner-city neighbourhoods, inclusion of affordable, or social housing in private housing developments to secure social mix, citizen participation, energy, water, and transportation matters have been increasingly circulated. By examining planning documents, design proposals, and briefs presented at public hearings on housing schemes in Southwest Montréal, a former working-class borough undergoing revitalisation, this paper shows that the values of sustainable development have been used by both private developers and local authorities to negotiate urban transformations with community groups.     

Simplified planning zones — a reaction to the proposals

The Government has recently published Lifting the Burden which includes the proposed legislation on Simplified Planning Zones. This paper, based on recently undertaken research, specifically considers the reaction of a sample of local authorities and private agencies to the proposals.     

HYDROLOGIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES FOR REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

The emphasis upon comprehensive regional water resources planning in the past decade has encouraged the hydrologic engineer to take advantage of improvements in technology to develop new hydrologic engineering techniques for use in regional planning studies. The new techniques are necessary because the traditional hydro-logic engineering techniques are not always consistent with the increased scope and diversified objectives of regional planning studies. The Hydrologic Engineering Center has been involved in aiding in the development of some of these new techniques as the result of studies that have been made in cooperation with other Corps of Engineers offices. Most of the new techniques being developed emphasize computational procedures developed specifically for use with electronic computers. Applications of new techniques range from framework studies to planning of day-to-day operation criteria. Studies recently completed or in progress include: (1) development of a regional flood control site screening plan for the North Atlantic Region study; (2) use of streamflow simulation for planning and operation of the Missouri River mainstem projects; (3) development of an operation plan for the Arkansas-White-Red Rivers Reservoir System; (4) standard project flood and flood frequency estimates for the Colorado River Basin Framework Study; and several other projects which are described in more detail in the following paragraphs. One of the initial efforts in regional analysis was the formulation of procedures for determining standard project flood estimates for southern California coastal streams using generalized criteria. Techniques were developed that were readily adaptable to the computer and which would determine representative unit hydrographs, losses and standard project precipitation for any location in the study area. The resulting standard project flood estimates were consistent with the accuracy required for framework studies; however, they could be refined easily for design studies. As a result of the recent drought in the Northeastern United States, a study was made to evaluate both present and future water supply reservoirs in that region. The study consisted of computerized studies of the hypothetical operation of a large number of reservoirs as a system. The reservoirs were on many different streams throughout the region and had varying constraints, depending upon the stream and the state in which the reservoir was located. Since only preliminary data was available on the proposed reservoirs, it was not possible to refine the studies to a large degree. However, the models of each system can be easily refined as more accurate design data become available. The development of a computer-aided screening procedure for use in evaluating several hundred potential reservoir sites for the Missouri River Basin Comprehensive Framework Study is a third example of regional analysis. The adopted procedures used available physical, hydrologic, and climatologic data in estimating reservoir storage requirements throughout the basin. Because the procedure is based upon the techniques often used in more refined studies, it is expected that the results of the screening study will be very useful in future planning and design work. Shortcomings of some of the traditional techniques have helped in the development of new techniques. For maximum usefulness the new techniques should: (1) be consistent with the scope, objectives, and requirements of the overall study; (2) use all available physical, hydrologic, and climatologic data without requiring extensive data which may not be available; (3) take full advantage of the capabilities of the computer and associated data processing systems; and (4) produce results which form a firm basis for future, more detailed, planning and design studies instead of being limited in usefulness largely to the study at hand.     

Enterprise boards: evolution and critique

There has been a marked proliferation of local economic development initiatives in recent years. Enterprise Boards have proved one of the most successful of these innovations. In the early 1980s five were established. Two, the Greater London and the West Midlands Enterprise Boards, were initially designed to intervene radically within their local economies, although subsequent events moderated their activities. The remaining three in Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Merseyside, have successfully widened their operations to embrace collaborate projects with the private sector, training, boosting co‐operatives, and research. By many economic evaluations, for example, jobs supported, leverage ratios and investment per job, Enterprise Boards have performed better than other instruments of urban and regional development. Wider socio‐political objectives have proved more difficult to achieve.     

Environmental impact assessment in ghana-anex post evaluation of the volta resettlement scheme: the case of the Kpong Hydro-electric project

Summary Many Third World Countries (TWCs), like Ghana, have not concerned themselves seriously with environmental problems as part of the entire socio-economic development process, until recently. This, for example, can be seen in their environmental policies and the rate at which these now are being made. Not only are environmental issues being considered in the formulation and implementation of new development programmes and projects, but it is being realised that earlier implemented projects need some evaluation,ex post, for possible, correction of past mistakes or, at least, as a source of self-containment. Thus, there has been interest in the impact assessment of past macro-projects as agricultural and resettlement schemes.An attempt is made to apply a simple matrices methodology to theex post evaluation of the Kpong Hydro-electric Project resettlement aspect, based on identified project and environment components. The results show that the impact on the socio- economic life of the settlers is positively greater than the physical and biological impacts. But considering other elements of the programme package and taking a perspective view, the settlers are after all, no better off. In view of the fact that a number of such schemes are now under consideration, it is useful for policy-makers and planners to learn from these lessons.Sam Ofori-Cudjoe is a Lecturer in Geography at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He is currently studying planning research at the Centre for Planning, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He obtained a BA (Hons) in Geography from the Department of Geography, University of Ghana, Legon, in 1978, and a MSc (Regional Planning) from the Department of Planning, University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, Ghana, in 1981.     

From socioeconomic disparity to environmental injustice: the relationship between housing unit density and community green space in a medium city in Pakistan

Rapid urbanisation, lack of proactive planning and improper allocation of resources may result in socio-economic disparity among and within cities, causing social unrest and environmental injustice in the neighbourhoods. This study aims to examine whether the planning standards for housing schemes in Pakistan are able to maintain equitable access to green spaces within the cities. Ten residential sites in Sheikhupura city with different housing unit sizes and densities were selected for the study. The supply of urban green infrastructure in housing scheme has been assessed: (i) by comparing the percentage of green spaces, including community parks and open spaces and street landscape; and (ii) by calculating per dwelling unit and per capita share of green spaces. These indicators have been studied against the housing density and population density of the schemes by applying correlation and linear regression models. The results show that all the housing schemes plans provide for similar amounts of green space as a percentage of total area. The per capita share of green spaces is very low in high-density areas, but interestingly, the street landscape has a higher potential to contribute to the overall landscape in high-density neighbourhoods, compensating for low per capita green space. Housing unit density and population density must be incorporated in planning standards so planners can effectively devise a mix of community parks, street landscape and private green spaces to help maintain per capita green spaces, and hence environmental resource equality in different parts of the city.     

Public parks as an element of urban planning: a missing piece in Accra's growth and development

Public parks are important to urban environments, residents, and visitors. Among other functions, they provide environmental services, such as air and water purification, and they increase both recreational opportunities and the attractiveness of the urban environment. Because of their importance, urban parks serve as public spaces that provide visitors and urban residents with rights to the city. This paper identifies the dearth of urban public parks in Accra-Tema city-region as worrying. The Accra Plan 1958 underscored the significance of green spaces and designated the coastal strip for parks development but the areas have been lost to various urban uses. We argue that the continual neglect of public parks within urban planning and community development schemes in the Accra-Tema city-region is a major concern because it is depriving the citizens a right to the city and its public spaces. A number of factors have worked adversely against the provision of public parks and green spaces in the city-region. These include development pressures, undue political interference, a complex land delivery system, and ad hoc planning. The paper concludes by offering policy suggestions as to how to resolve the dearth of parks and green spaces in the city-region.     

A study on operation problems of hydropower plants integrated with irrigation schemes operated in Turkey

In this study, Hydroelectric Power Plants, which have been built and integrated with irrigation schemes by the State Hydraulic Works which is a government agency and private companies in Turkey, have been examined. Technical, environmental, structural and social problems encountered during their operation have been analyzed, and appropriate solution proposals have been presented in the study for a sustainable irrigation and Hydroelectric Power Plant operation. Consequently, Hydroelectric Power Plants which have been integrated with irrigation schemes should be operated efficiently and they should be operated in attenuation with the environment. However, when hydroelectric projects are developed without preparing their necessary integrated basin management plans, then this will cause environmental, operation and maintenance, administrative, monitoring and evaluation problems. In order to ensure sustainability of hydroelectricity production and also in order to use water resources more efficiently for irrigation; it is very important to find permanent solutions to these problems.     

SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT1

Decisions to develop water resources systems so far have been primarily taken on the basis of engineering and economic feasibilities. Very rarely, if ever, sociological feasibility has been considered, except in a very broad sense. Planning is for the people, and it should improve the quality of life. Hence, it is argued that water resources decisions ought to be primarily social ones, and that the success or failure of any resource development should not only be judged by its techno-economic excellence but also by its impact on people. Water resources planning process is discussed, and the difficulties associated with the evaluation of sociological feasibility of projects are enumerated. The social consequences of water development projects are traced through planning, construction, operation and management impacts. Finally, it is suggested that the foremost factor in the success of any water management program is the public understanding and acceptance of that program.     

A CRAZY IDEA ON URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT?1

ABSTRACT. High percentage of imperviousness in the city is the source of storm runoff. Roof area contributes significantly to the imperviousness. An attempt to make use of roofs as urban flood control device and water conservation measure is advocated. Two different schemes, one for built-up industrial-commercial area, the other for residential area, are suggested. The former utilizes the roof as detention reservoir for flood control, the latter employs recharge pit to convert runoff into ground water resource. The proposed schemes are not only hydrologically, hydraulically and structurally sound but also economically feasible. It is worth considering in the future planning of urban renewal and urban development.     

Transboundary Issues in Wilderness Management

/ The management of lands adjacent to federally designated wilderness is increasingly seen to have the potential to negatively impact wilderness resources and management objectives. This paper first examines the numerous and often conflicting laws and regulations that influence how managers can mitigate transboundary issues. We then examine the various types of transboundary issues, and describe how they impact wilderness resources. Transboundary issues include recreational use, extractive activities, fire management, exotic species introductions, aircraft overflights and military operations, water diversion, urban encroachment, and transported pollutants. KEY WORDS: Adjacent lands; Buffer zones; Ecosystem management; Wilderness; Zones of influence     

Two Measured Parameters Correlated to Participation Rates in Curbside Recycling Schemes in the UK

Local authorities in the United Kingdom are currently changing their approach towards recycling as they attempt to meet legislative targets. An important part of this drive is the provision of an effective curbside recycling service and it is vital to understand the parameters that influence the performance of the system offered. In this article, three primary datasets, collected from over 1400 households each, are examined for parameters correlated to participation rates. Two measured parameters were found that are not commonly identified in previous studies of curbside recycling schemes, and they are shown to merit further investigation as useful tools for planning purposes. One is the number of types of material collected; participation rates are greater for schemes collecting more materials. The second is the number of households situated on the same road; the lower the number, the higher the participation rate. In both cases, evidence of the measured correlation is presented, justifying their usefulness for planning. The multiple underlying factors causing the correlations are not identified here, but suggestions are made for further studies.     

The impact of environmental assessment on local planning authorities

Studies of two samples of 24 selected local planning authorities (LPAs) in the UK were undertaken to determine the effect of environmental assessment (EA) regulations on planning practice during their first 18 months of operation. EA has been integrated into the UK planning system without significant recourse to the courts and many LPAs regarded EA as a worthwhile and helpful procedure. However, several LPAs did not consider whether to request EA for projects that might be likely to have significant impacts and some LPAs did not follow statutory and recommended consultation procedures. LPAs did not evaluate environmental statements systematically and their quality was often unsatisfactory. However, mitigation of environmental impacts took place in many cases though two‐fifths of the 20 determined applications involving EA were refused. Half the decisions took longer than the 16‐week time limit. While practice is evolving as experience is gained, there is obvious scope for further improvement and suggestions are made to enhance the contribution of EA to the planning system.     

STATE WATER PLANNING: A FORUM FOR PROACTWELY RESOLVING WATER POLICY DISPUTES1

ABSTRACT: In the arid West, the development and implementation of water policy often results in disputes among water users, resource managers, and policy makers. Although significant attempts have been made to improve public involvement and dispute resolution in water resources planning, the traditional planning process has not historically played this role for a variety of reasons. Water resources planning can become a forum for proactively resolving water policy disputes by employing the principles of environmental dispute resolution. The purpose of this article is to explore the role of collaborative, consensus-building planning processes in resolving water policy disputes. The Montana State Water Plan is evaluated as an example of such a process, and a model state water planning process is outlined.