Land use planning is an invaluable resource for governments looking to manage the development of their communities. Without it, communities would quickly disintegrate: transportation systems wouldn’t run efficiently, pollutant factories could pollute residences and the environment would suffer as a result.
Land use planning’s central philosophy is to strike a balance between human needs and natural ones, through zoning regulations that designate residential, commercial and recreational zones from one another.
Definition
Land use planning is an approach to organizing how people occupy land and resources, with an aim of meeting current needs while planning ahead to create long-term, sustainable visions of development. Land use planning has existed ever since our ancestors first settled large numbers together in communities to form towns, cities, or other urban centers.
Land planning encompasses multiple techniques, such as zoning and comprehensive planning. Of these tools, however, zoning remains the most frequently employed local method for controlling land use to achieve municipal goals.
Comprehensive planning may appear like a goal unto itself, but it also serves as the cornerstone for land use controls such as zoning ordinances. Municipalities can create their own comprehensive plans or contract professional planners to assist. In some states such as Colorado or Virginia, however, state environmental quality review Act (SEQRA) processes must also be implemented in order to produce comprehensive plans.
Purpose
Land-use planning is a strategy for creating sustainable communities. This practice takes into account both present and future needs in addition to environmental and social effects associated with land development projects, with the ultimate aim of creating an equilibrium that offers all essential services while protecting natural resources.
The Canadian Institute of Planners defines land-use planning as “the systematic, aesthetic and orderly application of science to land use decisions with an aim of optimizing physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities”. Meanwhile, American Planning Association states its purpose as “furthering the welfare of its constituents by creating convenient environments that promote healthful lifestyles”.
Land use planning is a complex task involving competing interests from residents, business owners, government agencies and the local community. Without an effective land use plan in place, cities would quickly disintegrate while transportation systems would struggle and industrial plants pollute waterways and residences alike.
Functions
Land use planning helps facilitate growth by organizing how cities expand and infrastructure is constructed over time. It identifies where housing, roads and utilities should go to support livable communities while aligning new development with transport networks while minimising disruption to natural ecosystems. Furthermore, sustainable investment is encouraged and conflicts over ownership reduced significantly.
Residentialgebaude Used to construct single-family houses and high-rise apartments. Affordability, density limitations and integration into nearby uses are important considerations when making decisions on a residential development plan.
Commercial Zoning
Zoning for commercial uses aims to facilitate retail, hospitality, office and other uses that complement nearby residential and agricultural uses.
Good planning requires transparent data, collaborative decision-making and continual engagement with residents. Additionally, good planning involves collecting new spatial and environmental data which can be used to evaluate performance and inform future planning decisions. This approach supports consistent policy and design while quickly identifying any potential problems; additionally it expedites approval and funding processes.
Goals
Clatsop County’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances serve as the guidebooks that ensure predictable outcomes when developing homes, stores, industry and public infrastructure such as streets, municipal water and sewer services, or conserving natural resources.
Goal 1 requires cities and counties to project future population and growth projections and identify locations capable of accommodating it in an orderly fashion, including whether to include an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
Goal 5 requires cities and counties to protect a range of natural resources, such as riparian areas; fish and wildlife habitats; wilderness areas; historic and cultural sites; mineral aggregate resources, groundwater supplies, scenic views and landscapes, scenic views from open space areas as well as open space areas. Local governments should utilize an inventory and evaluation process for these natural resources before developing programs to protect them; state agencies like LCDC or DLCD also assess these plans or regulations to make sure they adhere to Goal 5.