Land use planning involves carefully considering how real estate should be developed in order to ensure that any new developments don’t harm the environment and community negatively.
Building communities where people can live, work, shop, learn and play nearby reduces car travel while encouraging physical activity and physical fitness.
Definition
Land use planning is the practice by which governments create goals and regulations for the occupation of their territories, in order to manage development while protecting natural resources, and mitigating environmental effects associated with urban growth. Land use plans can be done at any level: local, state or regional.
Municipalities often implement land use planning through zoning laws. These typically consist of a zoning map and regulations outlining what uses are permitted within each district, along with minimum distance standards between buildings and property lines and minimum setback requirements; they may even mandate that an official building or zoning permit is obtained before construction can begin.
Land use planning processes must take into account the needs of its residents. This should include providing affordable housing options as well as access to jobs, amenities and services in areas designated equity emphasis areas.
Purpose
Land use planning serves to regulate development by balancing competing interests for space in a region. From oil drum storage on John Public’s property to opening a restaurant by Jane Citizen, land use planning seeks to foster orderly and rational development patterns while mitigating nuisance conflicts, all while supporting community health and well-being.
As part of the process, this can also help identify areas prone to natural hazards like flooding, hurricanes or earthquakes and ensure that infrastructure is available there. Furthermore, the strategic placement of various land uses throughout a County can boost local economies while protecting cultural and natural resources at once.
Communities benefit from providing an array of affordable single-family homes, townhouses and apartments as well as commercial, industrial and recreational spaces such as parks, golf courses and swimming pools.
Methods
Land use planning is an approach employed by governments to manage development and protect natural resources. It involves conducting an in-depth examination of land potential and alternatives, economic conditions and constraints, environmental regulations such as zoning laws or environmental impact studies as well as forestry regulations.
Step one of any land use plan involves identifying and clarifying its objectives. This step may be achieved via reconnaissance field visits or discussions between representatives of those seeking a plan and representatives of planners. It is imperative that any miscommunication takes place at this early stage as failure to do so could prove challenging later.
An equity lens planning approach is integral in ensuring Prince William County’s residents can afford to live and work here. This method takes into account demographics as well as opportunities to leverage our unique local assets.
Impacts
Land use planning seeks to advance sustainable development, which involves filling urban space efficiently while protecting natural resources. One tool used by government units for this goal is zoning ordinances which govern how developers and property owners use their land.
Land-use decisions often have long-term repercussions for both the natural environment and local economies, including eutrophication, erosion, degradation of water quality and quantity, impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots can prevent rainwater recharging groundwater supplies, diminish wetlands, watersheds and streams that support biota.
Land-use decisions typically consider both economic and environmental costs; however, environmental externalities often remain unaccounted for – creating ineffective allocation of land resources. To address this imbalance, communities need to develop plans that take broader environmental and economic impacts into account so they can make more informed decisions when allocating their land.