COURSE OUTLINE Urban & Regional Planning (GEOG3333) Coordinator: Email: Website: Dr. Kevon Rhiney (Top Floor, Bldg A, Geog/Geol Dept., ext. 2258-9) [email protected] http://caribbeansocieties.com/urban-planning/ RATIONALE This course provides a solid base for students either wishing to pursue postgraduate studies or to undertake careers in urban planning. Given recent and projected trends in global urban population growth, urban planning is becoming increasingly more important as a profession, as nation states strive to optimize the use of available resources in an efficient and sustainable manner. This is particularly important in the case of developing regions like the Caribbean that are being challenged to find new and effective solutions in balancing the drive for achieving economic growth amidst growing social and environmental concerns. The course is also designed to develop practical and transferable skills such as report writing, critical thinking and problem solving that will serve as valuable assets in the world of work. COURSE DESCRIPTION The course covers a range of topics spanning the full breadth and length of the planning profession. The first half of the course will examine some of the basic concepts and debates underlying the field of urban and regional planning. This part of the course introduces students to the history and evolution of modern town planning, various planning theories and procedural models, land use management tools and explores the complex and dynamic linkages that exist between planning processes and development. The second half of the course entails a case study based analysis of different planning issues affecting modern-day societies such as water insecurity and sanitation, financing low-income housing, urban safety and security, the global urban energy crisis, and vulnerability to climate change. Case studies are drawn from a large number of low and middle-income countries but with a special emphasis on the Caribbean. LEARNING OBJECTIVES On the successful completion of this course students should be able to: • • • • • • Examine and discuss the historical evolution of modern town planning Differentiate the varied types of plans and planning strategies that exist including redevelopment plans, smart growth strategies, economic development strategic plans, site plans, and disaster preparedness plans. Critically assess relevant theories, models, tools and concepts used by planners. Analyze the complex and dynamic linkages that exist between planning processes and development Identify and evaluate the major social problems affecting urban areas in the developing world, and describe and compare methods that have been used to alleviate these challenges. Identify and evaluate the major environmental problems affecting urban areas in the developing world, and describe and compare methods that have been used to alleviate these challenges. Students will also be exposed to a number of practical and transferable skills as follows: • • • Identify, process and critically examine key and relevant literature from both print and web based sources on defined topics Absorb and critically analyze information to develop reasoned arguments Ability to gather, process, analyze and communicate detailed and complex information by means of an oral presentation supported by appropriate visual and other multimedia aids TEACHING METHODS • • • • • Weekly Lectures Videos and multimedia Site visits Tutorials/consultations Career Talks/Seminars 1 COURSE SCHEDULE Dates January 21 Topics Introduction to Urban Planning. Provides overview of course and introduce students to the core features of modern urban planning. January 28 History and Evolution of Planning in Britain. Traces the genesis and evolution of urban planning in Britain, and includes an assessment of the early post-war planning developments and challenges that emerged. February 4 The Seers. Includes a critical assessment of the contributions made to modern urban planning thought and practice by pioneer thinkers such as Ebenezer Howard and Le Corbusier. February 11 Theories of Planning. Critically examines a range of procedural approaches including blueprints/master plans, systems planning, incrementalism, mixed scanning and participatory planning. This section also covers new urban design movements such as New Urbanism and Smart Growth. February 18 No class (Ash Wednesday) *** First Fieldtrip to KSAC on Thursday 19 February *** February 25 Environmental Planning and Management. This lecture covers a range of topical issues pertaining to environmental resources management including inter alia, the use of EIAs/SEAs, valuating ecosystem services, waste management services, reducing carbon footprints and brownfield redevelopment. March 4 *** Mid-Term Test (Monday March 2) *** *** Second Fieldtrip to KSAC on Wednesday 4 March *** March 18 Development Control. Provides overview of the main principles of development control and examines a few strategies commonly used by local planning authorities. Some of these strategies include land-use control tools such as land use zoning and subdivision control and development management techniques such as greenbelts, setbacks, transferal development rights and preservation ordinances to name some. March 25 Water and Sanitation. Uses African and Asian case studies to examine the challenges involved in providing water and sanitation services to a growing urban population. April 1 Sustainable Transport. Examines a range of sustainable solutions to transport planning that are geared towards enhancing commuters’ mobility and access while reducing the social and environmental costs associated with traditional transport systems. The lecture will also examine some recent trends in transport planning across the globe. April 8 Strategies for Housing the Urban Poor. Using a wide range of case studies, this section examines the challenges and opportunities in providing low-income housing solutions in the Global South. *** Term Paper Due *** April 15 Adapting Cities to Climate Change. Examines the vulnerability of urban settlements to climate change impacts and the measures being implemented by different cities to mitigate and adapt to these changes. Also entails an in-depth analysis into the urban causes of the current global energy crisis and explores possible urban planning and design solutions. ASSESSMENT Assignment 1: Mid-Term Test This will take the form of a short answer quiz, inclusive of a multiple-choice section. The result of this test will be worth 20% of your overall grade for this course. The test will be held during consultation hour on Monday 02 March 2015. 2 Assignment 2: Term Paper Write a fully referenced essay of between 2000 and 2500 word. This essay is due by midday on Wednesday 8 April 2015 and is worth 30% of your overall grade for this course. The course reading list will provide you with some information, but you ought also to conduct an independent search for further literature. Please do not place the assignment in a plastic folder. Examination The examination will be made up of five questions where you will be required to answer any two. The examination is worth 50% of the overall grade for this course. KEY READINGS • Fainstein, S; Campbell, S (2003), Readings in planning theory, Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell. • Gilg, A.W. (2005) Planning in Britain: Understanding and evaluating the post-war system. London: SAGE. • Greed, C. (1996) Introducing Town Planning, 2 nd edn. Essex: Longman. • Hall, P. (2002) Urban and Regional Planning, 4 th edn. London: Routledge. • Hall, P (2002), Cities of Tomorrow (3rd ed.), Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell. th • Levy, J.M. (2009) Contemporary Urban Planning, 8 edn. New Jersey: Pearson • Satterthwaite, et al. (2011) Adapting to Climate Change in Urban Areas: The possibilities and constraints in low- and middle-income nations. Human Settlements Discussion Paper Series, IIED • Taylor, N. (2009) Urban Planning since 1945. London: SAGE • Thomas. K. (1997) Development Control: Principles and Practice. UCL Press. RECOMMENDED READINGS • • • • • • • • • • Bicknell, J. et al. (2009) Adapting Cities to Climate Change. London: Earthscan Clarke, C. (2001). ‘Urbanisation, Planning and Development in the Caribbean’ in C. Barrow and R. Reddock (eds) Caribbean Sociology: introductory readings. Kingston, Ian Randle, pp. 954-972. Davis, M. (2004) Planet of slums. New Left Review 26, 5–34. De Soto, H. (2000) The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else. Basic Books. IIED (2004). ‘Reshaping local democracy through participatory governance’. Environment and Urbanization Brief 9. Jaffe, R. (2008) The Caribbean City. Kingston: Ian Randle McHardy, P. (2002) Urban and Regional Planning in Jamaica Schoburgh, E.D. (2006) Local Government Reform: the prospects for community empowerment in Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica, SALISES. UN Human Settlements Programme (2009) Planning sustainable cities: global report on human settlements 2009. London: Earthscan UN Human Settlements Programme (2011) Cities and Climate Change. London: Earthscan USEFUL WEBSITES International Institute for Environment and Development (http://www.iied.org/) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/) World Bank: Urban Poverty (www.worldbank.org/urban/poverty/) World Bank: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/water/urban.html) UN Habitat: The State of the World’s Cities Report 2012 (www.unhabitat.org.) 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