DUSP Courses 1998

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11.360 Community Growth & Land Use Planning

11.360 COMMUNITY GROWTH AND LAND USE PLANNING -
FALL 1998

M.I.T. DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING

Terry S. Szold, Lecturer Monday - Wednesday

3-0-9 (H) Units 11:00 AM -12:30 PM

Room 10-485

COURSE DESCRIPTION

"The old planning model, rooted in nineteenth-century concepts of science and engineering, is either dead or severely impaired.... Non-Euclidian Planning is decentered, privileging regions and localities.... It encourages the affected population to take an active part, and, thus, validates the experiential knowledge of ordinary people and promotes mutual learning between the planning expert and the affected population.... Non-Euclidian planning operates in real time by linking knowledge and action into a tightly looped process of strategic change.... Though planners remain free to choose, action in the public domain should be justified as that which furthers the cause of human flourishing and diversity throughout the world."

John Friedmann, 1993

This subject explores the techniques, processes, and personal and professional skills required to effectively manage growth and land use change. While primarily focused on the planning practice in the United States, the principles and techniques reviewed and presented may have international application. This course is not for bystanders; it is designed for those who wish to become actively involved or exposed to the planning discipline and profession as it is practiced today, and as it may need to be practiced in the future.

The fundamentals of the land use planning and growth management system are explored. Discussion and review of both traditional and innovative approaches to land use planning and growth management will occur, with emphasis on participatory processes and performance-based systems. Examples of the tools and techniques utilized at the local, regional, and state level of government will also be presented and evaluated.

Some class sessions employ case studies. A reader containing journal articles, papers, and other written works relevant to contemporary planning practice and the evolution of the discipline will supplement class session topics and discussion. Guest speakers whose work involves a focus on the various subject areas reviewed in the course will also be periodically introduced.

In addition to classwork, each student will be required to participate, as a project team member, in the preparation of a plan that will benefit an actual planning agency. The following project opportunity has been arranged:

A Town Center Vision Plan will be prepared for the Town of Burlington as a "guidance document" to be used by the Town as an instrument to help create a more positive physical evolution of this important area. The plan should help facilitate a "sense of place," and sharpen the area's identity as a vibrant, coherent, district.

For purposes of this proposal, the area that will be addressed by this project will include the Cambridge Street/Route 3A corridor area, extending approximately from Olympia Way northerly to Kinney Avenue. The area is presently characterized by strip commercial development, including many dated and unremarkable structures. It is comprised primarily of a variety of retail uses and properties that are not cohesively linked together. Facilitating aesthetic and functional improvements, and balancing economic development and community character issues, will be a key challenge.

The plan will involve consideration and analysis of the existing land use pattern and visual and economic characteristics of the area, and should offer strategies and recommendations to improve and enhance the area. The following products should result from the project:

o Realistic land use alternatives and design strategies, and the identification of conceptual vehicular and pedestrian circulation improvements;

o Identification of realistic possibilities for the enhancement of the area and specific properties, including recommendations for streetscape and landscape improvements and amenities;

o General recommendations and reuse strategies for high visibility or key parcels that have major redevelopment potential;

o Conceptual design guidelines and incentives that could be used by the Town to foster plan objectives; and,

o Potential revisions to the Town's Zoning Bylaw (both map and text amendments) to support plan objectives, including potential revisions to existing zoning district boundaries.

The "final plan" document will include the inventory and analysis conducted, along with recommendations and other accompanying features and details, including maps, illustrations, tables, and relevant data.

Presentation of the preliminary plan findings and final plan recommendations will be made to the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board. It is anticipated that residents, business owners, and other interested Town officials will attend these meetings.

No prior training or experience in physical planning is assumed. Computer skills are not required, but will be helpful to some of the project tasks. There is no final examination required for completion of this course.

Student evaluations will be principally based upon contributions to the community planning project, including preparation of a final project report, participation in a final project workshop and presentation, and submission of an individual paper. Participation in class discussions will also be considered a significant factor in final grade evaluations.

Terry Szold can be reached at 253-7419 at MIT, and at her consulting office at (978) 470-3910.

COURSE SCHEDULE

FUNDAMENTALS: THE LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS

AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

September 09 Course Introduction

September 14 Land Use Planning and Regulation

September 16 Zoning Controls

September 21 The Growth Management System

(Community Planning Project Introduced)

September 23 Comprehensive, Strategic, and Growth Planning at the State and Community Level (Project Teams Formed and Organized)

September 28 State and Regional Planning Mandates versus Home Rule

September 30 The Visioning Process and Public Participation

EVOLVING TRENDS, METHODS AND APPROACHES

October 05 Performance-Based and Innovative Growth Management Approaches

October 07 Edge Cities and the Evolution of Suburbia

October 12 Holiday - No Class

October 13 (Students meet in Project Teams/Worksession Time*)

October 14 Neotraditionalism and the New Urbanism

October 19 Managing Community Character - New Approaches

OTHER TOPICS AND TECHNIQUES

October 21 Incentive-Based Techniques

October 26 Impact Fees, Exactions, and Infrastructure

October 28 Growth Rate Controls

November 02 Project Workshop Day

November 04 Broadening Housing Affordability

November 09 Approaches to the Development Process and

Development Agreements

November 11 Holiday - No Class

November 16 The Mobility Challenge for Planning: Linking Land Use

and Transportation

November 18 Transportation Demand Management Techniques

November 23 Economic Development Strategies

November 25 Downtown Revitalization/Planning in Central Cities

and Central Business Districts

November 30 Environmental Issues

December 02 Other Contexts: International

December 07 Project Presentations and Discussions

INTEGRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

December 09 The Role of Planning and the Planner in Society:

Class Wrap-Up and Synthesis

December 10 Written Reports Due - No Class Meeting

*Project Work Session time for the project teams will generally occur during a portion of class time during the months of October and November.

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This syllabus may have been updated. To ensure that you're looking at the most recent version, please hit "Reload."
11.360 Community Growth & Land Use Planning
11.360 COMMUNITY GROWTH AND LAND USE PLANNING - FALL 1998 M.I.T. DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES AND PLANNING Terry S. Szold, Lecturer Monday - Wednesday 3-0-9 (H) Units 11:00 AM -12:30 PM Room 10-485 COURSE DESCRIPTION "The old planning model, rooted in nineteenth-century concepts of science and engineering, is either dead or severely impaired.... Non-Euclidian Planning is decentered, privileging regions and localities.... It encourages the affected population to take an active part, and, thus, validates the experiential knowledge of ordinary people and promotes mutual learning between the planning expert and the affected population.... Non-Euclidian planning operates in real time by linking knowledge and action into a tightly looped process of strategic change.... Though planners remain free to choose, action in the public domain should be justified as that which furthers the cause of human flourishing and diversity throughout the world." *John Friedmann, 1993* This subject explores the techniques, processes, and personal and professional skills required to effectively manage growth and land use change. While primarily focused on the planning practice in the United States, the principles and techniques reviewed and presented may have international application. This course is not for bystanders; it is designed for those who wish to become actively involved or exposed to the planning discipline and profession as it is practiced today, and as it may need to be practiced in the future. The fundamentals of the land use planning and growth management system are explored. Discussion and review of both traditional and innovative approaches to land use planning and growth management will occur, with emphasis on participatory processes and performance-based systems. Examples of the tools and techniques utilized at the local, regional, and state level of government will also be presented and evaluated. Some class sessions employ case studies. A reader containing journal articles, papers, and other written works relevant to contemporary planning practice and the evolution of the discipline will supplement class session topics and discussion. Guest speakers whose work involves a focus on the various subject areas reviewed in the course will also be periodically introduced. In addition to classwork, each student will be required to participate, as a project team member, in the preparation of a plan that will benefit an actual planning agency. The following project opportunity has been arranged: A *Town Center Vision Plan* will be prepared for the Town of Burlington as a "guidance document" to be used by the Town as an instrument to help create a more positive physical evolution of this important area. The plan should help facilitate a "sense of place," and sharpen the area's identity as a vibrant, coherent, district. For purposes of this proposal, the area that will be addressed by this project will include the Cambridge Street/Route 3A corridor area, extending approximately from Olympia Way northerly to Kinney Avenue. The area is presently characterized by strip commercial development, including many dated and unremarkable structures. It is comprised primarily of a variety of retail uses and properties that are not cohesively linked together. Facilitating aesthetic and functional improvements, and balancing economic development and community character issues, will be a key challenge. The plan will involve consideration and analysis of the existing land use pattern and visual and economic characteristics of the area, and should offer strategies and recommendations to improve and enhance the area. The following products should result from the project: o Realistic land use alternatives and design strategies, and the identification of conceptual vehicular and pedestrian circulation improvements; o Identification of realistic possibilities for the enhancement of the area and specific properties, including recommendations for streetscape and landscape improvements and amenities; o General recommendations and reuse strategies for high visibility or key parcels that have major redevelopment potential; o Conceptual design guidelines and incentives that could be used by the Town to foster plan objectives; and, o Potential revisions to the Town's Zoning Bylaw (both map and text amendments) to support plan objectives, including potential revisions to existing zoning district boundaries. The "final plan" document will include the inventory and analysis conducted, along with recommendations and other accompanying features and details, including maps, illustrations, tables, and relevant data. Presentation of the preliminary plan findings and final plan recommendations will be made to the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board. It is anticipated that residents, business owners, and other interested Town officials will attend these meetings. No prior training or experience in physical planning is assumed. Computer skills are not required, but will be helpful to some of the project tasks. There is no final examination required for completion of this course. Student evaluations will be principally based upon contributions to the community planning project, including preparation of a final project report, participation in a final project workshop and presentation, and submission of an individual paper. Participation in class discussions will also be considered a significant factor in final grade evaluations. Terry Szold can be reached at 253-7419 at MIT, and at her consulting office at (978) 470-3910. COURSE SCHEDULE FUNDAMENTALS: THE LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM September 09 Course Introduction September 14 Land Use Planning and Regulation September 16 Zoning Controls September 21 The Growth Management System (Community Planning Project Introduced) September 23 Comprehensive, Strategic, and Growth Planning at the State and Community Level (Project Teams Formed and Organized) September 28 State and Regional Planning Mandates versus Home Rule September 30 The Visioning Process and Public Participation EVOLVING TRENDS, METHODS AND APPROACHES October 05 Performance-Based and Innovative Growth Management Approaches October 07 Edge Cities and the Evolution of Suburbia October 12 Holiday - No Class October 13 (Students meet in Project Teams/Worksession Time) October 14 Neotraditionalism and the New Urbanism October 19 Managing Community Character - New Approaches OTHER TOPICS AND TECHNIQUES* October 21 Incentive-Based Techniques October 26 Impact Fees, Exactions, and Infrastructure October 28 Growth Rate Controls November 02 Project Workshop Day November 04 Broadening Housing Affordability November 09 Approaches to the Development Process and Development Agreements November 11 Holiday - No Class November 16 The Mobility Challenge for Planning: Linking Land Use and Transportation November 18 Transportation Demand Management Techniques November 23 Economic Development Strategies November 25 Downtown Revitalization/Planning in Central Cities and Central Business Districts November 30 Environmental Issues December 02 Other Contexts: International December 07 Project Presentations and Discussions INTEGRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION December 09 The Role of Planning and the Planner in Society: Class Wrap-Up and Synthesis December 10 Written Reports Due - No Class Meeting *Project Work Session time for the project teams will generally occur during a portion of class time during the months of October and November.