Several Practical Approaches in Urban and Regional Planning

        There are many urban planning theories formulated. But some of them sound very impressive which are too ideal that they could not work out. But there are a few of them which I find significant and most importantly, feasible in our local setting. They are the Comprehensive Planning, New Pedestrianism, and Planned Unit Development.

             Comprehensive Planning by Patrick Geddes states that social and economic planning should be integrated in physical planning in a context of environmental concern for he believes that physical planning “could not improve urban living conditions” alone.

Michael E. Arth’s New Pedestrianism (NP) is an urban planning theory founded in 1999, which addresses to various social, health, energy, economic, aesthetic, and environmental problems. It specially focuses on reducing the role of the automobile. A Pedestrian Village is a neighborhood or new town utilizing New Pedestrianism. Pedestrian Villages can vary between from being nearly car-free to having vehicle access behind closely every house and business, keeping in mind that pedestrian lanes are always in front.

Planned Unit Development (PUD) is implied to land development or redevelopment schemes for a new or built-up project. This project requires a Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP). PUD has a unitary development plan or site plan that “permits flexibility in planning or urban design, building or structure siting, complementarity of building types and land uses”, “usable open spaces for general public use services and business activities,” and the “preservation of significant natural land features if feasible.”

New Pedestrianism and Planned Unit Development are applicable in a smaller scope such as in a neighborhood level while Comprehensive Planning is pertinent in a regional scale. While comprehensive planning is the principle, NP and PUD are the application or product of comprehensive planning.

While there are many idealistic planning theories, but only a few seems to be considered as necessity in our local urban and regional planning. I find the three urban planning theories mentioned very important and practical in Davao City and Mindanao. NP should be considered especially in Davao City to address the problem of high transportation cost and to the city being pedestrian-unfriendly – which is an undebatable fact. PUDs are very ideal for business districts. Comprehensive planning should be promoted in every region especially in Mindanao so that the towns and cities to be able to achieve development without compromising the welfare, the culture, and the rich environment of the area.

My idea for an ideal urban and regional planning approach is something that combines comprehensive planning, PUD and NP - basic and practical, may not be a utopia, yet very well-siuted in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao setting.

Originally published in the admin's old blog, "Architecture and the Architect in the Making",  (http://cathydiaz.blogspot.com/), March 16, 2008