What is Urban Planning?

Summary

Urban planning is a complex, future-oriented profession that involves preparing for the needs of communities. It encompasses a wide range of considerations, from transportation and infrastructure to public engagement and policy implementation. Planners, often described as 'professional generalists,' act as intermediaries between various fields and the public, ensuring diverse voices are heard. The field has evolved significantly, with a shift towards more grassroots, community-focused approaches in the 21st century, addressing contemporary challenges like climate change, housing affordability, and social equity.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Urban planning is a complex and multifaceted profession that involves preparing for the future of cities and communities.
• 📚 It is a distinct field of study with its own degrees, certifications, and professional practices.
• 👥 Planners are often described as 'professional generalists' who wear many hats and act as intermediaries between different communities and professions.
• 🌐 The primary motivation of urban planning is to prepare for future needs, including transportation, housing, and infrastructure.
• 🤝 Planners engage with the public to gather feedback and shape a comprehensive vision for the future of urban spaces.
• 🏛️ Historically, urban planning has evolved from city planning by men like L'Enfant and Haussmann to more grassroots and inclusive practices.
• 🏡 Zoning codes became a significant tool for planners in the 20th century, focusing on land use and separating residential from industrial areas.
• 🌿 The 21st century has seen a shift towards more sustainable and community-oriented planning, influenced by figures like Jane Jacobs.
• 🌱 Urban planning today is concerned with addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change, housing affordability, and social equity.
• 🏛️ The distinction between planning and implementing urban visions is clear, but planners play a crucial role in both to ensure the city's evolution aligns with the approved plans.

Q & A

What is the primary motivation behind urban planning?

The primary motivation behind urban planning is preparing for the future, addressing questions like how people will get around, where they will live and work, and how the systems required to support them will fit into the city.

What does the term 'professional generalists' refer to when describing urban planners?

The term 'professional generalists' refers to the versatility of urban planners, who are like a Swiss Army Knife in the city building process, able to engage with various aspects of planning and work across different professional fields.

Why do planners often say they 'wear many hats'?

Planners say they 'wear many hats' because they have to perform a wide range of tasks and roles, from gathering public feedback to implementing approved plans, which requires them to understand and navigate various aspects of urban development.

How does urban planning engage with the public?

Urban planning engages with the public by gathering feedback to inform a comprehensive vision for the future, ensuring that the hopes and ambitions of diverse communities are considered in the planning process.

What is the role of planners in the approval process of urban planning?

Planners play a crucial role in the approval process by synthesizing information and communicating a vision of the future for approval by governing bodies like city councils or county boards, which can be a politically intense process.

How do planners manage the implementation of an approved urban plan?

Planners manage the implementation of an approved urban plan by enforcing legal tools of planning, usually known as zoning codes, to ensure the city evolves according to the approved vision.

How has the field of urban planning evolved throughout history?

The field of urban planning has evolved from city planning by men like L'Enfant, Burnham, and Haussmann, to focusing on land use and zoning in the 20th century, and now to a more grassroots, community-oriented approach in the 21st century.

What are some of the big questions that will shape the future of urban planning?

Some of the big questions that will shape the future of urban planning include how to address climate change, housing affordability, overcome discriminatory practices, and determine the extent of planners' regulation over building forms and land use.

Why has the term 'urban planning' become more popular than 'city planning'?

The term 'urban planning' has become more popular due to a renewed public interest in cities and the recognition of environmental and economic consequences of the 20th-century model of city planning.

How do planners distinguish themselves from engineers, architects, or politicians?

Planners distinguish themselves by acting as intermediaries between different communities and professional fields, focusing on the intersectionality of various aspects of urban development, and engaging with the public to inform planning decisions.

What is the significance of zoning codes in the planning process?

Zoning codes are significant in the planning process as they are the legal tools used by planners to enforce the approved vision of urban development, ensuring that land is used according to the planned regulations.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Understanding Urban Planning

Urban planning is a complex field that involves preparing for the future of cities and regions. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from transportation and strategic planning to community engagement and the implementation of policies. Planners are professionals who often act as intermediaries between different communities and professional fields, addressing the needs of diverse populations. They are sometimes referred to as 'professional generalists' due to their versatile roles. The planning process includes gathering public feedback, synthesizing information, and communicating a vision for approval by governing bodies. Planners are also involved in the political aspects of planning and the enforcement of zoning codes. The field has evolved over time, with a shift towards more grassroots and community-oriented approaches in the 21st century, influenced by figures like Jane Jacobs. Contemporary planning debates focus on issues such as climate change, housing affordability, and addressing historical discrimination in regulatory practices.

05:04

🌿 The Evolution and Future of Urban Planning

This paragraph discusses the renewed interest in urban planning, particularly in the context of cities, as people become more aware of the environmental and economic consequences of past planning models. It highlights the ongoing evolution of planning and the debates that shape its future. Key questions in contemporary planning include how to address climate change, housing affordability, and the historical legacy of discriminatory practices. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of these debates in determining the values that will be embedded in future plans and the world we will live in. It concludes by prompting the reader to consider their own plans, suggesting a personal connection to the broader themes of urban planning.

Keywords

💡Urban Planning

Urban planning refers to the professional practice focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, particularly in urban areas. It involves preparing for future needs while addressing current issues. In the video, urban planning is described as a complex field that requires an understanding of various systems and the needs of diverse communities. It is highlighted as a profession that involves writing and implementing plans to answer questions about future living and working spaces, transportation, and infrastructure.

💡Community Planning

Community planning is a subset of urban planning that specifically focuses on the needs and characteristics of local communities. It aims to create spaces that are responsive to the cultural, social, and economic contexts of the community. The script mentions community planning as one of the many types of planning, emphasizing the importance of planners engaging with the public to understand their hopes and ambitions for the future.

💡City Planning

City planning is a term often used interchangeably with urban planning, focusing on the strategic development of cities. It includes aspects like land use, transportation, and infrastructure to create sustainable and livable urban environments. The video script uses the term to illustrate the broader scope of planning activities that go beyond just weekend plans to encompass long-term strategies for city growth and management.

💡Regional Planning

Regional planning extends the focus of urban planning to a larger geographical area, encompassing multiple cities and regions. It deals with issues that span across political boundaries and affect interconnected areas. In the context of the video, regional planning is mentioned as one of the many specialized types of planning, highlighting the broad spectrum of planning activities that professionals engage in.

💡Climate Action Plans

Climate action plans are strategic documents that outline steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. They are an integral part of modern urban planning as cities seek to become more sustainable. The script discusses how urban planning addresses contemporary challenges like climate change, indicating the evolving role of planners in shaping environmentally conscious policies.

💡Zoning Codes

Zoning codes are legal regulations that dictate how land can be used within a particular area. They are a key tool used by urban planners to manage the development and use of land to ensure orderly growth and maintain community character. The video script mentions zoning codes as part of the planning process, emphasizing their importance in the implementation phase of planning.

💡Professional Generalists

The term 'professional generalists' refers to individuals who possess a broad range of knowledge and skills across various disciplines, allowing them to work effectively in diverse contexts. In the video, planners are described as 'professional generalists' because they must understand and coordinate with architects, engineers, and politicians, among others, to create comprehensive plans for urban development.

💡Public Engagement

Public engagement is the process of involving community members in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. It is a critical aspect of urban planning, ensuring that plans reflect the needs and aspirations of the community. The script highlights the role of planners in gathering public feedback and incorporating it into a comprehensive vision for the future.

💡Intermediary

An intermediary is a person or entity that acts as a go-between or mediator in a process. In the context of urban planning, the script positions planners as intermediaries, facilitating communication and coordination between different communities, professional fields, and stakeholders to achieve a shared vision for urban development.

💡Grassroots Orientation

Grassroots orientation refers to an approach that starts from the local level, emphasizing community involvement and bottom-up decision-making. The video script notes a shift in urban planning towards a more grassroots orientation, inspired by thinkers like Jane Jacobs, which prioritizes the interests and values of local residents, businesses, and communities.

💡Historical Evolution

The historical evolution of urban planning refers to the changes in planning practices, theories, and approaches over time. The script discusses how urban planning has evolved from the grand designs of early city planners to the more community-focused and environmentally conscious practices of today, reflecting societal values and technological advancements.

Highlights

Urban planning is a complex answer to a simple question, involving various types of plans and professionals.

Planning is a professional field with specific education and certification opportunities.

The primary motivation of urban planners is preparing for the future.

Planners address questions about transportation, housing, and infrastructure for future city needs.

Urban planning involves an intermediary role between communities and professional fields.

Planners are described as 'professional generalists' or 'wearing many hats'.

Engaging with the public is a crucial role for planners in shaping the future.

Planning is fundamentally political, with planners managing the implementation of approved visions.

The planning process includes gathering public feedback and synthesizing it into a comprehensive vision.

Planners enforce zoning codes, which are legal tools for implementing the city's vision.

The evolution of planning is reflected in the way cities have been shaped by historical figures.

Zoning codes have historically focused planners on land use and residential separation from industrial areas.

21st-century planning is more grassroots, influenced by Jane Jacobs and protective of local interests.

The term 'urban planning' has gained popularity as public interest in cities and environmental concerns have grown.

Contemporary planning debates focus on values like climate change, housing affordability, and overcoming discriminatory practices.

The future of planning will be shaped by answers to big questions regarding environmental, social, and regulatory issues.

Transcripts

What is urban planning?

That's a simple question but it has a complicated answer.

The word "plan" is fairly common in the English language.

If you ask someone about their plans for the weekend, for instance, you can expect an answer

in reply—even if the person you asked hadn't planned a response.

A different kind of planning, frequently discussed in the news and government, is a lot harder

to describe.

You've probably heard some or all of these terms used before: urban planning, community

planning, city planning, regional planning There are also climate action plans, capital

investment plans, transportation plans, and strategic plans.

There are so many kinds of plans, it can be hard to tell them apart.

It gets even more confusing when engineers, architects, or politicians, not planners,

are making some of those plans!

It's ok if your understanding of planning drops off somewhere between weekend plans

and urban plans.

I'm here to help.

So what is urban planning?

There is a specific professional field known as planning.

You can get a degree in planning, and then get hired to a job as a planner.

Planners can get professionally certified and earn a graduate degree in planning.

Professional planners spend their days writing and implementing plans.

So let’s say one of the definitions of planning is work done by planners,

but that’s obviously a bit too...simplistic.

All of these varieties of planning have one thing in common: preparing for the future.

Other professions do it too, but preparing for the future is the primary motivation of

urban planners.

How will people get around in the future?

Where will people live and work in the future?

How will all of the systems required to support those people—electrical grids, sewers, and

the water supply—fit into the city?

These are all questions that planners are working to answer, using tools and policies

specific to the field of planning.

The numerous considerations raised by those questions again reintroduce the possibility

of architects, engineers, and politicians doing some of the planning.

So where does urban planning fit in all this different kinds of planning?

The complexity of planning for the future creates a need for an intermediary between

different communities and related professional fields, and their fundamental intersectionality

is one way urban planners distinguish themselves for other professions.

You'll often hear planners say that they are "professional generalists" or they "wear many

hats."

Planners are like a Swiss Army Knife in the city building process, which is another reason

planners are sometimes confused with engineers, architects, or politicians.

Given their flexibility, another of the most important roles for planners is engaging with

the public.

Planning for the future in today's complex world means addressing the hopes and ambitions

of a diverse collection of humans—workers of all varieties, residents who live in all

sorts of homes and in all kinds of household arrangements, and communities and cultures

originating from all over the world.

Planners are the first to gather feedback from the public to inform a comprehensive

vision for the future.

The next step in the planning process is synthesizing all that information and communicating a vision

of the future for approval by a governing body--like a city council or a county board

of supervisors.

The approval process can be intensely political, so planning is also fundamentally political.

In many cities, planners will also manage the implementation of that approved vision

by enforcing the legal tools of planning, usually known as zoning codes.

There is a clear distinction between the process of planning for a city's future and the process

of implementing that vision, but planners will be involved in both to ensure the city evolves

as planned.

Another way to understand planning is by studying the way the field has changed throughout history,

and how that evolution in reflected in the world of today.

A few men from history had the opportunity to plan cities from scratch, like Pierre Charles

L'Enfant in Washington, D.C., Daniel Burnham in Chicago, or Georges-Eugène Haussmann in

Paris.

Other very powerful men from the 20th century,

like Robert Moses and Le Corbusier, transformed entire neighborhoods and cities

to fit their preferred model. And yes, in the past, it was mostly men doing the planning.

After zoning codes gained popularity in the early 20th century, planners began to focus

almost entirely on land use, and planning began to mean the process of deciding where

to locate residential, office, retail, and industrial uses in new and existing cities.

The desire to separate residential uses from noxious industrial uses, enabled by the mass

production of the automobile and a massive government program to build interstate highways,

represents a significant step toward creating the mostly

suburban and sprawling country we live in today.

In the 21st century, planning is more grassroots in orientation, inspired by the writings of

Jane Jacobs, among others, and enshrined in legal and political tools designed to protect

the interests and values of local residents, businesses, and communities.

The term urban planning, rather than city planning, has become more popular as the public

has taken a renewed interest in cities and as the environmental and economic consequences

of the 20th century model of planning have become apparent.

To this day, numerous debates contest the future of planning, and planning continues

to evolve as a result.

Big questions will determine the kinds of values embedded in contemporary plans—like

how to address climate change and housing affordability; how to overcome a long history

of racist and discriminatory regulatory practices; and how much planners should regulate the

form of buildings, not just the use of land.

The answers to those questions will shape the world of the mid- and long-term future.

So what are your plans?