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.