URSI 100--Introduction to the City

Comprehensive Planning

Almost every city has a “comprehensive plan.” In fact, the Courts have ruled that the zoning and land use plans, to be legal, have to be based on a comprehensive overview of the city. Ideally, a comprehensive plan will look out 20 years, and will be updated every 5 years.

Most comprehensive plans follow a common format:

I. Vision

a. Based on a “current scan”, which includes a SWOT analysis—

i. strengths & weaknesses [internal] and

ii. opportunities & threats [external]).

II. Elements

a. Housing

b. Employment

c. Transportation

d. Infrastructure/Open Space/Recreation/Public Buildings

III. Land Use Plan

a. Residential

i. R-1 Low density, single-family detached

ii. R-2 Moderate density, includes duplexes and fourplexes

iii. R-3 High density, includes apartments

b. Commercial

i. C-1 Dowtown shopping

ii. C-2 Regional shopping (malls)

iii. C-3 Community shopping (strip malls, gas stations)

iv. C-4 Neighborhood shopping (local convenience shops)

c. Office

i. O-1 Large office complexes

ii. O-2 Neighborhood office establishments

d. Manufacturing

i. M-1 Heavy industry (significant air, water, or land impacts)

ii. M-2 Light industry (impacts limited to site)

e. Public

i. P-1 Public buildings

ii. P-2 Parks & public open space

So, create a comprehensive plan for the City of Miniapple, assuming the following:

The population of each ward is approximately 10,000 people
The interior boundaries of the wards are most likely major streets (“trunk highways”); the boundaries along the outer edge of the city are probably not streets, but property lines.
Each ward will have some focus, but the initial (historical) focus may have changed/shifted over time.

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