Patrick F Kane

PLAN 603 - PLANNING PROCESS

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

PATRICK F. KANE

SPRING 1997

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course is designed to provide students:

• understanding of the importance and impact of effective comprehensive planning on their individual and the collective environment;

• awareness of the planning related issues under consideration in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and their relationship to an effective planning process;

• ability to evaluate the effectiveness of local planning processes;, and,

• appreciation of the value of a logical process to achieving goals.

APPROACH

The course will be based on a seven step planning process, developed as a guide to local government comprehensive planning prepared for the State of Florida following adoption of legislation requiring all local governments to prepare and adopt a Comprehensive Plan.  These steps will be discussed in conjunction with media reports of current issues, examining both what is, and what isn't, reported. 

The course will also track current projects  and issues in  the area such as:

·        Fairfax County’s initiative to revitalize older commercial;

·        efforts to develop sports arenas and stadiums;

·        Maryland “smart growth” initiative.

·        the future of (rail) mass transit in the Dulles Corridor;  

·        a Virginia (and Maryland) outer beltway; 

·        Reinvestment in areas of the "New Town" of Reston;

·        the relationship of a healthy District of Columbia to the Sub-urbs; and

·        area  transportation initiatives.

 “Regionalism”, “sustainability”, and neo-traditionalism and new Urbanism will be examined.

Students will be expected to follow the local media (regional and community newspapers) and use these in class discussions. A group research project will be assigned to apply the  planning process to a specific situation. 

Two papers will be required.  The first will expect the students to describe the importance of the planning process.  The second will require an application of the process to a specific issue (the results of the group project).  The first will be early in the semester, to provide the instructor with a basis for subsequent course lectures. The second will be due at the end of the semester. 

Students will also be required to submit periodic copies of their class notes.

Recommended reading will include a several essays on planning issues, together with sections of  The Ecology of Commerce, by Paul Hawken, and The Citizens Guide to Planning, by Herbert H. Smith. Arrangements have been made to allow students the receive The Washington Business Review.

A field trip and guest lecturers are planned.

SCHEDULE

1ST CLASS                JANUARY 12

                                    FEBRUARY 2  -  No Class

1ST PAPER                 FEBRUARY 9

BREAK                       To be negotiated

FIELD TRIP                EARLY-APRIL April 4?

LAST CLASS             APRIL 27

GRADING

FIRST PAPER                         20%

FINAL PAPER                                    40%

CLASS PARTICIPATION                 30%

CLASS NOTES                                  10%

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