Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1987. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [276]-283.

Thesis (MSc)--Macquarie University, Graduate School of the Environment, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 102-116.

The problem of comprehensive plan implementation is essentially one of guiding the many elements of urban land development in order to achieve a desired pattern of urban growth. To evaluate the potential value of one technique to provide a partial solution to the problem of guiding the pattern of urban land development it is hypothesized that the location of sites for public land uses influences the total pattern of urban land use and development and that the prior acquisition of sites for public use, in relation to a comprehensive community plan, is therefore an effective technique to guide the pattern of urban land development. A critical review of the available literature constitutes the methodology used to validate the hypothesis. This approach was necessitated because of limitations of time and resources; the apparent absence of specific research studies related directly to the hypothesis; the apparent non utilization of the technique by municipalities, and hence the absence of data for experimental, statistical, and case study analysis; and because of the difficulty of quantitative measurement of all the variables which would be required to verify the hypothesis. In addition to the review of the literature a proposed methodology is developed whereby the hypothesis may be tested. The first part of the review of the literature is concerned with the influence of public land uses on the pattern of urban land use and development and indicates that a hierarchy of factors exists which influences the pattern of urban land development, and that public land uses, while constituting a segment of this hierarchy, are near the bottom of it; that this degree of influence will not only be different in different cities but will be different over time in the same city; and that the locations of different public land uses do not have the same degree of influence, but where this influence is significant it will tend to intensify the pattern of development. The second part of the review of the literature is concerned with the economic, financial, political, and administrative feasibility of the proposed technique, for the majority of municipal governments and reveals that although this is an economically viable proposition nevertheless the financial, political, and administrative aspects are significant obstacles. In addition, it appears that only a few cities in the United States practise advance acquisition, and of these none do so with the purpose of guiding urban growth. The development of the methodology reveals that the hypothesis represents a complex cause and effect relationship that can be tested by experimental means using test and control areas, given the necessary time and resources. The basic limitation of the thesis is that it is restricted to a review of the literature and is therefore subject to the particular biases and prejudices of the authors whose works are used. There is also a scarcity of detailed objective data. Alternative potential approaches for substantiating the hypothesis, given sufficient time and resources, include an ex post facto case study, the use of interviews and questionnaires, and the use of statistical correlation. It is suggested that the application of the hypothesis to the field of urban redevelopment represents an additional approach whereby it could be verified. It is concluded that further research is needed in order to obtain a greater insight into, and an understanding of, the complex functional interrelationships existing between the pattern of urban land development and the factors that determine or influence it. An additional area for further research is in the testing of the hypothesis as it applies to urban redevelopment. The limitations and findings resulting from the review of the literature lead to the conclusion that the hypothesis as formulated cannot be verified on this basis. It is nevertheless concluded that if a municipal government were to utilize its full range of resources for making public policy decisions then it would be in an effective position to guide the pattern of urban land development. It is further concluded that the implications of the hypothesis be applied, by municipal governments, to the field of urban redevelopment. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This study has been concerned with an examination of the validity of the hypothesis, that the shopping precinct is an efficient solution to the conflict between the pedestrian and the vehicle, in established central retail shopping areas of the city. Efficient pedestrian circulation within the city's central retail area appears as a fundamental principle in the design of new city centres in Europe, and as an essential component of city centre redevelopment designs in North America. The problem of pedestrian access to central areas in North American cities is complicated by the extensive use of the private automobile. The demands for space produced by roads and car parks has led to a serious deterioration in the physical form of the city, most particularly at the city centre. The city's central area contains the largest groupings of retail stores and attracts shoppers from the whole metropolitan area. This retailing function is of vital importance, to the values of the downtown property, and to the city for the revenue it produces for city services and further city development. Excessive vehicular traffic creates congestion in the city central areas and inhibits the use of the area for the / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

It is usually contended that it is in the interest of the community to require certain minimum space standards between and around buildings to achieve safety and minimum health standards; to control the architectural design of buildings; to protect "amenity"; to limit the density of population; to reduce traffic congestion, and so on. Although safety, livability and appearance are generally accepted as the main purpose of site and space regulation, this study suggests that privacy can be accepted as suitable for control by site and space regulations. The underlying purpose of this study, therefore, is to investigate visual, auditory, olfactory, and physical privacy within the single-family residential environment. Of particular interest to the study are the methods of achieving privacy in the open space within the dwelling yard. On this basis, the specific purposes of the study are two-fold; first, a review and analysis of-existing site and space standards as they are found in the various types of land-use controls in order to determine their effect on privacy in the residential environment; and second, the formulation of a technique for site and space planning for privacy, based on a performance standards system. The basic methods of land-use control in North America are zoning and subdivision regulations. Research shows that current techniques of zoning and subdivision regulation in low-density residential areas do not achieve the benefits originally intended as the inflexible nature of the controls lead to a visual monotony in residential development. Worthy as some of the principles may have been at the outset, they have largely miscarried by such preoccupation with the tools of regulation that basic needs have been forgotten. One of these basic needs is privacy, which should he ensured, rather than adversely affected by site and space regulations. An owner should be able to protect his privacy without sacrificing light, air, or usability of any of the open space of his lot. The research demonstrates that adequate space around and between buildings for functional and aesthetic purposes can be achieved with greater' flexibility and without further restricting the individual's wishes in siting and building, his house on the usual single-family lot, through the use of performance standards. These measure space between and around buildings in relation to the variety of functions that they are to perform, and in relation to the size and dimension of land and buildings in a given situation. The investigation concludes that with few exceptions, present site and space standards for building and site planning are arbitrary and rigid, and that the spatial separation of buildings and yard areas resulting from the application, of these standards do not encourage privacy. Further, through the existence of such regulations as those concerning enclosure limitations, the resident is restricted in his means of minimizing the opportunities for infringement of his privacy by neighbours or those passing in the street. With regard to the statement of the hypothesis concerning performance standards, it can be concluded that in fact a technique for site and space planning for privacy as such, can not be evolved. However, regulations that are directly or indirectly related to privacy can be formed, based on a performance standards system in order to achieve a similar end result. To this end the hypothesis is advanced: That existing site and space standards adversely affect the privacy of open space within the residential environment; and that a technique for site and space planning for privacy can be evolved, based on a performance standards system. Most zoning and subdivision regulations are a reasonable and fair attempt to deal with a complex problem, but the results of residential development under present controls leave much to be desired. It is probably impossible to prohibit "bad" design or to pass legislation that a certain design must be followed. However, it is desirable and highly possible that -what controls we have could be more "positive" in effect to encourage and facilitate good imaginative design. This new approach to controls, with the necessary flexibility, is a must if we are to .take advantage of the past, present and future technological developments; to keep up with and give expression to the ever-changing and improving "way of life"; and to maintain as much as possible the individual's freedom of choice and expression, within his own residential environment. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Growth and development of a community may be hampered, not only by lack of planning, but also by a wrong approach to planning. Hence, in order to ensure proper growth and development of a community, it is necessary to examine the underlying structure of the community as well as the proper approach to its planning. An analysis of the current approach to planning shows that a long-range comprehensive master plan is thought to be highly desirable, if not essential, before any planning can be done in a community. The myth of the master plan has been accepted not only by most of the experts and legislators concerned with planning, but also by the people in general. Although the validity of this myth has never been clearly demonstrated, no one has seriously challenged its utility in relation to planning for small communities. An analysis of the political, economic and sociological structure of small communities in British Columbia shows that the master plan approach is neither necessary nor desirable for planning in these communities. This discovery should serve as a warning to those who confound "planning" with "plan making" and as a hope for those who are under the erroneous impression that before a community can do any planning, it must first have a master plan. The alternative approach to planning for small communities in British Columbia is described by the author as "The Community Development Approach". This approach recognizes planning as a continuous process; it places greater emphasis on community organization, community participation and community action. In short, it replaces the traditional motto of planners: "Survey, Analysis and Plan" by "Organization, Planning and Action.” / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

1. The aim of the study is to formulate a quantitative definition of a satellite town as a guide for planning policy, and to demonstrate a method for measuring the amount and effect of existing links with the parent city when sites for planned satellite towns are being selected and developed. 2. A review of the ideals aimed at in the planning of satellite towns suggests that a survey of existing linkage is a basic requirement in order to show where new or expanded satellites can be located so as to take advantage of existing ties and minimize the disruption of the settlement pattern. 3. A comprehensive short-cut measure of economic and social linkage between a metropolis and its hinterland is provided by data on interaction, and this is available in records of inter-community telephone calls. Such data are used in a survey and analysis of the Lower Mainland of B.C., part of the hinterland of Vancouver. 4. By analogy with physics, a satellite town is defined as a community under the influence of a central city but having an equal balancing force which maintains its status as a fully-fledged urban centre. Such a force might be the power of the satellite as a local industrial or service centre, or, in terms of interaction, an equal number of contacts with other areas to balance those with the city. 5. The gravity concept of human interaction is considered as one possible method of arranging hinterland areas according to the strength of their linkage with the metropolis. However, this shows potential rather than actual interaction, and tells nothing about the quality of linkage. 6. A better measure of linkage is one based on the assumption that the strongest links are those which exist in spite of distance or cultural barriers to interaction. An index is devised to measure this, which shows the potential locations for satellite towns, other things being equal. 7. The ecological concepts of dominance and sub-dominance provide the basis for an analysis of the structure of the Lower Mainland Region, to show what economic and social development should take place on the potential locations in order to maintain or create the balance essential to satellite status. 8. In applying these definitions and methods to the selection of sites for satellite towns the areas most strongly linked to the metropolis are examined in order to determine whether: (a) they have enough suitable land, (b) their populations are below the optimum, (c) they are at an optimum distance from the metropolis. 9. The data on inter-community telephone calls is shown to be of use to the planner, and suggestions are made as to the further uses and refinements which might be introduced in future research. 10. The methods formulated in this study show that it is feasible for practising planners to take interaction into account, and by doing so to gain further knowledge about the ecological structure of city regions. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The purpose of this thesis is twofold; first, to focus attention on the problems presently confronting metropolitan area open space and secondly, to develop a programme of implementation that can be utilized within the metropolitan area's framework of administration. Over the last several decades a wealth of material has been published on parks, both from the conservation and preservation aspect; recently there has been a slight shift of emphasis towards a study of outdoor recreation in relation to user's demands and overuse. But, in most instances the focus has been on either a broader level, such as provincial, state, or federal parks, or a narrower level, as in the case of city or neighbourhood recreation facilities. Yet, the most important urban area in North America, the metropolis, is not receiving proper attention and treatment. The second consideration, probably the most significant, is that nothing on a comprehensive basis is being accomplished to specifically alleviate the situation in the metropolitan area. To be sure, programmes have been suggested, and each separate governmental authority is aware of certain of these problems. Some people have suggested zoning, the use of taxation and easements to mention but a few examples, to solve the open space dilemma. However, these devices are not sufficient if any progress is to be made against the indiscriminate affects of the market. The solution suggested in this study is the use of a financial implementation technique administered by a comprehensive metropolitan government body. Thus, a start could be made towards improving the relationship of parks and open space to the growing urban population. The approach of the study is basically one of considering all the ramifications involved in the discussion of the metropolitan community and the utilization of parks and open space. The first step is to bring to the reader's attention the open space problems that are currently being created because of the population expansion outwards into the suburbs and beyond and the unchecked application of "highest and best use" theory to all types of land. Sprawl, scatteration and disorganized land speculation have caused a real crisis in available and potential outdoor recreation sites. The second step is a general appraisal of the affects of our changing living pattern on the demands and uses of open space. Here, the assumption is that open space has been accepted as being for the public good. The increased amount of leisure, higher income and greater mobility have all played a vital role in influencing outdoor recreation characteristics. As a further consideration, one factor that has largely been overlooked until recently is the need for natural spaces to ease mankind's emotional and psychological experiences. Next an examination is made of ways and means now available for a public agency to conserve open spaces; these could be divided into three major elements, taxing powers, police powers and those of eminent domain. In this evaluation particular attention is paid to agricultural zoning, conservation easments, and metropolitan government. Based on this survey, it is concluded that none of these methods are sufficiently comprehensive enough nor adequate financially to alleviate the growing deficiencies of open space in the metropolitan community. The proposed solution consists of three major elements; first, the need for some form of metropolitan government; secondly, the financial programme utilizing the sharing of gasoline tax revenue as a means of providing an open space development fund; and thirdly, a metropolitan development programme establishing open space goals and objectives within the framework of a metropolitan master plan. To bring out the highlights of such a proposal a case study of the Vancouver Metropolitan Area is utilized. The value of this study may be summed up in adding further knowledge to the study and examination of metropolitan problems, especially relative to outdoor recreation and open space. In essence it is an extended examination of the possible devices which can be applied to achieve positive planned results; at this level, the thesis has attempted to furnish another possible means of implementing a comprehensive metropolitan open space development programme. If some stimulation is engendered amongst those people concerned with solving our urban problems, then this thesis may have had some value. Today, the urban dweller is faced with a perplexing challenge, if he is to achieve a fuller, more satisfying life. Public effort must be enlivened to counteract the disturbing land forces that are at work. Allowing these pressures to continue will not only disturb and destroy the natural countryside but will totally unravel any sense of urban and rural balance. We will be left with a monotonous patchwork pattern of tract houses, cement freeways, asphalt parking areas and geometrically designed buildings instead of selected areas of woodlands, streams, and meadows. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

It is the purpose of this thesis to investigate the approach of planning for non-permanent mining communities, where, because of the volatile nature of the basic mining activity, and because of the difficulties in achieving diversification of the economic base, permanent settlement is not possible. A preliminary discussion of the mining industry reveals the fundamental considerations in planning for mining communities. The mining community is examined as to its characteristics, problems and legislation to provide a basis for the formulation of principles and policies for new town development. The case for planning for non-permanence in mining settlement is presented in a discussion of the value of planning, the previous planning approaches, and case studies of relocated communities. The techniques for planning and establishing non-permanent mining communities are drawn from a study of the mobile home community and the demountable house community where mobility has been a major consideration in community design. The concept of the non-permanent single-enterprise mining community is outlined to show the integral components of physical mobility and flexibility. Conclusions are drawn that a limited degree of physical mobility in settlement can be achieved, and this is through the technique of prefabrication in the construction of the buildings in the community. Utilities and services must remain permanent with present-day techniques. The principles and policies of: pre-planning and continuous planning and control, land leasehold, private home ownership under civic administration, transitional development government, and provincial finance of the new town with annual payments by the mining company to cover both the initial development cost and the municipal operating expenses, are suggested to achieve the non-permanent community. The thesis concludes with a summary of the material and proposals presented in the study, and with a discussion of the limitations and value of the proposed approach of planning for non-permanent single-enterprise mining communities. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

In many North American Cities various levels of government are faced with pressing accomodation problems. In seeking to resolve these problems major investments in land and structures are taking place with potentially significant impacts upon the urban core. The study undertaken in this thesis examines the nature of these investments in terms of their potential contribution to the revitalization of the urban core. This goal has been frequently expressed of the location criteria formulated in conjunction with the investment. Two complementary concepts are presented which provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of the location decision as a tool for urban revitalization. The concepts take into account not only basic functional linkages between urban activities, but also values motivating individual and group behaviour. Characteristic social and economic behaviour is presented pertaining to the social and economic environment of the urban core. These behavioural characteristics provide a basis for expecting that a location decision will have a desired effect upon core revitalization. Social behaviour is discussed in terms of the individuals' personal, social, and cultural relationships to the urban environment. Economic behaviour is discussed in terms of investment motivation pertaining to the use and ownership of real property under general conditions of the real estate market and under specific market conditions created by a public investment. Empirical application of the theoretical planning concepts is examined through a study of the impacts emanating from the location for the City Hall, Victoria, B.C. The investment is examined in terms of changes in social and economic behaviour at the level of the location neighbourhood and throughout the city. Evaluation of these changes is made in the context of planning policy within the city at a time of the investment decision. Conclusions derived from the study of behavioural changes indicate that the investment fostered desired revitalization through changes in both actions and attitudes with respect to the study neighbourhood. Conclusions derived from examination of the planning context within which the decision was made indicate that certain unplanned consequences have also emerged as a result of the decision. The behavioural characteristics associated with public administrative buildings in the urban core and the successful stimulation of these characteristics in an empirical situation is submitted as evidence of the potential of a location decision to be used as a planning tool to foster core revitalization when the location decision is an integral component of a comprehensive approach to urban development. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate