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How to educate all of FW about urban planning?


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#1 Urbndwlr

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Posted 28 October 2004 - 08:41 PM

Assuming public unawareness about sprawl and alternatives to sprawl is a large factor contributing to Fort Worth's sprawling development patterns, how would you educate the public to increase awareness?

What results would you hope to achieve from the campaign? (in the short run and in the long run?)


GHughes made an interesting observation in another thread regarding Fort Worthians' apparent acceptance of urban sprawl. I suspect that many Fort Worthians would actually agree with modern urban planning philosophies that discourage sprawl if they were simply exposed to the theories. Some would undoubtedly remain apathetic, however I would bet that widespread awareness of modern urban planning theories would have a positive impact on the public support for more progressive urban planning policies and would even alter development patterns.


GHughes:

Fort Worth faces the problem that there is plenty of undeveloped land and a local collective mind set (including in the surrounding counties) that sprawl is fine. So if Fort Worth became restrictive on retailers they would just set up shop a few miles out and pull business from those operating in a higher cost FW environment. The only solution that I see is for the entire metropolitan area to agree on a policy shift. And that is, shall we say, unlikely.



#2 John T Roberts

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Posted 28 October 2004 - 09:28 PM

I would start to educate both the general public, developers, city officials, etc. by having more symposiums and training sessions similar to the one that was held at the Bass Hall last night. One thing our local governments might consider would be a small tax incentive to those developers who build projects that fall within a set of guidelines that everyone agrees on to control sprawl.

In the short run, more urban projects may be constructed. In the long run, the city might become an even more liveable city.

I know my answer isn't very good, but my mind is mush and I'm sleepy.

#3 Citizen76117

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Posted 28 October 2004 - 11:31 PM

October 28th 2004

Dear John Roberts,

I would first like to say what a pleasure it was to meet you last night at the ULI symposium. I want to thank you for your hospitality and your generosity of your time and knowledge. Your devotion to the profession of Architecture combined with your extensive knowledge of our city makes you a singular asset to our entire community.

I look forward to exploring your website for further information and education on matters of planning and design. Thank you again for all your efforts to make Fort Worth a better place to live.

Ray Ecklund
www.HaltomCityCitizen.com

#4 John T Roberts

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Posted 29 October 2004 - 05:56 AM

Ray,

You're welcome. It was nice to meet you and other members from Haltom City. A big "Thank You" goes to Prairie Pup for bringing his guests. Please feel free to explore and ask questions. There are several people on this forum that are very knowledgeable regarding city issues and planning.

#5 Sam Stone

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Posted 29 October 2004 - 06:33 PM

I would love to see everyone more informed about new urbanism and urban planning. Unfortunately, as far as the general public is concerned I think you can forget about it. You have the classic problem of self selection. Those who are already interested in it will learn more about it. Everyone else, will be too busy, or will not take not of it, or both. We cannot expect our sub-standard local media to cover it in any great detail, and even if they did, how many people would actually read it instead of skipping to sports or business or obituaries or whatever it is they normally read. Sorry to be such a cynic!

That said, though, I think there is great potential to introduce people in related professions to the subject. I think it would be a wonderful thing if more developers, elected officials, bureaucrats, enigineers, real estate professionals, etc. were exposed to these ideas.

#6 RD Milhollin

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Posted 29 October 2004 - 10:31 PM

Sam said: "Those who are already interested in it will learn more about it. Everyone else, will be too busy, or will not take not of it, or both. We cannot expect our sub-standard local media to cover it in any great detail, and even if they did, how many people would actually read it instead of skipping to sports or business or obituaries or whatever it is they normally read. Sorry to be such a cynic!"

Wow, what a downer. I was really up after experiencing the "New Urbanism" symposium the other night. I am still trying to apply some of the concepts that were introduced and discussed to the realities of the "near northeast-side" of Fort Worth.

"That said, though, I think there is great potential to introduce people in related professions to the subject. I think it would be a wonderful thing if more developers, elected officials, bureaucrats, enigineers, real estate professionals, etc. were exposed to these ideas."

Great, I feel better now! OK, here is an idea to throw out: Is there a "canned" presentation available in DVD or videotape format? If so, perhaps someone from the city planning department, an architect, and a local businessman or community leader could put on informational sessions at each of the areas in Fort Worth designated to be developed as "urban villages". A general program on New Urbanism could be viewed, and then the panel could lead discussion on how the specific site the meeting was to be held at would be improved by the changes that are envisioned. Lots of drawings of projected elevations and streetscapes along with a realistic map of the development would help the public envision how living in such an area would be.

In summary, although not all the panel and the experts agreed on the details of how "new urbanism" might be realized in the north Texas area, the general trends I have been envisioning for some time were at the top of their thoughts. Some how, perhaps in a uniquely Texan manner New Urbanism should work if approached in the manner discussed. I am still mulling some of the concepts over, might look up a book to read on the subject by one or another of the speakers.

Prairie Pup

#7 Urbndwlr

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 06:21 PM

Great, Pup! If I follow you, you mean something like:

- Simple, easy-to-understand information on the benefits of limiting sprawl (or other planning initiative)
- Including renderings juxtaposing a) sprawling suburbia and B) traditional neighborhood development


I don't know of any, but perhaps ULI has something that could be used or slightly tweaked. I saw a publig information initiative flyer one time I was down in Austin last year.

After some digging, I came across a couple of sites that seek to inform the public in Austin about land use. The first one is a pretty decent model - although it is more broad (not just focussed on land use and design).

http://www.liveablecity.org/

http://www.envisionc...s.org/index.php

#8 Bellisarius

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Posted 13 September 2005 - 11:04 AM

Short Question
Are synoptic and incremental planning still considered current planning theories?

Long Question
Barclay Hudson wrote "Comparison of Current Planning Theories: Counterparts and Contradictions" in 1979. This article is standard study material for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam. While I am an AICP, I don't have an urban planning degree, so I am out of touch with the academic side of planning. Normally, I would ask this kind of question to a university professor, but I don't know any planning professors. I bet someone on this excellent message board knows the answer.

I'm writing a paper, and the Hudson article covers incremental planning that I would like to discuss in my paper. However, I don't want to discuss terms that are ridiculously out-of-date. Please help me.

Please tell me - are incremental planning and synoptic planning (as described by Hudson) still modern planning jargon?

Thank you,
Bellisarius

#9 Urbndwlr

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Posted 23 September 2005 - 06:02 PM

I'm not familar w/ the terms. Have been following planning only since about '98.




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