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Basic Terms and Definitions in Urban Planning PDF
Basic Terms and Definitions in Urban Planning PDF
Land use planning (LUP) – refers to the rational and judicious development, utilization
and management of land resources in a sustainable manner to ensure that needs of
the present generation can be met without jeopardizing the needs of the future
generations. In the context of the municipal land use planning exercise in the
Philippines, land use planning is divided into 2 activities: (a) municipal-wide or
general land use planning and (b) poblacion or urban land use planning. This
typology corresponds to the prevailing form of development existing in
municipalities and cities outside the Metro Manila Area or the National Capital
Region (NCR) where urban forms of development are concentrated mainly in the
poblacion or premier barangay with the rest of the barangays possessing more of
rural characteristics. (pp 3-4, Vol. 5, HLURB CLUP Formulation Guidelines,
1997).
Sustainable development – means meeting the needs of the present generation without
compromising the needs of the future generations (p.3, Vol. 5, HLURB CLUP
Formulation Guidelines, 1997).
Land use plan – refers to the rational approach of allocating available land resources as
equitably as possible among competing user groups and for different functions
consistent with the development plan of the area and the Program under this Act
(Sec.3.k, Art. 1, RA 7279).
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Urban planning concepts & definitions
executory plan but rather a guide or framework for more detailed planning of the
area. From the above definition, the following functions of the CLUP can be
inferred:
General land use plan – deals primarily with the non-urban large scale uses such as
croplands, forests, pasture lands, mining/quarrying areas and swamplands, with
areas occupied by structures treated collectively as “built-up” areas (p. 4, Vol. 5,
HLURB CLUP Guidelines, 1997).
Urban land use plan – basically concerned with the location intensity and amount of
land development required for various space-using functions such as residential,
commercial, industrial, institutional, recreation and other activities found in the
urban areas. It is concerned with the proper allocation of land areas for these
urban uses based on soil suitabilities, prescribed space standards and various land
allocation criteria such as site and accessibility standards and land use
compatibility considerations. (p.4, Vol. 5, HLURB CLUP Guidelines, 1997).
Urban land use planning – involves the allocation of land areas for such space using
functions of city life as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional,
recreational and other activities in the “built environment”. It also involves
regulating the location and intensity of such activities in accordance with socially
accepted criteria and standards in order to promote the social objectives and well-
being of city residents…(It) is the proper allocation of space for all land users in
order to maximize the flow of goods and services to meet growing human needs
and at the same time minimize adverse environmental impacts by selecting the
most suitable land for a given use. ( “Land Use Planning for the Urban Sector” by
E. Serote, UP-SURP).
Urban areas – refers to all cities regardless of their population density and to
municipalities with population density of at least five hundred (500) persons per
square kilometer ( Sec 3.v, Art 1, RA 7279, 1992).
Urbanizable areas – refers to sites and lands which, considering present characterisitics
and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban
areas within the period of five (5) years (Sec. 3.w, Art. 1, RA 7279, 1992).
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Urban planning concepts & definitions
Urban form – pertains to the way future population and related activities are organized
and distributed over the municipal territory, taking into account the need to retain
some areas in their open character and to ensure safe and sustainable
environments for human habitat. (p. 4, Municipal Comprehensive Land Use
Planning, NEDA Region 3, 1996).
Urban land supply management strategies – To augment the supply of urban land, the
following strategies may be tried:
a) in-filling of vacant urban lands – vacant lands are land parcels bypassed
by development and lying unutilized amidst lands that have been converted to
some type of functional use. The process of putting these in-lying vacant lands to
use is “in-filling”.
b) densification of inner city areas – certain sections of the inner city areas
may be underutilized but have the capacity to accommodate higher densities or
greater use intensity. Existing high rise buildings with low occupancy rates,
enclaves of single detached dwellings, and similar cases of inefficient use of
urban lands must be regulated.
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Urban planning concepts & definitions
Zoning ordinance – an implementing tool of the CLUP which provides the different
land use districts of the city/municipality. The boundary description of the various
zoning districts and the allowable or permitted uses per zoning district. The CLUP
becomes enforceable with the enactment of the zoning ordinance and thus
becomes the basis for the issuance of locational clearance. (p. 64, Sec. I, HLURB
CLUP Formulation Guidelines, 1997).