PHYSICAL

PLANNING
Arch 423- Planning 3
Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning
DEFINITION
 Physical Planning in its broadest sense refers to a set of actions aimed at
improving the Physical, Social and Economic welfare of a place and its
dwellers. It entails the organization of land uses so that people enjoy the
highest achievable degree of efficiency in resource utilization, functionality
of places and aesthetic quality.
 aesthetics of efficiency of
spatial
the urban operations econom
orderliness places in the social y

MAIN
CONCERNS the
the location and
character and general the development of
location of public pattern of design of transit and
buildings and the land- transportation
structures streets systems
use

functionality
of places
general
comfort convenience and
welfare aesthetic
quality
OBJECTIVES OF PHYSICAL
PLANNING
To facilitate the provision of
To plan cities and towns. To enhance economic
infrastructure, utilities and
development.
services

To create order where there is Creation of beauty.

chaos.

To reduce psychological To create a conducive Conservation of aesthetics.

stress. environment for all.
FUNCTIONS OF PHYSICAL
PLANNING
 To initiate, formulate and review the National Land Use Policy.

 National and regional planning

 Standard setting.

 Technical support to local authorities

 Technical and administrative support to the Town and Country Planning Board

 Review of the legal framework for physical planning in the country.

 Inspection and monitoring all land based developments in the country to ensure that they
conform to approve planning schemes, laws and regulation.
 To monitor the manner of utilization and development of land by various ministries and
organizations to ensure compliance with national policies, standards and plans.
 To liaise with local and international organizations including NGOs that have relevance to
physical planning.
 IMPORTANCE & BENEFITS OF
PHYSICAL PLANNING
5.Introduces beauty in our 10.Deals with natural
1. Helpful in the fight settlements. selfishness among
against urban and rural developers and thus
poverty. 6.Separates incompatible reduces nuisances.
land uses.
2. Helps to address 11.Helps
environmental problems. 7.Eases service provision. conserve/preserve
important features/areas.
3.Helps to maximize the 8.Plans can be used as a
use of land and other fundraising tool. 12.Sensitization of the
resources. public in support of
9.Helps to improve development efforts.
4.Facilitates orderly property values.
development. 13.Protects water
catchment areas and
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE
The General Plan is the most
important document for a
planner. Each city and county is
 General Plans required by State law to adopt a
General Plan and keep it
updated. State law requires that
each General Plan contain the
following topics, which are
called elements: land use,
circulation, conservation, open
space, housing, noise, and
safety. Often, the General Plan
document organizes these
elements into chapters, but the
General Plan can be organized
in any way as long as the
required elements are included.
State law spells out the type of
information that is to be in each
element.
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE
 Community Plans and Area Plans
Community Plans and Area Plans are portions
of a jurisdiction’s General Plan in a
standalone document that are prepared for a
specific geographical area that is smaller
than the entire area of the jurisdiction.
Community Plans or Area Plans are often
used by large counties. An Area Plan might
cover a large area with similar
characteristics.
usually covers one unincorporated
community. It is like a Mini-General Plan just
for that community. Very large cities might
also use Community Plans to divide up their
planning efforts by neighborhoods. The
important thing to remember is that these
Plans have the same force and authority as
the General Plan because they actually are
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE

 Specific Plan
Specific Plans go into much more
detail than General Plans or
Community Plans. A Specific Plan
can be used to do more precise
planning for a smaller geographic
area. According to State law, its
required topics include land use
distribution, transportation
infrastructure, location of major wet
and dry utility infrastructure,
standards for development,
implementation measures, and a
program for financing.
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE

 Master Plan

A Master Plan is a kind of catch-all

phrase for a plan that can take many
forms. It is not defined in State law,
so there are no specific requirements
for what can be in it. Sometimes a
Master Plan looks like a specific plan,
but it is called a master plan because
the city or county doesn’t want it to
be official policy, just more of a
suggested roadmap.
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE

 Site Plan

It is a scale drawing or map of a

proposed development, usually on
a single parcel. Notes describing
the proposed use or operation are
included, usually right on the face
of the Site Plan. A Site Plan needs
to be consistent with the General
Plan, any other plans, and the
Zoning Ordinance.
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE
 Regulating Plans and Precise Plans
These types of plans are often
associated with New Urbanism
and/or Form Based Zoning
codes. They are usually a mix
of a specific plan and zoning
for the specified area. They
tend for focus more on the
shape and form of buildings
and blocks, and may even
delve into very specific
architectural standards. They
often use graphics and
drawings to illustrate
requirements, rather than text
and tables.
TYPES OF PLANS THAT PLANNERS USE

 Corridor Plan A Corridor Plan is a master plan

whose geographic location follows
the land that is adjacent to a major
transportation corridor. Its purpose
is usually to coordinate land use
and transportation issues, and to
identify and program future
upgrades inside the corridor right of
way.
To attain orderly, progressive,
sustainable urban and rural
development as a framework for
industrialization; provision of social
and physical infrastructure,
agriculture modernization and
therefore poverty eradication.
 PHYSICAL PLANNING
PRINCIPLES
Sustainability To promote sustainable practices in development

Land-use Integrate the natural and built environment

patterns

Natural and maintain natural habitat

cultural
resources
 PHYSICAL PLANNING
PRINCIPLES
Access and
transportation parking facilities

enrich experiences for all inhabitants

Life style
PHYSICAL PLANNING
APPROACHES
rationalistic approach
approach
- In Rationalistic Approach
we go in for a
Comprehensive Plan; but
the cost (in terms of
money and time
consumption) of
Comprehensive Surveys
and Comprehensive Plan
in much more
incremental
-The other approach is
Incremental Approach, plans
are made in terms of projects;
the cost of surveying and plans
are much less. This also get the
support politicians as it gives
quick results to the people. The
main drawback of this is that,
each project may not add up to
a Perspective Plan on its own
unless it has Perspective from
the very beginning. None of the
small project is a complete
solution to the problems.
 GOALS AND PURPOSE OF
PHYSICAL PLANNING
1.Planning process aims at certain dimensions of change – it aims to increase the
access services and facilities . Thus “Development” is a concept of ‘Growth+Change’.
A planner concern himself with both of these criteria.
2.The change is defined as clear identification of aims, and thus change is defined as
a terms of goal. Goal has a ‘Time’ aspect with it. To achieve a goal within a time span
we have to understand the nature of the statement (of the goal). The statements are
motivated to the overall welfare.
3.The Goal statement may change in certain time, as priorities may change in time .
So ordering of priorities may become necessary . Hence Goals are divided into long
term and short term goals. The long term goals are amenable to Rationalistic
Approach of Planning and short term goals are amenable to the Incremental
approach.
4.Purpose of planning is to define the change and to create the means to bring the
change. To see whether a plan is correct or not we adopt monitoring i.e., we device
some test to indicate to us whether the plan is approaching the proper direction or
not. These are called the “Indicators”.