Course Outline 2015 - Caribbean Societies

COURSE OUTLINE
Urban & Regional Planning (GEOG3333)
Coordinator:
Email:
Website:
Dr. Kevon Rhiney (Top Floor, Bldg A, Geog/Geol Dept., ext. 2258-9)
[email protected]
http://caribbeansocieties.com/urban-planning/
RATIONALE
This course provides a solid base for students either wishing to pursue postgraduate studies or to undertake
careers in urban planning. Given recent and projected trends in global urban population growth, urban planning
is becoming increasingly more important as a profession, as nation states strive to optimize the use of available
resources in an efficient and sustainable manner. This is particularly important in the case of developing regions
like the Caribbean that are being challenged to find new and effective solutions in balancing the drive for
achieving economic growth amidst growing social and environmental concerns. The course is also designed to
develop practical and transferable skills such as report writing, critical thinking and problem solving that will
serve as valuable assets in the world of work.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course covers a range of topics spanning the full breadth and length of the planning profession. The first
half of the course will examine some of the basic concepts and debates underlying the field of urban and
regional planning. This part of the course introduces students to the history and evolution of modern town
planning, various planning theories and procedural models, land use management tools and explores the
complex and dynamic linkages that exist between planning processes and development. The second half of the
course entails a case study based analysis of different planning issues affecting modern-day societies such as
water insecurity and sanitation, financing low-income housing, urban safety and security, the global urban
energy crisis, and vulnerability to climate change. Case studies are drawn from a large number of low and
middle-income countries but with a special emphasis on the Caribbean.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
On the successful completion of this course students should be able to:
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Examine and discuss the historical evolution of modern town planning
Differentiate the varied types of plans and planning strategies that exist including redevelopment plans,
smart growth strategies, economic development strategic plans, site plans, and disaster preparedness
plans.
Critically assess relevant theories, models, tools and concepts used by planners.
Analyze the complex and dynamic linkages that exist between planning processes and development
Identify and evaluate the major social problems affecting urban areas in the developing world, and
describe and compare methods that have been used to alleviate these challenges.
Identify and evaluate the major environmental problems affecting urban areas in the developing world,
and describe and compare methods that have been used to alleviate these challenges.
Students will also be exposed to a number of practical and transferable skills as follows:
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Identify, process and critically examine key and relevant literature from both print and web based
sources on defined topics
Absorb and critically analyze information to develop reasoned arguments
Ability to gather, process, analyze and communicate detailed and complex information by means of an
oral presentation supported by appropriate visual and other multimedia aids
TEACHING METHODS
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Weekly Lectures
Videos and multimedia
Site visits
Tutorials/consultations
Career Talks/Seminars
1 COURSE SCHEDULE
Dates
January 21
Topics
Introduction to Urban Planning. Provides overview of course and introduce students to
the core features of modern urban planning.
January 28
History and Evolution of Planning in Britain. Traces the genesis and evolution of urban
planning in Britain, and includes an assessment of the early post-war planning developments
and challenges that emerged.
February 4
The Seers. Includes a critical assessment of the contributions made to modern urban
planning thought and practice by pioneer thinkers such as Ebenezer Howard and Le
Corbusier.
February 11
Theories of Planning. Critically examines a range of procedural approaches including
blueprints/master plans, systems planning, incrementalism, mixed scanning and
participatory planning. This section also covers new urban design movements such as New
Urbanism and Smart Growth.
February 18
No class (Ash Wednesday)
*** First Fieldtrip to KSAC on Thursday 19 February ***
February 25
Environmental Planning and Management. This lecture covers a range of topical issues
pertaining to environmental resources management including inter alia, the use of
EIAs/SEAs, valuating ecosystem services, waste management services, reducing carbon
footprints and brownfield redevelopment.
March 4
*** Mid-Term Test (Monday March 2) ***
*** Second Fieldtrip to KSAC on Wednesday 4 March ***
March 18
Development Control. Provides overview of the main principles of development control
and examines a few strategies commonly used by local planning authorities. Some of these
strategies include land-use control tools such as land use zoning and subdivision control and
development management techniques such as greenbelts, setbacks, transferal development
rights and preservation ordinances to name some.
March 25
Water and Sanitation. Uses African and Asian case studies to examine the challenges
involved in providing water and sanitation services to a growing urban population.
April 1
Sustainable Transport. Examines a range of sustainable solutions to transport planning that
are geared towards enhancing commuters’ mobility and access while reducing the social and
environmental costs associated with traditional transport systems. The lecture will also
examine some recent trends in transport planning across the globe.
April 8
Strategies for Housing the Urban Poor. Using a wide range of case studies, this section
examines the challenges and opportunities in providing low-income housing solutions in the
Global South.
*** Term Paper Due ***
April 15
Adapting Cities to Climate Change. Examines the vulnerability of urban settlements to
climate change impacts and the measures being implemented by different cities to mitigate
and adapt to these changes. Also entails an in-depth analysis into the urban causes of the
current global energy crisis and explores possible urban planning and design solutions.
ASSESSMENT
Assignment 1: Mid-Term Test
This will take the form of a short answer quiz, inclusive of a multiple-choice section. The result of this test will
be worth 20% of your overall grade for this course. The test will be held during consultation hour on
Monday 02 March 2015.
2 Assignment 2: Term Paper
Write a fully referenced essay of between 2000 and 2500 word. This essay is due by midday on Wednesday 8
April 2015 and is worth 30% of your overall grade for this course. The course reading list will provide you
with some information, but you ought also to conduct an independent search for further literature. Please do not
place the assignment in a plastic folder.
Examination
The examination will be made up of five questions where you will be required to answer any two. The
examination is worth 50% of the overall grade for this course.
KEY READINGS
• Fainstein, S; Campbell, S (2003), Readings in planning theory, Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell.
• Gilg, A.W. (2005) Planning in Britain: Understanding and evaluating the post-war system. London:
SAGE.
• Greed, C. (1996) Introducing Town Planning, 2 nd edn. Essex: Longman.
• Hall, P. (2002) Urban and Regional Planning, 4 th edn. London: Routledge.
• Hall, P (2002), Cities of Tomorrow (3rd ed.), Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell.
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• Levy, J.M. (2009) Contemporary Urban Planning, 8 edn. New Jersey: Pearson
• Satterthwaite, et al. (2011) Adapting to Climate Change in Urban Areas: The possibilities and
constraints in low- and middle-income nations. Human Settlements Discussion Paper Series, IIED
• Taylor, N. (2009) Urban Planning since 1945. London: SAGE
• Thomas. K. (1997) Development Control: Principles and Practice. UCL Press.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
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Bicknell, J. et al. (2009) Adapting Cities to Climate Change. London: Earthscan
Clarke, C. (2001). ‘Urbanisation, Planning and Development in the Caribbean’ in C. Barrow and R.
Reddock (eds) Caribbean Sociology: introductory readings. Kingston, Ian Randle, pp. 954-972.
Davis, M. (2004) Planet of slums. New Left Review 26, 5–34.
De Soto, H. (2000) The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails
Everywhere Else. Basic Books.
IIED (2004). ‘Reshaping local democracy through participatory governance’. Environment and
Urbanization Brief 9.
Jaffe, R. (2008) The Caribbean City. Kingston: Ian Randle
McHardy, P. (2002) Urban and Regional Planning in Jamaica
Schoburgh, E.D. (2006) Local Government Reform: the prospects for community empowerment in
Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica, SALISES.
UN Human Settlements Programme (2009) Planning sustainable cities: global report on human
settlements 2009. London: Earthscan
UN Human Settlements Programme (2011) Cities and Climate Change. London: Earthscan
USEFUL WEBSITES
International Institute for Environment and Development (http://www.iied.org/)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/)
World Bank: Urban Poverty (www.worldbank.org/urban/poverty/)
World Bank: Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/water/urban.html)
UN Habitat: The State of the World’s Cities Report 2012 (www.unhabitat.org.)
Course website: www.caribbeansocieties.com
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