INTRODUCTION TO LAND USE PLANNING

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INTRODUCTION TO LAND USE PLANNING

• Why do we need land use planning?

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1. Land use planning versus land use controls

• land use planning a definition
• land use controls a definition

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- land use planning a definition

• Planning is an ecosystem based tool that can link
  the environment, the community and the economy in
  ways that help ensure the sustainability of
  resources.
• Planning is expected to integrate environmental,
  social and economic values, resolve conflicts,
  build common land use objectives, ensure openness
  and inclusiveness as well as adapt to global,
  national and local needs and preferences

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- land use controls a definition

• Land use controls are public or private rules
  that influence or restrict the use of land to
  protect or promote the health, safety, or welfare
  of the community.
• Public rules laws, ordinances and regulations
  imposed by federal, state or local government.
• Private rules deed restrictions and covenants
• Influence or restrict the use of land by setting
  forth what we can and cannot do with land -
  certain rules like tax benefits and subsidies
  influence use of land

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2. Why is there a need for land use planning

• the nature of land
• the nature of land ownership
• the nature of use impacts

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The nature of land

• Land is all of those resources that are naturally
  endowed on top of the ground, beneath it and
  the air (vertical space above the ground).
• The single resource on which all life depends
• Where portions of land can be privately owned it
  is referred to as real estate or real property
  that is identifiable by means of boundary markers
  which are legally enforced/protected.

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The nature of land (2)

• Land is also an asset that can be transferred
  under guarantees enforced by the legal system of
  the state (most western societies have strict
  laws that protect the value, ownership and
  transferring of land).
• - As such, land is the wealth of a nation.

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The nature of land ownership

• Bundle of sticks (rights and constraints)
• (see handout)

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Land use associated problems

• 3i) Urban Sprawl
• Gentleman farms
• Ribbon development
• Urban splatter (leap
• frog development)

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Land Use Impacts Problems and issues

• 3ii) Loss of farmland
• increased need for irrigation
• Increased soil erosion
• Instability in crop production
• Loss of amenity associated
• with cropland (aesthetic value)
• reduction in available prime
• agricultural lands

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Land use impactsProblems and Issues 3iii)
Fiscal effects of land use change

• local tax increase or decrease
• increased demand for infrastructure and other
  amenities (schools, safety services )
• changing fortunes of municipalities (losses and
  gains in tax revenues

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Land Use impacts Problems and issues

• 3 iv) Degradation of the natural environment
• Impacts on air, and water quality
• Excessive water withdrawal
• Energy waste
• Destruction of wildlife habitat
• Visual blight (introduced incongruence emphasis
  on what does not fit)

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Land use impacts Problems and issues

• 3v) Destruction of valued cultural and historical
  assets
• sense of place
• historically significant
• structures
• other cultural sites
• Kings trail Hawaii Island

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Land use impacts problems and issues

• 3vi) Developments Concerns for equity and
  inclusiveness
• Affordable housing for the poor
• sustainability of resources and cultural
  diversity
• ensuring democracy and citizen participation

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Land Use discontent and conflict

• Underlying causes
• Ownership
• Uses and their impacts
• Pace of change

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Land ownership and uses

• OWNERSHIP
• USA Fig 1-1, Page 5 Platt.
• Private 58, Federal 34, State local govt.
  6, Indian Tribes 2
• HAWAII Private 62, Federal 8 State local
  govt. 30 (includes 5 DHHL)
• (see Atlas of Hawaii, p. 225-232)

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Land Use Categories

• Conventional categories
• Agriculture (cropland)
• Forestland, wetlands, grassland, recreation...
• Urban (lt 10 land area)
• Hawaii Agri 45, Conservation 38, Urban
  Rural less than 20
• (See percentages web sources)

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Land Use Change

• Methods of estimation
• (See sample from web search.)
• See Table 1-1, p. 11, Platt for changes in agri.
  land area since 1959.

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4. The Land use conflict management system

• the role of government
• private property owners
• public interest groups