Book for the class which should be at least one of the citations is: Contemporary Urban Planning by John M. Levy (11th Edition)
Term Paper (Case Study): The student will select a significant current planning project (a significant planned unit development with a residential component), subject to the instructors
prior approval. Each student will acquire copies of the public documents relating to this issue or project, and prepare a written case study including: Identifying the applicant, the location and size of the subject project, and the scope and intent of the applicants application (comprehensive regarding all elements of the application).dentifying the current use, current zoning, and future land use plan designation of
the site under consideration
Describing the surrounding properties and the existing zoning and land use
Describing any deviations from the future land use plan requested by the applicant
Summarizing staff comments on the project
Summarizing any concerns expressed at public hearings or correspondence from
adjacent residents, businesses and other property owners
Summarize the conclusions, comments reached from the public hearing
Discussing the concepts and issues of this course as they relate
to this project as follows:
Why is this development being proposed?
What are the patterns of growth and development in the community which
prompted this project? Discuss the factors causing this growth. (i.e.
commercial development in the area, new schools or colleges being built or
planned, efforts to attract retirees, manufacturing facilities being built or planned,
a migration to newer housing and less congested living conditions, etc.)
Discuss the development history of the community and whether or not this
project (1) is consistent with the development trends or (2) is a new trend
in community development?
What areas are prone to development? What have been the trends of past
developments, both in physical location and types of development (i.e.
single-family, ownership multi-family, rental, mixed use commercial,
professional, low and moderate income residential). Does this project tract trend
or set another trend? If so, what is that new trend?
Discuss whether or not this project enhances the community development
or enhances further deterioration of certain areas of the community.
Address whether or not there are problems in the community such as
housing/building deterioration, need for redevelopment, need for different
types of development, a deteriorating tax base, and similar issues. Are out-migration and declining property values occurring in the community?
If so, please describe. How does this project impact these community problems?
Are or were there legal issues regarding this project?Describe court intervention, if any. Did the jurisdiction require any
transfer of property to a governmental unit? If so, describe. Was there
any mitigation regarding environmental issues. If so, what are they? Did the
developer object to these requirements?
Describe how well this project complies with the intent of the comprehensive
plan. Or has there been a change in the comprehensive plan to accommodate
this project?
Was the use proposed by this development project consistent with the intention of
the comprehensive plan? Describe.
Describe the role the governmental planner maintained regarding this
project
Neutral public servant, building of community consensus, an entrepreneur,
advocate, or an agent of radical change?
Describe the social issues of the project
Private community? Affordable housing? Deed covenants restricting certain
uses and conduct?
Describe the developments impact on transportation, economic impact,
environmental and energy issues.
Will transportation improvement needs to be made? Increased size of roadways,
additional or improved signalization, additional buses or routes? Will commercial
development provide jobs and increased sales tax revenues? What the environmental and energy issues. What endangered species are located on the development site.
