UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Environmental Studies 204
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF PLANNING
2000

Instructor: Dr. John Curry, Associate Professor of Environmental Planning.
Time and Location: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 to 2:20 in Room 5-177.

Course Theme Urban and rural planning is a process where citizens, interest groups and governments, aided by planners, attempt to shape regions into desirable living spaces and productive landscapes. The course, a continuation of Envs104, will examine the evolution of theory and practice in urban and rural planning and discuss various issues facing humankind as economic growth continues to modify the world we live in.

Course Objectives At the completion of the course, students will have an understanding of the concepts, models and theories in the field of urban and rural planning; the dynamic forces shaping regions; the role government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations play in the planning process; and the impact planning may have on shaping urban and rural regions. The course will help students prepare to play an active participatory role in community development and planning either as citizens in their home community or as professionals involved in community and regional development.

Specific course objectives:

  • provide familiarization with tools, processes, and techniques used by planners
  • discuss the role of the public, politicians, and planners in planning processes
  • discuss contemporary issues and initiatives affecting planning at a national, provincial, regional, and local level. Specific reference will be made to British Columbian and northern community issues and initiatives

Text Hodge, Gerald. 1998. Planning Canadian Communities. Scarborough, Ontario: Nelson Canada.
Additional readings on Reserve in the UNBC library.

Course Evaluation
Mid-term 25% Term Paper Project 25%
Final exam 25% Field Trip Report 15%
Class Participation 10%    

Late Policy: Five percent deduction if not submitted by the due date. Thereafter, two percent per day off each assignment to a maximum of ten days after due date. Assignment cannot be submitted ten days after the due date without permission from the instructor.

Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Room 3011 Administration Building.
Other times by appointment. Please phone 960-5837.

ENVS 204 -- DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK ONE      January 6, 2000

Course Overview

  • Review course outline.
  • Philosophy of teaching.
    Social learning, learning triangle.
  • Introduction to the group case study project.
  • Slide Presentation -- Community Landscapes of Northern British Columbia.

WEEK TWO       January 11 and 13, 2000

Readings for Week Two      Hodge -- Chapter Five (23)

The Evolving Institutional Perspective

  • Social tendencies affecting land development.
  • The establishment of a local government system.
  • The establishment of community planning institutions.
  • Rejuvenation of planning institutions.

WEEK THREE      January 18 and 20, 2000

Readings for Week Three      Hodge -- Chapter Six (30)

Focus on the Physical Environment

  • The physical environment of communities.
  • How planners view the physical environment.
  • Types of plans for the physical environment.
  • Other views of the physical environment.

Video -- "Revitalizing Our Community." American Institute of Architecture. (9 minutes).

 

FIELD TRIP      January 22, 2000

Downtown Revitalization in Prince George

  • Overview of Downtown Prince George by city staff and community development organization staff. Morning Session 9:30 to 12:30.

WEEK FOUR      January 25 and 27, 2000

Readings for Week Four      Hodge -- Chapters Seven (30)

Steps in the Plan-Making Process

  • The concept of a community planning process.
  • The normative process of planning community land use.
  • Technical steps in the planning process.
  • The planning process and community learning.  

WEEK FIVE      February 1 and 3, 2000

Readings for Week Five      Hodge -- Chapter Eight (15)

** Subject Specific Library Orientation.
The Community Plan: Its Characteristics and Role

  • The scope of the community plan.
  • Concerns of the community plan.
  • Characteristics of the community plan.
  • The policy roles of the community plan.
  • The community plan as a legal document.

WEEK SIX      February 8 and 10, 2000

Readings for Week Six      Hodge -- Chapter Nine (34)

Implementing the Community Plan by Land-Use Regulation

  • The tasks of plan implementation.
  • Planning tools for already-developed areas.
  • Tools for fine-tuning land-use planning.
  • Making land-use regulations effective.

WEEK SEVEN      February 15 and 17, 2000

Special Plans and Planning Processes

  • Site Planning, Ecological Planning, and Urban Design.
  • Slide Presentation -- "Mainstreet Programs in British Columbia."

*** Mid-Term Examination -- Thursday, February 17, 2000.

WEEK EIGHT      February 22 and 24, 2000

Winter Break - No Classes

WEEK NINE      February 29 and March 2, 2000

Readings for Week Nine      Hodge -- Chapter Eleven (25)

Regional and Metropolitan Planning in Canada

  • The regional planning perspective.
  • Canadian experience in regional planning.
  • Canadian experience in metropolitan planning.

WEEK TEN      March 7 and 9, 2000

Readings for Week Ten      Hodge -- Chapter Twelve (18)

Planning for Canada's Small Towns

  • Characteristics of small town development.
  • Planning and government frameworks.
  • Planning tools for small towns.

WEEK ELEVEN      March 14 and 16, 2000

Readings for Week Eleven      Hodge -- Chapter Fourteen (20)

The Texture of Participation in Community Planning

  • Linking the Public, Politicians, and Planners.
  • Role of the Planner.
  • Aspects of Developer Participation.
  • Involving the Community in Planning.

WEEK TWELVE      March 21 and 23, 2000

Readings for Week Twelve      Daniels et al. -- Chapter Twenty-two (20)

Economic Development in Small Towns

  • What is Economic Development.
  • Six Ingredients for Successful Economic Development.
  • Economic Development Plans.
  • Capital and Financing.
  • Regional Cooperation.

Video -- "Back Against the Wall" (18 minutes).

WEEK THIRTEEN      March 28 and 30, 2000

Readings for Week Thirteen      Hodge -- Chapter Fifteen (20)

Canadian Community Planning 100 Years of Planning

  • A future of challenges
  • Slide Presentation -- "Ecological Footprint Concept."
  • Continuing dilemmas
  • Impending challenges
  • The sufficiency of practice

Course Evaluations

WEEK FOURTEEN      April 4 and 6, 2000

Classes replaced by class/field trip on Saturday, January 22, 2000.

Email comments and corrections to curryj@unbc.ca

[ John Curry Webpage ]