Urban planning is needed for facing the issue of the rapidly growing population, climate changes, as well as unsustainable manufacturing and consumption. Through the use of urban planning, it is possible to design, control, and manage the layout of the urban and suburban areas. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze the compatibility of land uses or negotiate the outcomes of such use; assess current trends with regards to environmental, social, and economic factors. The responsibilities of urban planners may vary between jurisdictions (sometimes they can vary even within the coverage of one jurisdiction). However, the key obligations are related to land use and regional planning, strategic urban planning, renewal and preservation of heritage, transportation, and environmental planning, economic development, urban design, and infrastructure planning.
The key ramification for more rubber on the road is the reduction of cases of vehicle crashes due to its durability and safety. However, there are other reasons for why rubberized roads can be beneficial for urban planning. For example, a rubberized surface has noise reduction qualities. Apart from absorbing more sound, a rubberized road surface will be more environmentally friendly since it is often produced from scrap tires taken from landfill disposals. Moreover, rubberized road surfaces are much more cost-effective and could cost from thirty to fifty percent less to be produced compared to conventional asphalt surfaces. It requires less maintenance, which is another ramification for using more rubber on the roads.
System Dynamics modeling is widely used by urban planners to get a better understanding of different behaviors and processes that occur within cities for extended time periods. System Dynamics models for urban planning can become significant components for predetermining future political decisions. For example, when such models reflect certain features of a city, they can be used as guides in urban planning policies. The extensions of System Dynamics models can also be used for resolving specific issues that concern the urban areas, like, for example, social integration or education. Lastly, system dynamics can provide urban planners with a better understanding of how different characteristics of the city interact and affect one another.
Placemaking is a valuable approach for capitalizing on the assets of a local community in order to create public spaces for promoting health and overall wellbeing. With regard to urban planning, the concept of smart growth is also currently on the rise due to the need to reduce the impact of industrialization and ensure that cities are being developed in a ‘smart’ way. Placemaking and smart growth are useful tools for urban planners that can implement compact building design, create safe neighborhoods, preserve natural resources, and protect the most important environmental areas such as lakes, rivers, and forests. By combining placemaking and smart growth, urban planners will be able to build and expand cities without a threat to the environment but with a significant benefit for the community.
If to compare European practices of urban planning with the American procedures, the key difference is that European cities manage to stay compact while dealing with development, expansion, and the increase of population. On the other hand, while the population in the U.S. does not grow as rapidly as in other countries, the territory of built-up land increases with each year. For example, in 20 years, the population of Chicago increased by only four percent when the built-up land in the urban and suburban areas increased by forty-six percent. The reason for the distinction between European and American practices is the fact that European municipalities are more independent, so the decisions to expand are made on a lower governmental level; smaller budgets contribute to smarter development solutions as well. Another practice of urban planning spread in some European cities relates to the establishment of joint ownership plans through the involvement of private stakeholders interested in preserving the architectural integrity of the city with the help of smart urban planning.
The city of Phoenix is currently dealing with the process of planning and restructuring of the way the urban area will develop and grow. The key components of the plan include the future smart land use, transportation, safe housing, and neighborhoods, as well as natural resources. The issues surrounding the new developments in the city of Phoenix include the necessity to deal with the rapid growth of built-up land while implementing smart adjustments to urban life in the city. Moreover, the issue of finance limits the implementation of the plan (to proceed with the General Plan, voters were asked to approve the budget proposal for thirty-two billion dollars). It is expected that the population of Phoenix will double in numbers in twenty years, so it is crucial for the city to be prepared for the changes and look into smart growth for preserving natural resources and using the land in such a manner that would be the most beneficial for the community.
General plans refer to the policies connected with the acceptable usage of land within a specific jurisdiction. Therefore, every city or state (county) creates, adopts, and updates a General Plan for the region in order to monitor and regulate the development of the land within a specific period of time. Overall, general plans are created for guiding a city or a county towards the achievement of the goals and objectives regarding the smart use of land. Furthermore, such plans are also beneficial for establishing a unified framework for approaching various activities (zoning, smart growth, placemaking, etc.) in a way that would be the most effective and beneficial for the region as a whole. When discussing general plans, it is important to mention Green General Plans as measures for promoting sustainable practices that will be implemented by the entire community.
Values and visions of Regional Planning usually coincide with the goals of creating a region that will fulfill the needs and the desires of the community. Through the identification of available assets, specific characteristics, and objectives for the future, the community is able to implement the most appropriate practices for efficient growth. The key objective of a Regional Plan for a specific community is the articulation of what citizens value the most. By determining the core beliefs and ideas, the region will work on the preservation of those practices that the community already values while trying to develop new practices that will be beneficial in the long run. Since Regional Planning is a broader-scaled type of urban planning, the core values and visions revolve around the smart usage of the land, preservation of natural resources, the achievement of sustainability, protection of farmlands, and the optimization of infrastructure within the cities.