Contemporary urban planning

North Carolina State UniversityDepartment of Political Science and Public AdministrationGovernment & Planning (PA 521)Tuesday 6:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.; Winston 005Instructor: Jeff Ulma, Planning Director, Town of CaryOffice: Town of Cary Planning Department 318 N. Academy Street, 3rd Floor, Cary, NC 27513Phone: Office (319-4580 direct, 469-4082) and home (468-1629)e-mail: jgulmancsu.edu, julma (home), or jeff.ulmatownofcary.org (work)Office hours: By appointmentDescription & Objectives of the CourseThis course is designed to provide an introduction to the major planning functions conducted primarily at the local level of government in the U.S. Some of the main topics to be covered include urbanization and the history of planning; the participants, organizational structure, and practice of planning; specialized planning activities like urban design, transportation planning, and growth management; and emerging trends and issues in the planning field.By the end of the semester, students will be able to: explain urban planning, especially as performed at the local government level, including the various participants, intergovernmental relationships, and processes; present the historical basis and legal foundation for planning activities; outline planning policy, regulations, and fiscal considerations that are developed, applied, and considered in the practice of planning; review and summarize plans, regulations, and other documents; and discuss emerging planning issues like adequacy of public facilities, neotraditional development, and growth management.Textbook & ReadingsRequired TextbookTitle: Contemporary Urban Planning Author: John M. LevyPublisher: Prentice Hall, Inc. Year Published: 2003; 6th edition; ISBN: 0-13-098598-8 Other Required ReadingTitle: Municipal Government in North CarolinaAuthors: Warren Jake Wicker & David M. Lawrence, Eds.Publisher: Institute of Government Chapter 19 (Community Planning, Land Use, and Development)Year Published: 1996, 2nd edition; ISBN: 1-56011-248-4This chapter will be made available on electronic reserve.Other articles, brochures, and publications will also be required as identified in the Course Schedule. These materials are readily available on the Internet and/or electronic reserve copies will be made available as necessary.Course RequirementsThe class is structured in a lecture/discussion format. The instructor will review and highlight important aspects of each weeks readings, followed by class discussion and debate. Expert speakers may also be invited present their perspective on specialized topics. Students are expected to be active classroom participants. Several assignments will require students to review and be prepared to discuss local government plans and regulations. These discussions will constitute part of the required class participation.Attendance at a meeting of an appointed or elected body as it deliberates planning issues may be required.Finally, in addition to a mid-term and final exam, a written memo/staff report, including an oral presentation, will be required of students in this course. GradingItemPoints%General Class Participation20020%Mid-term Exam25025%Policy Memo & Oral Presentation (200 written, 50 oral presentation)25025%Final Exam30030%Total1000100%Grade RangesA90-100B80-89C70-79D60-69F 60AssignmentsWritten Policy Memo (Staff Report)In addition to reading and preparing for class discussions, one written memo (staff report) from the perspective of a staff member to an elected or appointed board will be required. The purpose of this 4 to 5 page staff report (maximum) is to briefly summarize background material, present the policy or other considerations regarding the issue, evaluate options or alternatives, and provide a recommended course of action. Students may focus on a general planning or policy issue, a regulatory approach, or an emerging issue in the planning arena that will be approved by the instructor. Examples of possible memo topics include a new or innovative planning approach, a citizen involvement program, a new ordinance or regulatory technique, or a growth management or fiscal tool. Students will need to conduct research into their selected topic in order to meet this assignment. Further instructions for completing this assignment will be provided in class early in the semester. Clear and effective writing is expected. For writing assistance, refer to: http:/www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/grammar/Oral PresentationsStudents will be expected to provide a 3 to 5 minute presentation of their policy memos to the entire class.Students with DisabilitiesReasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. See http:/www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/Academic IntegrityStudents should familiarize themselves with the university policies regarding academic conduct found in the Code of Student Conduct (http:/www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_conduct/POL445.00.1.htm) that apply to this class. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please feel free to discuss with me.Attendance Policy and Late AssignmentsFull participation of all students is expected. Students should familiarize themselves with the university policies regarding attendance (http:/www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.4.php). All students should contact the instructor in advance, or as soon as possible after missing a class, to discuss excuses and to schedule makeup work.Course Schedule PA521, Fall 2005ClassDateTopicRequired ReadingOther Reading or Assignments18/23Introductions; Review of Syllabus and Course Requirements; Overview of Planning Levy: Preface & Ch. 1 “What Is Planning?”, Carroll County, MD (http:/ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/compplan/planprocess.pdf)28/30Urbanization; History of Planning Levy: Ch. 2; Ch. 339/6Legal Structure; Organizing for Planning; Statutory Authority Levy: Ch. 4, Ch. 5, & Ch. 6, pp. 85-88 Lawrence & Wicker: Ch. 19, pp. 547-559 “PLANNING- AND DEVELOPMENT-RELATED LEGISLATION ADOPTED BY THE 2004 GENERAL ASSEMBLY,” Planning & Zoning Law Bulletin No. 16, Ducker and Owens, November 2004, School of Government, UNC-Chapel Hill (http:/ncinfo.iog.unc.edu/pubs/electronicversions/pdfs/pzlb16.pdf)49/13Politics; Social Issues; The Comprehensive Plan Part 1 Levy: Ch. 6, pp. 78-84, Ch. 7, & Ch. 859/20The Comprehensive Plan Part 2; Plan Implementation/Land Use Tools Part 1 Town of Cary Land Use Plan, (http:/www.townofcary.org/depts/dsdept/P&Z/landuseplan/landuseplan.htm) Levy: Ch. 969/27Plan Implementation/Land Use Tools Part 2 Levy: Ch. 9 (cont.) Town of Cary Sign Ordinance, Ch. 9, Land Development Ordinance (http:/www.townofcary.org/depts/dsdept/P&Z/ldo/chapter9.pdf)710/4Plan Implementation/ Land Use Tools - Part 3; Mid-term exam review Lawrence & Wicker: Ch. 19, pp. 560-587810/11Mid-term Exam 910/18Community Development; Economic Development Levy: Ch. 11 & Ch. 131010/25Transportation Levy: Ch. 12 Guest Speaker1111/1Urban Design; Growth Management Levy: Ch. 10 TOWN OF CARY DESIGN GUIDELINES MANUAL, August 2001, (http:/www.townofcary.org/depts/dsdept/P&Z/Carydesi.pdf) Levy: Ch. 14 “Holding The Line: Urban Containment In The United States”, Pendall, Martin, and Fulton, Brookings Institution, August 2002 (http:/www.brookings.edu/dybdocroot/es/urban/publications/pendallfultoncontainment.pdf)1211/8Regional Planning; State Planning; Intergovernmental Coordination Levy: Ch. 16Group A: Policy Memo Due; Presentation1311/15Emerging Issues Part 1 New urbanism/ neotraditional development Smart Growth “Charter of the New Urbanism,” Congress for the New Urbanism, (u.org/aboutcnu/index.cfm?formAction=charter) The Journalists Guide to the American Dream, American Dream Coalition (http:/americandreamcoalition.org/guide.html) Smart Growth Primer, Smart Growth British Columbia, 2000, (http:/www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/downloads/SmartGrowthPrimer.pdf)Group B: Policy Memo Due; Presentation1411/22Emerging Issues Part 2: Adequate Public Facilities Inclusionary zoning “Takings” lawTBDGroup C: Policy Memo Due; Presentation1511/29Tying it All Together;Final Exam reviewTBDTBD1612/6Final ExamPA 521 Government & PlanningPage 5Fall 2005 Ulma; Ver. 001 - 080805