Paper
The Importance of Community Planning
Community planning is an essential part of economic development and establishment of a character unique to the community. Lack of planning leaves all development or lack thereof, up to market forces. In many cases market forces will dominate a communities identity, but they are not always perfectly aligned with the desires and values of community members. A town, city or region, left to develop without the aid of a comprehensive planning strategy may deteriorate or become a “faceless” strip of generic America. In addition to the loss of character a community may suffer, negative effects may be felt in the economy, the environment, the infrastructure, and most importantly the quality of life experienced by the residing members of the community.
O f course, every aspect of a community can not be planned for and controlled, but some effort must be applied. For example, a small fishing community can not plan to develop an economy based on mining. It can however influence the future health of its present economy, and encourage the growth and development of new industries. It can maintain or change the appearance of the town. It can preserve or improve the quality of life within the community.
Most communities are well aware of the importance of planning, when it comes to the economy of an area, but many small towns and cities seem to ignore other aspects of the planning process, which could greatly affect the town. Most people feel that the economy is the single most important aspect to a community’s health and vitality. They overlook some simple things, which could easily be changed, and would improve the looks, functionality, and enjoyability of a town.
A modern trend in urban America is the abandonment of downtown centers. These areas need not be lost. They are extremely important maintaining character, and can actually become a nuisance, if left to decay beyond a certain level. They are often left out of a community’s plan, because they seem to be outdated, and no longer economically viable. Economic development is allowed or encouraged to take place on the fringe of the community, while the historic center is left to fend for itself. This results in unnecessary sprawl, and causes the centers to decay.
In many cases, buildings and building sites located in the center of town are not as economically advantageous as the inexpensive land, on the outskirts of town. This doesn’t mean they are without use. Proactive planning can help insure these sites stay modern and maintained, before it becomes far too expensive to restore or modify a structure for a new use. Many sites, which are appropriate for a certain use, are allowed to stay vacant or housing low rent businesses, which will not generate the kind of money to maintain the buildings properly. Instead, the activity which could take place downtown is allowed to locate on a new lot, because it saves initial investment capitol. It is often thought that an important part of the planning and business recruitment process is providing economic incentives to new businesses, and this is true. It is not always necessary; however, to allow an economic activity to occupy inexpensive land in the name of providing an economic incentive.
Tax relief for businesses which locate in central locations or choose to modify, repair, and remain in their present locations, is also a way to offer economic incentives to business. Businesses should be honored and rewarded for their efforts to remain downtown. Sensible improvements to the infrastructure in central locations could also help to alleviate some costs for businesses.
In contrast to this approach, communities could make it less advantageous for businesses to use undeveloped land in the form of higher tax rates and penalties. At the extreme end of this approach is to not allow businesses to locate in these undeveloped areas, at all. Zoning land can be very effective, in this respect.
Presque Isle, Maine is an excellent example of a small city, which is actively involved in community planning and business recruitment, but has a dying, if not dead, central business district. Presque Isle has experienced significant strip development in the past ten years, or so. It is as if downtown got too old, so everyone just picked up, and moved down the road a + mile. This just is not good planning. No changes have been made to the downtown infrastructure at all, not even as a retroactive response. What remains is an area of decrepit buildings, which house low rent apartments, pawnshops, and vacant storefronts.
To make matters worse, all the traffic signal lights, which were in place to control the busy vehicle and pedestrian traffic are all still in place. The are no longer of any use at all but two intersections. Main Street would be more appropriate as a highway. Almost all of the traffic passing through downtown is on Main Street, and is going, either North or South. The stoplights are just a nuisance. There is no traffic crossing Main Street at most intersections.
The economy is good in Presque Isle, and it is improving. The present strength of the economy owes a lot to the planning efforts of town and regional officials. At the same time; however, some fundamental problems have developed. These problems will be much more difficult to deal with using a retroactive approach.
In conclusion, towns which have comprehensive planning in place may be doing great things for the economy, and still not improving the quality of life and character of a community. Without an all-encompassing plan, which deals with many more aspects than economy alone, a towns planning efforts may not meet its potential positive impact. It may even result in the decline of aspects not considered or dealt with, in the planning process.
Другие работы по теме:
Water Source Essay Research Paper Flagstaff has
Water Source Essay, Research Paper Flagstaff has more then just one or even two sources of water. This city has five sources of water to draw from. Even though some of these sources are not used to there full potential. Upper Lake Mary and the Lake Mary aquifer are one of the more widely known of the five. Lake Mary and its aquifer are replenished by snowmelt mostly.
Kinesiolgy Essay Research Paper How to go
Kinesiolgy Essay, Research Paper How to go about developing a community within a physical education classroom setting. Each physical education classroom setting makes up its own community. A
My Home Essay Research Paper Mark VoseEnglish113000Thinking
My Home Essay, Research Paper Mark Vose English 11/30/00 Thinking and Writing Question #3 An outsider is someone who is isolated or detached from the activities or concerns of one’s own community.( American Heritage Dictionary) This isolation is caused by a rejection from the communities standards or ethics.
Aids Report Essay Research Paper AIDS
Aids Report Essay, Research Paper AIDS…Are You Afraid? This week when school starts, September 5th, a new child is enrolling. The school will not give out her name
Urban Villagers By Herbert J Gans Essay
, Research Paper Urban Renewal in Boston the West End and Government Center Boston’s West End is the most well documented neighborhood destroyed by urban “renewal,” made famous initially by Herbert Gans’s book, The Urban Villagers, 1962. Although approximately 63 percent of the families displaced by urban renewal were African-American or Hispanic, this Boston community was mainly inhabited by working class Italians.
Importance Of Priority In Today
’s Society Essay, Research Paper Importance of Priority in Today’s Society In today’s society it is of the ultimate importance to keep self- discipline as a major priority. Right now we may not realize it, but we are not
Appraising My Test Taking Skills Essay Research
Paper The advantages of my test taking skills are effectiveness,organization, and good review tools. Thus, the disadvantages are manageable review time and strategy planning. I find myself mostly “stuck” on planning a strategy.
The Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar 2
The Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) Essay, Research Paper Oscar Wilde, the witty Edwardian poet, playright, and author, was noted for his refined demeanor. The same mannerisms
Home Daycares Vs Community Daycares Essay Research
Paper Michael Pratt W. Howard Com. 111-28 October 29, 1999 In Home Daycares vs. Community Daycares Choosing a daycare for your children is one of the most important descisions for most new parents. There is the choice of an in home daycare or a community daycare. In home daycares the children will receive more personal care, there will be less children presant, and they are more geared to the personal needs of the parents.
The Giver Essay Research Paper It is
The Giver Essay, Research Paper It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, and no pain. No one in The Community wants for anything. Everyone is provided for. Each Family Unit is entitled to one female and male child. Each member of The Community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders, and they never make a mistake.
Poem My Journey Essay Research Paper My
Poem: My Journey Essay, Research Paper My Journey My journey through Nature’s community, A community of green Aging giants of nature. Standing in brown dead needles,
And The Band Played On Critique Essay
, Research Paper “And the Band Played On” “And the Band Played On” was an HBO movie that illustrated the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and early 1990s. The movie touched on subjects concerning the reaction of the gay community, the heterosexual community, and the medical community. It showed not only the research in AIDS, but also the way that the US government dealt with it.
Church Existence Essay Research Paper The Church
Church Existence Essay, Research Paper The Church exists to call sinners out of the muck and mire of an evil world system that has pitted mother against daughter, father against son, woman against man, man against nature and all humanity against God into a transforming and healing community that can undo the damage that the world has done to us through the building of GOD Kingdom here on Earth.
The Breakdown Of Community Ray Oldenburg Ishmael
Reed Essay, Research Paper WR 121 Paper #2 The Breakdown of Community In Ray Oldenburg’s “The Problem of Place in America” and Ishmael Reed’s “My Neighborhood” the authors express thier dissatisfaction with the community. Oldenburg
Child Development Essay Research Paper The InfantToddler
Child Development Essay, Research Paper The Infant/Toddler program at Citrus College is a Community base program and follows Title 5 regulations. The philosophy of the Infant/Toddler program follows the teachings of Magda Gerber who taught to respect everything the child does and most of their philosophy comes from the WestEd training.
Louie Freeh (Director Of Fbi) And Correlation
To C Essay, Research Paper Louie Freeh Louie Freeh grew up a normal boy in a normal family. He had the respect of his parents and those in the community. His actions and attitude fit his job as director of the FBI. His leadership tactics can be compared to that of community oriented policing. Community oriented policing involves satisfying the needs and requests of citizens as well as the department.
An Inspector Calls Has Been Described At
Different Times As A Sermon And A Lesson In Civics . How Far Can The Play Be Viewed Simply As A Vehicle For Priestley S Moral And Political Views? Essay, Research Paper
The Giver Essay Research Paper Billy The
The Giver Essay, Research Paper Billy The Giver By: Lois Lowry In a futurist community, where the story takes place, everyone in the town has all their decisions made for them. They only get privileges when they become a certain age and when it is time for them to get a job they are given one by a decision making committee.
Arrest Analysis Essay Research Paper Arrest
Arrest Analysis Essay, Research Paper Arrest: – An arrest is the act of depriving an individual of his liberty by legal authority. This is to inform you the two procedures of arrest. The procedures of arrest are warrant and non-warrant.
Extended Metaphor FriendshipGarden Essay Research Paper Having
Extended Metaphor: Friendship/Garden Essay, Research Paper Having a relationship is a lot like growing a garden. With careful planning, you choose what you are going to grow and you select a location for the garden. The garden is started when you plant the seeds. Before you start a relationship, you choose who you are going to befriend, and the planting of this relationship is a simple “hello.” Planning and planting the seeds, however, are only the beginning — the plants don’t begin to grow immediately, and neither do relationships.
Aboriginal People Essay Research Paper Many of
Aboriginal People Essay, Research Paper Many of the Aboriginals have developed a way of life that they are satisfied with, but by these big organizations taking control over their communities they have no way of stopping them, without the support of other people in the community. Many aboriginals have lived on these reservations most of their lives, so much of their history has been from living there.
Hot Dog Essay Research Paper The Night
Hot Dog Essay, Research Paper The Night I Became a Convict (Well it sure seemed like it) Introduction: Police Sirens glaring ? lights flashing ? nervous and full of fright
Environmental Racism Essay Research Paper There is
Environmental Racism? Essay, Research Paper There is a political theory of justice that was created by John Rawls that states, that all rational members of society in the original position should make decisions. Rawls called this method as a ?veil of ignorance.?
Enrance Essay Essay Research Paper In building
Enrance Essay Essay, Research Paper In building a society of freedom, trust and unity there must be communication between people of the society. To make the ultimate stable community they must share the same aspects towards the agreements of their shared lifestyles. This shared aspect is called Good Citizenship .
Community Service Essay Research Paper My community
Community Service Essay, Research Paper My community service project My project consisted of helping out my school’s music department during my time off. My original intent was to learn and appreciate what our music department does for our community and school. Instead I learned much more. I learned how dedicated and how much hours they put I to helping out and representing our school in community activities.
Community Service Essay Research Paper Andrea OldhamCommunity
Community Service Essay, Research Paper Andrea Oldham Community Service Up to this date I haven’t participated in much community service, but once I get settled in a new home with my degree in environmental sciences, I plan to volunteer for a non-profit environmental organization, and this will be my job or career.
Down With Community Service Essay Research Paper
Down With Community Service Dear Editor, I have recently read an article in the newspaper that concerned young people doing community service after they graduate high school. It stated that they should do two years of community service. I disagree with the article for many reasons.
The Best Way To Fix Greed Essay
, Research Paper Neil Christie EL 101 2-13-97 The Best Way to Fix Greed Giving money to a charity really should be given from the heart, not just to make people look better. Donating to the poor or the sick should not be just for recognition of oneself. Giving should be done, not to get a name in the newspaper or on a plaque, but to help those who are less fortunate.