Langara College Fall archived

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1 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Program Instructor: Marcy Sangret 1. Purpose of the Course Course Outline This course will introduce students to some basic concepts of planning with consideration for the natural environment. Students will work on various problems to explore issues and techniques that planners use to address a range of environmental concerns and human-environment interactions. The course will focus on environmental issues in urban and rural areas, but will also cover broader environmental planning applications. 2. Learning Outcomes Working diligently through the course, by the end of the term students should have the following: Awareness of important environmental issues that may confront planners working in urban and rural areas in BC; Basic understanding of the physical and biological components of the environment, and an ability to apply this knowledge to landscape planning problems; Familiarity with important environmental planning principles, approaches and tools; Ability to integrate various types and forms of information to respond to specific planning questions and challenges; and Appreciation for the role planners can play in contributing to multidisciplinary teams engaged in environmental planning and mitigation. 3. Text Book and Required Readings The course text book is Environmental Land Use Planning and Management, by John Randolph. Students are expected to purchase the text and review chapters as assigned. A copy of the text book is available on reserve (three hour duration) in the library under the course number. Additional required readings will frequently be assigned. These readings are important as they will provide locally specific information and examples not included in the course text. Readings will be distributed in class and/or posted on the WebCT. Readings comprise part of the course curriculum and may be the subject of quiz or exam questions. Fall

2 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Sept.- Dec., Outline of Course Topics Environmental studies involve a wide range of disciplines and subjects. It is not possible to cover all of them in this course. The course is designed to provide a broad overview of environmental topics and teach fundamental skills to help integrate environmental components into planning at various scales. The first part of the course will introduce students to environmental planning and the primary environmental issues that planners must address. This part of the course will also review general philosophies and approaches that integrate traditional and environmental planning. Topics include: Introduction to environmental planning Overview of environmental issues in the urban and rural context Planning scales and frameworks Regulatory and governance frameworks for environmental planning Role of traditional planning tools in environmental planning Landscape level planning, designing with nature, and Smart Growth As the course progresses, topics will focus on the physical and biological systems that comprise the environment and students will learn to apply this knowledge to land use planning and management. Topics include: Topography, soils and land use suitability Hydrology, streams and groundwater Coastal environments and systems Landscape ecology, vegetation, urban forestry and wetlands Wildlife habitats and biodiversity Environmentally sensitive areas Air, climate, microclimate and climate change Natural hazard mitigation Human caused problems: pollution, land contamination, waste management This course emphasizes practical applications. In this regard, the following topics will also be covered at different stages of the course: Ecosystem and watershed-based planning approaches Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and risk management Uses of geospatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) Low impact development approaches Collaboration and dispute resolution Throughout the course the instructor will provide examples and case studies to illustrate environmental planning in action and will introduce students to emerging ideas, approaches and trends

3 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Sept.- Dec., Environmental Planning Applications Each 3-hour class will begin with a lecture and discussion based on the assigned textbook chapters and readings. Approximately half of the class will then be spent working individually or in groups on specific environmental planning problems and exploring practical applications of environmental planning work. We will use problem-based studies to address specific environmental planning situations. Additionally, students will have opportunities to practice and develop important presentation and writing skills. Participation in all exercises and completion of all assignments will count toward your final grade. Exercises: Several small exercises addressing specific questions or case studies will be undertaken during class time, usually in teams. The exercises are designed to allow you to apply the information introduced through the text and lectures. They will help you become familiar with a variety of environmental planning topics, develop analytical skills, practice critical thinking, and explore alternative problem solving methods. At the end of each exercise you will be required to submit and/or verbally present your findings and results. Your participation in and scores on these exercises will count toward your final grade. Project Assignments: More extensive assignments will require research and information analysis that will carry over multiple classes and will largely be completed outside of regular class time. Assignments will address two or three planning problems of varying scales and types. Students will work in teams to scope out an approach to addressing the problem, analyze options, develop recommendations, and prepare a detailed submission outlining findings and results. Where time allows, teams will make presentations to the rest of the class so that findings can be shared, discussed and compared. 6. Assessment and Grading Quizzes It is important that you read the set text and readings before each class, as these will be the basis for class discussions and exercises. To encourage you to do the readings, we will have a number of quizzes at the beginning of class. Exercises Exercises will be graded on the basis of participation by each individual and on the team s ability identify and analyze key aspects of a particular environmental planning problem. Assessment will take into account thoughtfulness and creativity of responses in light of the limited available time and information. Assignments The assignments will be introduced in class but completed primarily outside of regular class-time over the course of 4-5 weeks. The assignments will be - 3 -

4 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Sept.- Dec., 2007 undertaken in pre-assigned teams. In-class presentations of the results of each team s assignment will be scheduled. The team work will be worth 70% of the assignment mark. Each assignment will also include an individual component for the remaining 30% for the mark. All aspects of the assignment must be completed for the presentation date. Late assignments will be subject to a deduction of 10% of the total points available (e.g., for an assignment worth 30 points, 3 points will automatically be deducted if the assignment is submitted late). Assignments will not be accepted later than one week from the submission date and will be marked as 0. Exam There will be an examination at the end of term. The exam topics will draw upon your complete knowledge of the course material, including the text and any material covered in the lectures, case studies, readings, exercises, assignments, field trip and/or guest speakers. Students who do not take the exam will be graded as incomplete. Grade Distribution Project assignments: 50% Quizzes, exercises and class participation: 20% Exam: 30% Grading The following grading scale will apply to this course: A+ = 93 and over B+ = C+ = D = A = B = C = F = 0 49 A - = B- = C- = Field Trip Field trips provide excellent opportunities for students to see real-life examples of environmental planning. The field trip will be on a Friday, when most students do not have classes. The date will be selected early on so students will have ample time to make arrangements to attend. Outside of this organized field trip, you are encouraged to visit sites associated with the assignments wherever possible. 7. Other Notes Absence of Instructor If I am absent for a session, a notice will be posted outside the Registrars Office ( B Building) and Information Booth (main foyer in A Building). Notices will not be posted at the lecture room

5 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Sept.- Dec., 2007 Contacting Instructor You can contact me most easily by at: An contact list for the class will be coordinated at the first class to facilitate communication and circulate course materials as necessary. You may also leave a message at local My office hours are 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays (Room A221a). WebCT I will set up a basic WebCT where all lecture notes, exercises and assignments will be posted. I will also include a Discussion Forum, Bulletin Board and Chatline for use by students. Your Responsibilities This course is at a degree level. Students should always be working to achieve this standard. This requires attending classes, completing assigned readings, preparing for quizzes, participating in class exercises and discussions, and integrating what you learn into the assignments. Assignments are worth 50% of your final grade. You should approach each assignment diligently if you want to achieve an acceptable mark. Assignments should always reflect a planner s approach to understanding, addressing and resolving problems while also considering the highly interdisciplinary nature of environmental planning. As this is also a professional course, you should be presenting the results of your assignments, whether verbally or in writing, in a professional manner. Please read the section on Attendance in the Langara Calendar. You should attend all classes for the full duration. If you miss a class you are still required to complete the assigned work on time. This course emphasizes team work and problem-based learning. As such, you have significant responsibilities to your class, your teams and the instructor. You should attend all team sessions and participate fully in the work of the team, whether for small exercises or larger assignments. Please read the Code of Conduct in the Langara Calendar. does not accept cheating, copying or any other form of plagiarism. Your assignments should be your own work. Although I strongly encourage discussion with other students, there is a clear and usually obvious distinction between discussing problems with others and attempting to pass off their work as your own. The penalties for cheating are likely to include a mark of 0 and may include a failing grade for the course. I will report students I consider to have cheated to the Dean of Student and Education Support Services. This may result in a case of plagiarism recorded in your College file

6 Applied Urban and Rural Planning Sept.- Dec., 2007 Students Not Enrolled in the Applied Planning Program Program students participating in the Environmental Planning course have mostly completed first year courses such as Introduction to Planning, Planning Techniques, Planning Methods, Urban Planning, Urban and Rural Economics Issues, and History of Urban Growth in Canada. If you have not completed other planning courses you must expect to give your full attention to this course to complete it successfully. For a good introduction to planning concepts, you may wish to read the text Planning for Canadian Communities by Gerald Hodge