Douglas C. Baker

Performance-based planning - Perspectives from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand

This article examines the application of performance-based planning at the local level in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. A review of the literature finds that there have been few evaluations of performance-based planning, despite its being used by many governments. The authors provide a comparative review of the experiences of various jurisdictions in implementing this form of zoning and present observations on its relative strengths and weaknesses. Findings suggest that many of the jurisdictions that adopted performance-based planning subsequently abandoned it because of the heavy administrative burden required, and where performance methods survived, they were typically hybridized with traditional zoning. If performance-based approaches continue to be used, there is a need to better understand the administrative and implementation implications of this type of land use regulation.

Ambitious and restrictive scoping: Case studies from Northern Canada

Abstract This paper reviews the experience of environmental assessment (EA) in Northern Canada, with particular emphasis on the scoping phase. The experience and influence of relatively ambitious and restrictive approaches to scoping are discussed. Two principal case studies are compared in detail. Characteristic process deficiencies and progressive, innovative practices are noted. It is concluded that process development — improvements in practice through the sharing of lessons from one case to the next — tends to occur unevenly. Approaches taken to scoping vary considerably by case. When used creatively, scoping may be highly influential in shaping the overall success of the EA process.

Could urban greening mitigate suburban thermal inequity?: the role of residents’ dispositions and household practices

Over the past decade research on urban thermal inequity has grown, with a focus on denser built environments. In this letter we examine thermal inequity associated with climate change impacts and changes to urban form in a comparatively socio-economically disadvantaged Australian suburb. Local urban densification policies designed to counteract sprawl have reduced block sizes, increased height limits, and diminished urban tree canopy cover (UTC). Little attention has been given to the combined effects of lower UTC and increased heat on disadvantaged residents. Such impacts include rising energy expenditure to maintain thermal comfort (i.e. cooling dwellings). We used a survey of residents (n=230) to determine their perceptions of climate change impacts; household energy costs; household thermal comfort practices; and dispositions towards using green infrastructure to combat heat. Results suggest that while comparatively disadvantaged residents spend more on energy as a proportion of their income, they appear to have reduced capacity to adapt to climate change at the household scale. We found most residents favoured more urban greening and supported tree planting in local parks and streets. Findings have implications for policy responses aimed at achieving urban climate justice.

Integrated Resource and Environmental Management : The Human Dimension

Integrated Resource and Environmental Management (IREM) can be defined as both a management process and a philosophy, that takes into account the many values associated with natural resources within a particular area. This book presents an overview and history of natural resource management, from a global perspective. It discusses the challenges facing IREM by examining issues such as conflict, property rights and the role of science in the management of natural resource. It also addresses the definition and application of IREM from several different contexts, including real-world applications, planning frameworks, and complex systems. It provides a comprehensive aid in natural resource decision-making within the context of the “real world.”

Does residential dissonance affect residential mobility

This research identifies the impacts of residential dissonance on residential mobility behavior in transit-oriented developments (TODs) versus non-TODs in Brisbane, Australia. On the basis of the characteristics of living environments (density, diversity, connectivity, and accessibility) and the travel preferences of 4,545 individuals, respondents in 2009 were classified into one of four categories: TOD consonants, TOD dissonants, non-TOD dissonants, and non-TOD consonants. Binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify residential mobility behavior of groups between 2009 and 2011 while controlling for time-varying covariates. The findings show that both TOD dissonants and TOD consonants move residences at an equal rate. However, TOD dissonants are more likely to move residences to their preferred non-TOD areas. In contrast, non-TOD dissonants not only move residences at a lower rate, but their rate of mobility to their preferred TOD neighborhood is also significantly lower because of costs and other associated factors. The findings suggest that development of policies for discrete land use is required to integrate non-TOD dissonant and TOD dissonant behaviors to support TOD development in Brisbane.

Land Use Conflict Across the Airport Fence: Competing Urban Policy, Planning and Priority in Australia

Land use planning within and surrounding privatised Australian capital city airports is a fragmented process as a result of: current legislative and policy frameworks; competing stakeholder priorities and interests; and inadequate coordination and disjointed decision-making. Three Australian case studies are examined to detail the context of airport and regional land use planning. Stakeholder Land Use Forums within each case study have served to inform the procedural dynamics and relationships between airport and regional land use decision-making. This article identifies significant themes and stakeholder perspectives regarding on-airport development and broader urban land use policy and planning. First, it outlines the concept of the “airport city” and examines the model of airport and regional “interfaces.” Then, it details the policy context that differentiates on-airport land use planning from planning within the surrounding region. The article then analyses the results of the Land Use Forums identifying key themes within the shared and reciprocal interfaces of governance, environment, economic development and infrastructure. The article concludes by detailing the implications of this research to broader urban planning and highlights the core issues contributing to the fragmentation of airport and regional land use planning policy.

Land Use Planning for Privatized Airports

Problem, research strategy, and findings: The privatization of airports in Australia included airport property development rights, regulated only by federal, not local, land use control. Airports then developed commercial and retail centers outside local community plans, resulting in a history of poor coordination of planning and reflecting strong differences between public and private values in the role of the airport. Private owners embraced the concept of an Airport City, envisioning the airport as a portal of global infrastructure, whereas public planning agencies are struggling with infrastructure coordination and the development of real estate outside of the local planning regulations. Stakeholder workshops were conducted in each of the cases where key stakeholders from airports, regulating agencies, state and local governments participated in identifying key issues impacting the planning in and around airports. This research demonstrates that if modes of infrastructure provision change significantly (such as through privatization of public services), that transformation would best be accompanied by comprehensive changes in planning regimes to accommodate metropolitan and airport interdependencies. Privatization has exacerbated the poor coordination of planning in the past, and a focus on coordination between public and private infrastructure planning is needed to overcome differences in values and interests. Takeaway for practice: Governance styles differ considerably between public agencies and private corporations. Planners should understand the drivers and value differences to better coordinate infrastructure delivery and effective planning. Research support: The Airport Metropolis Research Project under the Australian Research Councils Linkage Projects funding scheme (LP0775225).

A Conceptual Framework for Environmental history in Canada's North

A librarys worth of books has been written on the history of northern Canada, most of them narratives, and most of which feature the environment, either as a main protagonist, or at least as a bit player. But with a few honorable exceptions, of which Jamie Bastedos highly readable book on the Northwest Territories is a recent example, none have analyzed it., There are substantial bodies of both historical and environmental literature pertaining to Canadas north, but the two fields have yet to be combined into a mature and coherent tradition. The formal environmental history of Canadas north is still very much in the developmental stage. This article proposes and discusses critical factors and themes-a preliminary conceptual framework-to be considered in the development of approaches to environmental history in Canadas north. The proposed conceptual framework consists of five elements: i) analysis of existing prominent approaches to environmental history and how they may be adapted to the northern context; 2) discussion and analysis of defining characteristics and prevailing myths about the Canadian North; 3) discussion and analysis of the Turner and Metropolitan theses as they relate to northern environmental history; 4) overview and analysis of major northern environmental trends and events; 5) introduction of four interrelated themes for northern Canadian environmental history. The proposed framework is more selective than comprehensive. Our intent is to review some of the major recurring concepts relating to the Canadian North, and venture some ideas for discussion by environmental historians.

Balancing infrastructure for the airport metropolis

Ongoing financial, environmental and political adjustments, have shifted the role of large international airports. Many airports are expanding from a narrow concentration on operating as transportation centres to becoming economic hubs. By working together, airports and industry sectors can contribute to and facilitate not only economic prosperity, but create social advantage for local and regional areas in new ways. This transformation of the function and orientation of airports has been termed the aerotropolis or airport metropolis, where the airport is recognised as an economic centre with land uses that link local and global markets. This paper contends that the conversion of an airport into a sustainable airport metropolis requires more than just industry clustering and the existence of hard physical infrastructure. Attention must also be directed to the social infrastructure within proximate areas and the maximisation of connectivity flows within and between infrastructure elements. It concludes that the establishment of an interactive and interdependent infrastructure trilogy provides the necessary balance to the airport metropolis to ensure sustainable development. This paper provides the start of an operating framework to integrate and harness the infrastructure trilogy to enable the achievement of optimal and sustainable social and economic advantage from airport cities.

Establishing and maintaining social connectivity: An understanding of the lived experiences of older adults residing in regional and rural communities.

OBJECTIVE To better understand how to plan for an ageing demographic that resides in ever-changing community typologies. DESIGN Semi-structured in-depth interviews. SETTING Community settings in rural and regional towns in Queensland. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two people aged over 65 years living in regional and rural Australia. INTERVENTIONS Qualitative study of social connectedness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Thematic qualitative analysis. RESULTS Formal and informal social contact, through family, friends and social groups, was found to be important to the everyday lives of the participants. CONCLUSIONS Social connections for older adults are important in maintaining independence and community engagement.