Planning the rural urban fringe of Santa Eufemia, Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

This article seeks to show how to design and evaluate the territorial strategic vision of the Rural-Urban Fringe (RUF) in Santa Eufemia, Córdoba, Argentina. The methodology is based on a multi-phase multi-criteria procedure for the municipal government and the actors involved. In phase 1, local problems (opportunities) and aspirations were identified through in-depth interviews. In phase 2, a menu of alternatives was designed and assessed for two strategic decisions that emerged within the interviews, namely, rainwater drainage and local food provision. In phase 3, the actors’ preferences were revealed, and the alternatives were evaluated using the Promethee algorithm. The chosen alternatives were included in the RUF vision and complemented three structural decisions (location of an industrial park, future urban settlements, and waste management). Compared with the prognosis, the alternatives chosen, have a better performance, although some limitations are recognized. One of the alternatives reduces the water runoff that could potentially affect the locality by 50%. Another alternative increases local food production by 27%, generating an economic surplus (12 jobs) and significantly minimizing the risks of zoonotic diseases and agrochemical contamination. However, the alternatives require more investment and an increased institutional political effort than in the prognosis. Finally, the actors appreciated the alternatives designed with the three sustainability dimensions (comparison criteria) and agreed to move forward on a compromise decision about the RUF vision.