Municipal Master Plan Research Articles

Social control in basic sanitation at Guarulhos (SP): the Municipal Council of Urban Policies

Abstract Water supply and sanitation sector in Brazil has a centralized background. The Federal Law no.11.445, in 2007, brings the possibility of participation and social control on sector; and mechanisms to decentralized decision-making and to include several sectors on water supply and sanitation sector for integrative governance. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate incorporation of water supply and sanitation on Municipal Council of Urban Policy in Guarulhos, SP, between 2015 and 2017; and to evaluate social participation according to environmental justice and water governance. This research focuses on Council´s meetings. The studied Council did not deal with basic sanitation actions, even at a time of water supply crises, and was mainly based on issues related to the revision of the Municipal Master Plan. The imposition of social control of water supply and sanitation did not contribute to the social construction of the process.

Inconsistências entre as Estimativas de Emissões de Gases de Efeito Estufa dos Transportes e o Plano Municipal de Mobilidade Urbana de Manaus

O Plano de Mobilidade Urbana (PlanMob) como instrumento de efetivação da Política Nacional de Mobilidade Urbana foi promulgado na Lei Federal n° 12.587 de 2012. Esse marco regulatório instituí aos municípios com mais de 20 mil habitantes a obrigação da elaboração e apresentação do PlanMob até abril/2018, como condição para aptidão de investimentos de recursos federais ao município. De acordo com a lei, o PlanMob deverá estar integrado ao Plano Diretor Municipal e conter objetivos para alavancar a mobilidade não-motorizada e os modos coletivos de transporte. Em Manaus, o PlanMob foi publicado por meio da Lei municipal 2074 de 2015, o qual assinala dois cenários de intervenção, porém apresenta inconsistências nas proposições, no que tange à redução das emissões, em função de tratar em conjunto gases de efeito estufa e local, cujas tendências comportamentais são antagônicas. Tais proposições, além de não separar gases e poluentes, demonstra o melhor cenário de redução das emissões para o transporte individual, entretanto, não elenca estratégias para a redução de congestionamentos nas vias. Além disso, no último ano horizonte (2035) a redução das emissões apontada é da ordem de 3%, mantendo acirrada a competição com o modal coletivo. Para elaborar comparativo foram estimadas as emissões do sistema de transportes de Manaus tomando como referência a abordagem bottom-up (IPCC, 2006) para os anos de 2010 a 2016. Os resultados apontam que as estimativas apresentam viés no comportamento das séries em comparação às previsões contidas no PlanMob para os mesmos anos e para as projeções do ano-horizonte de 2035. Enquanto as estimativas apresentam crescimento continuado nas emissões de CO2, o PlanMob projeta sua redução, inclusive no cenário de referência, quando nenhuma intervenção deve ocorrer nos eixos viários e no sistema de transportes públicos.

E-City Planning: Geospatial Data Technologies

The use of new technologies such as ICT (information and communication technologies) is already a reality in several domains of the scientific development. In this context, this paper aims to present an example of the use of ICT in the spatial planning domain at the local level. It is focused on the e-City Planning, based on the example of the municipal master plan, which is the most iconic figure of the planning system framework in Portugal. The conclusions show that the uses of e-platforms and e-City Planning instruments have several advantages, considering the geospatial data technologies. Among these advantages, there is the sharing of knowledge in between local authorities and the citizens in general, who have direct access to the spatial planning contents information, at the distance of a click. With e-City Planning tools and platforms, it is possible to update the planning strategies automatically and therefore, according to the real territory needs, opportunities, and features.

Avaliação ambiental estratégica como instrumento para a gestão integrada dos recursos hídricos: estudo de caso do plano de Bacia do São José dos doura-dos e do plano diretor municipal de Ilha Solteira, SP

O planejamento dos recursos hídricos se dá sustentavelmente por meio da articulação entre os Planos de Bacia hidrográfica e outras Políticas, Planos e Programas que se relacionem com os recursos hídricos, tais como os Planos Diretores Municipais. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as contribuições da Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) para a elaboração de Planos de Bacias Hidrográficas em sua relação com Planos Diretores municipais, tendo como objeto de estudo a Bacia de São José dos Dourados e o Plano Diretor Municipal de Ilha Solteira, no estado de São Paulo. A metodologia consistiu na análise documental do Plano de Bacia da Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos (UGRHI) 18 e do Plano Diretor Municipal em questão, com vistas a identificar as sinergias e conflitos entre ambos na gestão dos recursos hídricos e verificar a viabilidade da integração destas por intermédio da AAE. A partir desta análise, identificaram-se as convergências e incompatibilidades entre ambos os Planos e, com tais resultados, levantaram-se as possibilidades de a AAE auxiliar na elaboração de objetivos, diagnósticos e prognósticos comuns entre ambos os Planos, inferindo-se assertivamente neste sentido, visto que um dos objetivos da AAE é o relacionamento entre instrumentos de planejamento ambiental. No momento de se identificar as melhores alternativas para se alcançar uma melhoria na gestão hídrica, o diagnóstico que consta no Plano de Bacias asseguraria que as tomadas de decisão nos Planos Diretores considerassem a contribuição do município para políticas públicas de uso e ocupação do solo que considerassem os impactos sobre os recursos hídricos. Pode-se concluir, neste sentido, que a AAE possibilita uma convergência entre os objetivos, diagnóstico e metas entre Planos de Bacias e Planos Diretores Municipais.

Participação popular e revisão do plano diretor: garantia de adequada atuação do gestor municipal

A revisão decenal do plano diretor municipal decorre da previsão legal do Estatuto da Cidade. Esse procedimento implica intervenção mínima do gestor municipal, que inaugura o processo de revisão e conduz sua tramitação, disponibilizando à coletividade, para avaliação e votação, as propostas de mudanças a serem implementadas. A discricionariedade administrativa é limitada à condução do processo e não ao mérito da revisão. A revisão em si será o resultado das decisões decorrentes das audiências públicas e precipuamente, da participação popular. Para tanto, é imperioso disponibilizar à sociedade, de forma clara e completa, todos os instrumentos de comunicação necessários para a apreciação dos dados técnicos que justificariam a alteração do plano diretor e o cotejo do que se pretende alterar com as normas já existentes. Qualquer condução diversa importa em ato ímprobo, passível de condenação, uma vez que na relação urbanística o cidadão é o ator principal da revisão e o principal destinatário da norma.

Relative Abundance of the Azorean Buzzard Buteo Buteo Rothschildi and its Responses to Land Use

The relative abundance of the Azorean Buzzard Buteo buteo rothschildi, both temporally and spatially, was assessed to determine its land use preferences and to support its conservation. The main aims were to compare its relative abundance between years, islands and localities and to relate these to land use in the context of habitat changes. Randomly selected plots were surveyed using two sampling methods: strip transect and point counts, to record any buzzards seen during the breeding season and to assess land use characteristics. The buzzards were most numerous on the largest island (Sao Miguel), and least numerous on the smallest one (Graciosa), as expected. However, we did not find significant differences in abundance among localities in Graciosa or between years in both islands. We only found local variation in abundance on S. Miguel. The overall population stability clearly favours the conservation of this Azorean endemic subspecies. Finally, we found that buzzards avoid industrial areas, urbanisation, natural vegetation and agricultural land, a finding that should be kept in mind by policymakers. These results may be used for landscape planning and management by authorities. There are several regional Management Plans with a spatial dimension but for land use classification the Municipal Master Plans have the discretionary power to classify urban and rural areas. Therefore, this information should be integrated into the decision process of the local classification actions. Future studies should include further habitat variables to assess their relationships with buzzard abundance, but also to extend the analyses to the remaining Azorean Islands in order to understand more deeply how this insular raptor responds to habitat changes. The results of these studies should strengthen law enforcement on land use sustainability and help to promote awareness among managers, landowners, stakeholders and the general public. —Lopes, M., Pereira, D.G., Afonso, A. and Melo, F. (2019). Relative abundance of the Azorean Buzzard Buteo buteo rothschildi and its responses to land use. Ardeola, 66: 343-360.

A study on planning method and spatial structure of stormwater management in large scale urban development projects in Norway

In Norway, Blue Green Structure (BGS), urban green network with the purpose of storm water management and value added living environment is often implemented as part of river opening project in large scale urban development. This paper aims to examine how planning process contributes to special quality of BGS in two urban development projects in Oslo and Stavanger. Through analyzing the planning processes and storm management systems in relation to the spatial structure, following facts can be identified; 1) Basic structure of BGS reflects expected functions and connectivity of the municipal masterplan. 2) Storm management system with gentle and accessible terrain adds more value to the basic structure of BGS. This consistency is due to the parallel design process of storm water management engineering and outdoor area from early period. 3) Local and regional pedestrian network are integrated and has pleasant water landscape feature of storm water management at important connective points. Since it requires significant coordination of functional requirement and spatial arrangement, Landscape plan for whole planning area to the detailed level has contributed for maintaining the consistency.

Assessment of Municipal Masterplans Aimed at Identifying and Fostering Green Infrastructure: A Study Concerning Three Towns of the Metropolitan Area of Cagliari, Italy

Building upon a recent piece of research that maps a regional green infrastructure (RGI) in relation to four components (natural value, conservation value, landscape value, and recreational value), this study aims at identifying planning policies that can foster the enhancement of the RGI by increasing one or more of its components at the sub-regional scale. To this end, the RGI suitability map is overlaid with the planning schemes of the municipal masterplans (MMPs) of three towns belonging to the Metropolitan City of Cagliari (Italy), and multiple linear regressions are performed. The outcomes of the study imply that the eligibility of a land parcel to be part of the RGI depends on several factors related to planning policies entailed by the zoning schemes of the MMPs, such as presence and spreading of conservation and safeguard areas within urban fabrics, improved accessibility of historic and natural landmarks, planned use of nature-based solutions within the regulating codes of MMPs, improvement of habitat quality in the spatial context of rural areas. Main limitations of the proposed methodology concern the fragile theoretical foundations concerning the assessment of the recreational value, and the need for structured integration of nature-based solutions into the proposed methodology.

A quantitative spatial methodology to delimit urban areas – a case study from Portugal

Delimiting urban areas is crucial for planning and managing cities. In Portugal, urban limits are exclusively decided at the municipal level according to the strategic vision of each municipality. Consequently, urban delimitation is a significantly changeable process. This paper presents a methodology to fill this gap aiming at delimiting urban areas based on objective and quantitative spatial data. A hybrid methodology combining morphological with demographic and land cover data is proposed to delimit urban boundaries. The methodology, which was based on using the most disaggregated spatial units – the census tracts, was applied in Guarda, a medium-sized Portuguese city. The obtained urban boundary shows a suitable spatial adjustment considering the consolidated urban area. The identified surrounding settlements were used to define expansion areas by fostering development towards these urban areas. In terms of planning, the method can be helpful in designing/revising municipal master plans and in implementing more sustainable planning policies. The described method could be useful for managing and evaluating the city's needs in a more efficient way.

A Study on Changes of Future Urban Structure from Municipal Master Plan to Location Normalization Plan

A Study on Changes of Future Urban Structure from Municipal Master Plan to Location Normalization Plan

Experiência Didática de Planejamento Urbano e Regional: Dos Conceitos à Apresentação Institucional pelos Alunos

Este relato discorre sobre as atividades desenvolvidas ao longo e depois da conclusão da disciplina Planejamento Urbano e Regional, ministrada para a primeira turma do curso de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de Sorocaba, uma instituição sem fins lucrativos do tipo comunitária. Apresenta as especificidades do alunado, os objetivos da disciplina, a metodologia empregada. Esta, numa primeira fase, procura consolidar a bibliografia básica e complementar, para a apreensão dos conceitos. Na segunda fase, emula a realização de um plano diretor municipal, por meio da pesquisa temática de dados brutos, sua organização e análise crítica. Na terceira fase, vem a proposição de um estudo de caso para implantação de novos equipamentos, justificando-os, segundo necessidade verificada e escolha dos grupos depois de discussão das possibilidades. Na quarta fase, apresentam-se as propostas originais aos colegas de sala, são submetidas à discussão e recolhem-se sugestões de melhoria. No caso desta turma em particular, houve também uma apresentação para o órgão de planejamento (Nuplan) do município de Sorocaba (SP), como trabalho extracurricular à disciplina, mas totalmente pertinente pela exposição de resultados dos levantamentos dos 25 municípios da região de Sorocaba. Assim, os alunos com os melhores trabalhos puderam caminhar dos conceitos iniciais até a apresentação institucional.

Os decretos de Habitação de Interesse Social e a flexibilização de parâmetros de uso e ocupação do solo na cidade de São Paulo no período de 1992 a 2016

A criação de uma legislação para empreendimentos de Habitação de Interesse Social (HIS) em São Paulo surgiu da necessidade de promover uma base legislativa para a política habitacional do município, a partir de 1992. São três os principais decretos do período entre 1992 e 2016: o decreto 31.601/1992, o 44.667/2004 e o 56.759/2016, que aconteceram em paralelo às discussões dos Planos Diretores Municipais, sendo os dois últimos sob a influência do Estatuto das Cidades. As duas primeiras versões mostraram significativos avanços no tocante à morfologia dos agrupamentos habitacionais, apostando na supressão dos conjuntos com grande extensão territorial em favor de habitação nas áreas centrais e na possibilidade de reurbanização dos assentamentos precários. No entanto, a cada atualização, lograram uma maior flexibilização em favor do setor privado, sob o discurso do déficit habitacional e da necessidade de provisão de unidades novas, em detrimento às ações voltadas à reurbanização e à regularização fundiária, o que modificou a intenção inicial do instrumento e os desígnios das políticas habitacionais do município.

Qualities and functions ascribed to urban cemeteries across the capital cities of Scandinavia

Cemeteries are not only burial places that provide a public service. They are also green urban spaces with cultural and natural qualities and could be integrated into the green infrastructure planning system. In this study, we explore the extent to which environmental qualities and functions are ascribed to urban cemeteries in the municipal master plans, green infrastructure plans and websites of the capital cities of Scandinavia. In addition, we conduct a focus-group interview in Oslo with six municipal employees representing green space planning/management, cultural heritage and cemetery administration/management, focusing on a broad perspective of qualities ascribed to urban cemeteries. The document study shows that, across the Scandinavian countries, cemeteries are mainly included in the concept of green infrastructure but they are not ascribed qualities similar to those ascribed to public green spaces; instead, most qualities are related to cultural history. However, Copenhagen municipality has a more inclusive approach, describing the cemeteries as green spaces and inviting people to use them for recreational purposes. The municipality even has a policy document with a strategy on how to combine the primary function of a burial site with new needs for recreational space. In the focus-group interview, cemeteries are described as static places, peaceful and quiet places, green spaces, spaces in which to experience darkness, and places for all (multiple use). There is relatively high agreement among interviewees about the recreational qualities of cemeteries, even though the cemetery administration/management emphasizes several times that its main focus is on accommodating the bereaved and their relatives. In the discussion, we focus on differences between the different Scandinavian countries in the qualities and functions ascribed to cemeteries, and examine potential explanations for why cemeteries are mostly described as green spaces, part of the green infrastructure, but treated as private green spaces in the urban planning context.

The Weak Linkage between Planning and Environmental Licensing in Brazil

A articulação entre planejamento territorial e licenciamento ambiental tem o potencial de beneficiar o licenciamento ao proporcionar agilidade e simplificação de processos, além de ampliar a possibilidade de participação pública. O Brasil adota diferentes instrumentos de planejamento territorial para diferentes recortes territoriais e com diferentes enfoques (ex.: planos de manejo de unidades de conservação; zoneamentos ecológico-econômicos, elaborados principalmente para estados ou regiões; e planos diretores municipais, devendo abranger as áreas urbana e rural dos municípios). Entretanto, muitos dos benefícios da articulação entre estes instrumentos e o licenciamento ambiental ainda não foram alcançados ou nem mesmo são reconhecidos ou valorizados. Buscando contribuir para uma mudança de visão e das práticas neste sentido, o presente trabalho apresenta um panorama sobre os zoneamentos ecológico-econômicos elaborados no Brasil, bem como sobre os planos diretores municipais, e discute se o licenciamento ambiental tem sido abordado nesse contexto. Para o zoneamento ecológico-econômico, foi consultado o sítio eletrônico do Ministério do Meio Ambiente e as informações disponíveis sobre a situação do ZEE no Brasil e, sobre os planos diretores municipais, foram consultados o relatório organizado pelo Observatório das Metrópoles sobre os planos diretores pós-Estatuto da Cidade e o relatório sobre o Perfil dos Municípios Brasileiros, organizado pelo IBGE. Como resultado, observa-se que: (1) dos 58 zoneamentos ecológico-econômicos já concluídos, apenas 21 são normatizados e, dentre estes, 16 mencionam ou atrelam condições para o licenciamento ambiental às suas diretrizes e zonas; (2) em relação aos planos diretores municipais, poucos fazem referência ao licenciamento ambiental ou deixam tal indicação para regulamentação posterior. Conclui-se que, embora o Brasil possua instrumentos de planejamento territorial aptos a trabalhar de forma articulada com o licenciamento ambiental, não há apenas falha no estabelecimento prático desta relação, mas também há lacunas de planejamento territorial, o que dificulta a ampla aplicação destes instrumentos de forma articulada.

Land use planning around protected areas: Case studies in four state parks in the Atlantic forest region of southeastern Brazil

The creation of buffer zones (BZs) around protected areas (PAs) has been proposed as a way to conciliate the effective protection of biodiversity and human occupation in surrounding areas. In this study, we seek to discuss some of the challenges to effective buffer zones, focusing our attention on investigating two instruments used for the planning of these areas: the management plan of protected areas, and the municipal master plan. To achieve this, we evaluated the planning of land use around protected areas, as established in the management plans of four protected areas, located in southeastern Brazil, as well as in the master plans of the municipalities covered by these protected areas. We found that these management plans established recommendations rather than specific rules for the use of resources of the buffer zones. Additionally, we verified no uniformity between the master plans on the topic of municipal zoning in the BZs of the PAs studied: only five of the fourteen master plans surveyed delineated a zone around the protected area and defined guidelines for land use consistent with its protection. The results of this study indicate that the use of the buffer zone as an effective strategy for the management of protected areas requires a link between the PA managers and the local government responsible for land use planning, in order to facilitate the articulation between the management plan of the PA and the municipal master plan. Otherwise, the establishment of the buffer zone risks being only a symbolic action, with no practical effect on biodiversity conservation within the protected area.

Towards Rural Land Use: Challenges for Oversizing Urban Perimeters in Shrinking Towns

This article, based on the literature review, aims to study the challenges of the urban dispersion and oversizing of urban perimeters, in the cases where the towns are shrinking or spreading to the rural land-use. It is focused on the case of Portugal where during the last decades there was an escaping to the big cities alongside to the sea (Atlantic and Mediterranean) shore. In the Interior part of the country, which means near to the border with Spain, several towns are shrinking, despite their huge urban perimeters, proposed by the municipal master plans, since the middle of the nineties. Consequently, these urban perimeters are nowadays oversizing, with empty buildings and non-urbanized areas. At the same time, the social patterns of occupation of this territory have changed significantly, moving from a society with signs of rurality to an urban realm, understood not only in territorial terms but also regarding the current lifestyle. This deep changing has occurred not only in urbanistic terms but also in the economic, cultural and social organizations of the country, under a movement that corresponds to a decline of the small urban settlements in rural areas, far away from the cosmopolitan strip of land nearby the sea, in between the capital city, Lisbon and the second one Oporto. These transformations were not driven by any significant public policy for land-use actions. On the contrary, the production of urban areas, supporting the new model of economic and social development was largely left to the initiative of economic and social private agents and land owners. These agents were the leading responsible for the new urban developments and housing. In this sense, this research aims to present some strategies for the short time period regarding the devolution of urban areas to rural land use. In this sense, the next steps of spatial planning policies, under the role of local authorities (the 308 municipalities including Madeira and Azores islands, plus the continental part of the country), which are their main promoters, will be motivated by the need of advocating the swap of many urban areas towards the rural land use, shrinking many existent urban perimeters in depressed territories. How will the non-urbanized spaces, included in the urban perimeters, twenty years ago, by the pivotal instrument of spatial planning in Portugal, the Municipal Master Plans turn back to the rural land-use, losing their market value? This is the base of the challenges ahead, analysed in this article.

Assessing energy performances: A step toward energy efficiency at the municipal level

At present, energy efficiency represents one of the foremost challenges to achieve the transition toward a low-carbon society. Reducing energy use spans a broad range of technical issues and spatial scales: from building to districts, from cities to rural areas, and from energy power plants to electricity grids. In this frame, the challenge of enhancing energy efficiency can be understood as an extremely relevant topic for planning at the municipal level. Nevertheless, recent studies provide evidence that significant gaps exist in the enhancement of energy efficiency within municipal boundaries. The present research recognises that a comprehensive assessment of municipal energy performances is an essential starting point to facilitate local planning in enhancing energy efficiency. However, how can this challenge be translated into practice and applied to the implementation of local planning? As new models result from the transformation of existing ones, the development of a methodology associated with a case study in Portugal was deemed the most appropriate approach to contribute to knowledge in these fields. The primary objective of this study is to move toward more integrated process of planning for energy efficiency, supporting the definition of priorities and strategies to address energy saving improvements at municipal level. The assessment process involves a statistical analysis that using Geographical Information System, is combined and translated into spatial models to determine needs and set priorities within a Municipal Master Plan review. Based on this top-down approach, it becomes clear that energy efficiency is a cross-cutting issue interrelated with a blend of various disciplines: geography, spatial planning, urbanism, architecture, and civil engineering. The results enable us to understand why municipalities should be called upon to enhance energy efficiency by first looking at a comprehensive energy performance assessment. Embracing the whole municipal territory rather than only urban areas, is key to articulate energy efficiency and geographical, social, environmental and economic factors that are at the core of local planning.

Assessment of regulation of legal relations of territorial planning: A case study in Lithuania

Land management is inevitably linked to the regulation of activities of its proprietor or operator stipulated by legislation and documents of territorial planning. In Lithuania, as in many European countries, territorial planning is a key measure for the formation of landscape and the alteration of its elements. With the help of territorial planning documents, governing authorities has the opportunity to orderly regulate the layout of long-term stable elements of landscape and the sustainable territorial development. However, in comparison with other European Union (hereinafter – EU) countries, territorial planning system valid in Lithuania until January 1, 2014 is still “young” and having specific features with former countries of the Soviet bloc legal regulation. The system did not provided a consistent and sustainable territorial development mechanism: there was the lack of measures allowing to manage the development processes of residential areas and implementation of territorial planning documents (especially the municipal master plans) solutions for the creation of a harmonious functional spatial system. The aim of the present paper is to assess the regulation of legal relations of territorial planning in Lithuania and the EU member states. The assessment summarizes processes of the formation of a landscape during the territorial planning, introduces new opportunities to more accurately predict the results of the current process of landscape planning, and highlights legal and sustainable elements of territorial planning system optimization. As can be seen from the assessment carried out, one of the most important territorial planning objectives was and still remains the balance of mutual relations (hierarchy of plans) of territorial planning documents in shaping the cultural landscape to ensure the rational distribution of the land fund, combining a variety of activities as well as often different land users’ and public interests. Therefore, the implementation of the territorial planning reform of Lithuania capacitates for the transition to an integrated territorial planning, ensuring sustainable development.

A Study on Planned and Current Situation of “Networked Compact City” in Municipal Master Plans in Japan

A Study on Planned and Current Situation of “Networked Compact City” in Municipal Master Plans in Japan

Conservation Measures and Loss of Ecosystem Services: A Study Concerning the Sardinian Natura 2000 Network

The seeming dichotomy between the protection of biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services (ESs) represents an outstanding field of research that requires a structured and detailed analysis. The paper analyzes and discusses the role of ESs within spatial planning and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) procedures through the content analysis methodology and a logical framework (LF) implemented into the SEA of municipal masterplans (MMPs). We discuss the role of ESs as factors that improve the effectiveness of SEA-based processes related to management plans (MPs) of sites that belong to the Sardinian Natura 2000 Network with reference to their positive impacts on environmental quality. The empirical outcomes put in evidence the inconsistencies between MMPs and MPs in terms of sustainability-oriented objectives and potential losses of the ESs productive output due to measures adopted by the MPs in order to protect habitats and species. The scant attention paid to ESs in the operational context of MMPs, MPs and SEA reports, particularly as regards their regulative framework, entails that the issue of the protection of ESs has to be carefully taken into account within the process of the definition and establishment of MPs through an SEA report that integrates the MPs and MMPs LFs.