CRP 369K
Principles of Physical Planning

Instructor: Frederick Steiner
Time and Location: TTh 9:30-10:00 GOL 3.120
Office: Goldsmith Hall 2.308
Phone: 471-1922
E-mail: fsteiner@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Th 4-5 pm and by appointment

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or 6 semester hours upper division coursework and consent of instructor.

Description: An introduction to physical and social planning, urban design, and planning history with particular emphasis upon the interface between the planning and architectural professions.

Required Readings:

Mark Francis. 2001. "A Case Study Methodology for Landscape Architecture," Landscape Journal 20(1):15-29.

Frederick Steiner. 2000. The Living Landscape: An Ecological Approach to Landscape Planning. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Assigned articles.

Suggested Readings:

Timothy Beatley and Kristy Manning. 1997. Ecology of Place: Planning for Environment, Economy, and Community. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Frank S. So and Judith Getzels, eds. 1988. The Practice of Local Government Planning (Second Edition). Washington, D.C.: International City Management Association.

Charles J. Hoch, Linda C. Dalton, and Frank S. So, eds. 2000. The Practice of Local Government and Planning (Third Edition). Washington, D.C.: International City Management Association.

Frederick Steiner. 2002. Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.

Vitruvius. On Architecture. (I recommend the 1931 translation by Frank Granger published by the Harvard University Press.)

Several additional papers.

Educational Objective: The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the planning process, especially as it relates to physical environments.

Course Requirements: Grades will be based on two papers (20% for the first paper, and 30% for the second paper), a mid-term examination (15%), a final examination (20%), assignments (10%), and class participation (5%). For each paper, a board and a short presentation will account for 5% of the grade. Class attendance is required.

Course Schedule and Assignments

January 15. Course introduction.

January 17. What is planning, what is physical planning, what is ecological planning.
Readings: Chapter 1, The Living Landscape.
Chapter 2, The Ecology of Place.

January 22. Planning law.
Reading: Chapter 2, The Living Landscape.

January 24. Climate.
Reading: Chapter 3, The Living Landscape.
Assignment: Identify the watershed for first paper, provide a map and a short description.

January 29. Geology and Physiography.
Reading: Chapter 3, The Living Landscape.

January 31. Watersheds and Hydrologic Systems.
Guest Lecturer: Professor Kent Butler

February 5. Soils.
Reading: Chapter 3, The Living Landscape.

February 7. Vegetation and Wildlife.
Reading: Chapter 3, The Living Landscape.
Assignment: Outline and list of references for first paper due. Be sure to use proper citation system.

February 12. Analysis of biophysical information.
Reading: Chapter 3, The Living Landscape.

February 14. Geographic Information Systems.
Guest lecturer: Professor Barbara Parmenter
Reading: To be assigned.

February19. The Human Community: What is Community?
Readings: Chapter 4, The Living Landscape.
Chapter 6, The Ecology of Place.
"Community" Chapter, Human Ecology.

February 21. What is landscape?
Reading: "Landscape" Chapter, Human Ecology.

February 26. What is region?
Reading: "The Ecological Region" Chapter, Human Ecology.
First paper due.

February 25. Suitability analysis.
Reading: Chapter 5, The Living Landscape.

March 5. Suitability analysis.
Reading: Chapter 5, The Living Landscape.

March 7. Mid-term examination.

March 19. The Great Streets of Austin.
Guest lecturer: Professor Sinclair Black

March 21. Planning Options and Choices.
Readings: Chapter 6, The Living Landscape.
Mark Francis, Landscape Journal article.

March 26. Landscape Plans.
Reading: Chapter 7, The Living Landscape.

March 28. Community involvement.
Reading: Chapter 8, The Living Landscape.
Assignment: Case study topic for second paper identified.
Brief description.

April 2. Planning elements: transportation.
Reading: Sandra Rosenbloom, "Transportation Planning" in The Practice of Local Government Planning.

April 4. Planning elements: housing.
Reading: Constance Lieder, "Housing for Planning" in The Practice of Local Government Planning.

April 9. Planning elements: urban design.
Reading: Chapter 9, The Living Landscape.

April 11. Design in Planning.
Reading: Chapter 9, The Living Landscape.

April 16. Plan and Design Implementation.
Reading: Chapter 10, The Living Landscape.

April 18. Plan and Design Implementation.
Reading: Chapter 10, The Living Landscape.

Readings: Chapter 11, The Living Landscape.
Frank S. So, "Planning Agency Administration" in The Practice of Local Government Planning.

April 25. Planning in Practice.
Guest speaker. Austan S. Librach, Director, Environmental and Conservation Services Department, City of Austin

April 30. Administration of Planning Programs.

May 2. Conclusion.
Reading: Chapter 12, The Living Landscape.
Second paper due.