Fundamentals of Planning Practice URP 505 | WINTER 2010 A. ALFRED TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING - THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE OVERVIEW OBJECTIVESS
Maria Arquero, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning marquero@umich.edu Larissa Larsen, Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning larissal@umich.edu Megan Masson-Minock, AICP, Practitioner Julie Steiff, Writing Instructor megan@enp-associates.com steiff@umich.edu Graduate student instructors Nick Rajkovich, rajkovic@umich.edu Paul Coseo, pcoseo@umich.edu
Tuesday, 1:30-3:00, Room 2104 Section A: Thursday, 1:30-3:00, Room 2108
Section B: Friday, 1:30-3:00, Room 2108
The main purpose of this class is to introduce students to the planning process while developing a plan for a real-life client. During the semester, teams of students develop plans in response to requests for proposals from Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development and Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (Section A), and organizations in the city of Flint and the Planning Department of Northville Township (Section B). The assignments build towards the completion of the final plan, and focus on the problem identification, collection and analysis of data, the development of the recommendations and the communication of information by following a community planning process. In the first half of the semester, class time is devoted to lecture and workshops on the reconnaissance and collection of information as the initial steps in the planning process. The second half of the semester continues with lectures and workshops on the analysis and synthesis of this information and the development and communication of recommendations. In-class time will be available for teams to work on their projects. In UP 505, students will: 1. Identify and scope planning problems and issues; 2. Determine the information requirements to address the issues; 3. Collect, analyze and synthesize planning information; and 4. Concisely and effectively communicate findings and recommendations as the culmination of the planning process. The course introduces methods to reconcile conflicting attitudes, goals, and community values and discuss ethical issues as they emerge. By the end of the semester, students should have developed a general working knowledge of the community planning process, with specific skills in: - Problem identification and stakeholder analysis - Strategies for qualitative decision-making - Field methods of collecting information Interviewing - Effective group dynamics Proposal writing - Development of feasible recommendations Professional presentations 1