Impact of Community Engagement on Urban Planning: Case Study

Impact of Community Engagement on Urban Planning Case interpretCase Study Johor Bahru (Iskandar, Malaysia)Essay TopicHow do the social, environmental, economic and political processes observed within your chosen case-study city interplay with each other, producing distinct spatial sequels and liberal rise to specific supply policy issues and receipts?INTRODUCTIONJohor Bahru (Iskandar Malaysia), is the main development corridor in the res publica of Johor, Malaysia which has been established on 30 July 2006 and administered by Iskandar Regional information Authority (IRDA). The location of Iskandar Malaysia is perfect as south-central Johor has always been a strategic and weighty area in the history and development of Malaysia and its surroundings. Today, this well modify economy, built around Johors capital, Johor Bahru, and its surrounding areas, has made South Johor Malaysias the second most important metropolitan.Johor Bahru is well connected with its outlaying urban ce ntres and residential townships, in particular Pasir Gudang, Tebrau, Tampoi, Skudai and Kempas, as it is surrounded by Jalan Lingkaran Tengah (Inner-Ring Road). It is also a major employment and financial service centre serving its hinterland.This analyze will initiatory look into the definition of community engagement in urban planning and subsequently it will examines the effectiveness of community engagement regarding the approaches in urban planning and development process, specially looking at the development of Johor Bahru (Iskandar Malaysia) Transformation Programs, as the case study.Southern Johor has been able to leverage on its proximity to an international hub and the queen-sized markets of Singapore and Indonesia, as well as China and India. It has developed successful clusters around electronics, logistics, food and agriculture, tourism, as well as oil and petrochemicals industries. Moreover, Johor has a adequate supply of natural resources and human capital, which will continue to underscore its future prospects.THE INTERACTIONThe purpose of this integrated synthesis essay is to demonstrate an understanding of the interplay in the midst of the quad types of processes you studied in the Pillars of Planning module within the same city. Which processes seem to do been dominant in shaping the development trajectory of the city over the past decades and at present? What linkages, tensions and contradictions exist between the four different types of dynamics?The state of Johor is our countrys second most important conurbation thanks to its strategic location that is close to the thriving markets of Singapore and Indonesia, and in the centre of some of the worlds busiest routes. On top of that, it is generous with natural and human resources.In recent years, however, Johor has been facing increasing competition for capital, human resources and ideas, proliferated by globalisation and advancement of technology. In 2005, the Federal Government and the Johor State Government decided to adopt a more digested and developmental approach to the South Johor region. The aim was to leverage on the regions strengths, including competitively priced land, strategic geographic location, industrial base and connectivity as well as its cost structure, while ensuring that Johoreans continue to enjoy its social cohesion.Based on the fundamental objectives set up for the region, Iskandar Malaysia will-Be international the centre of transportation, information, quality living, culture, shopping and tourism-Have sustainability environmental objectives are, and will be, given equal favor to economic and social objectives-Focus on promoting development within the identified fruit boundary, development corridors and the active urban footprint-Have economic growth driven by identified blusher economic clusters concentrated at identified growth nodes.Based on these principles, the Comprehensive cultivation Plan for South Johor Economic Reg ion 2006-2025 (CDP) will have the following features-Ensure the rights of the Federal and State Governments under the Federal Constitution are preserved, specifically Johors innate rights on land matters.-Emphasise on sustainable development, conservation of the environment and equitable distribution of the benefits of growth among the local population.-The creation of a one-stop fast continue mechanism agency where Federal and State Government agencies will work seamlessly to provide a facilitative environment for investors and consumers.-The creation of an investor-friendly environment by facilitation of matters cerebrate to immigration, education, tax and land as well as close liaison with local authorities.The masterplan will also address some of the key risks that have hampered regional development in the past, including uncoordinated and duplicative development, excessive speculation of value of private assets and potential marginalisation of the local population.ISKANDAR M ALAYSIA COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANSecondly, the synthesis essay should briefly consider how this interplay between these processes produces distinct spatial outcomes or policy issues, which are dealt by particular policy responses (planning or otherwise). A spatial outcome can be a specific spatial issue or problem housing shortage, transport congestion, socio-spatial segregation, environmental degradation, urban violence etc Examples of policy responses should focus on spatial planning, urban and territorial development policies. How do planning interventions and policies try to address those spatial problems, or mediate between the tensions which arise from the four types of dynamics?Try to stand back from your previous work, and look at the bigger picture think of the four pillars as a whole and what they have taught you about your case-study city. A good way to get started about the essay is to imagine you have a guest who comes to visit your city and who knows a sting abou t planning and spatial development, but knows absolutely nothing about the city in question. How would you summarize to him/her in 5 minutes what are the key factors, processes and actors which have shaped the urban development of that city? What are the most important problems and issues which planners have to deal with at present? How has government responded to that?In the past, Johor has often times played second fiddle to its more prominent neighbour, Singapore but this is expected to change with Iskandar Malaysia and the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). Johor Bahru City oculus (JBCC) to play an important role and has been identified as one of the five catalyst development areas in the Regional Land Use Framework Plan. under the Iskandar Malaysia development plans, the administrative centre for Johor state has been moved to Kota Iskandar from Johor Bahru, allowing the capital city to focus on its role as a transportation hub and the major access into Johor from Singapor e.CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, even though the community engagement has an overwhelming response in the western countries such as the United Kingdom, but the response in Malaysia, especially in Johor Bahru is very low. Simultaneously, the government should create more awareness to the local community to raise their interest to participate in urban planning and development processes. Apart from that, the government also needs to explore a much easier approach facilitate the local community to indirectly learn in the planning process in Malaysia. The community engagement approach should be seen in a wider context, and must not only involve the existing approach that has been set in the planning guidelines, but the government also needs to explore new approaches to spread the awareness among the local community.ReferencesAykroyd, V.R. 2012. Exploring Social Media (Facebook and Twitter) as a Public Participation Tool for Design and Planning. Thesis (MLA) The University of Guelph.Baker, S. 2006. Sustainable Development. Oxon RoutledgeBryer, T.A. 2012. Identifying a Model for Effective Public Participation Using Social Media in Urban Infrastructure Projects. online. Available from http//drbryer.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/identifying-a-model-for-effective-public-participation-using-social-media_remarks-for-amsterdam1.pdf Accessed 31 March 2014.Chief Minister of Johor. 2013. Chief Minister of Johor Facebook Page Transformasi Bandaraya Johor Bahru. online. Available from https//www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151556097393173.1073741833.48750023172type=3 Accessed 31 March 2014.Government of Malaysia. 2007. Town and Country Planning Act 2007 (Act 1312). Kuala Lumpur JPBD (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning).Hashim, H. Abdullah, R. G. 2009. Penglibatan Komuniti Dalam Program Pembangunan Luar Bandar Kajian Kes di Pusat Pertumbuhan Desa Gedong, Sarawak. Akademika, 77(12), pp.41-67.Ho, C.S., et al. 2013. Year 2012/2013 Annual Report the Project for Developmen t of Low Carbon Society Scenarios for Asian Regions. Johor Bahru UTM Low Carbon Asia Re seem Center.IRDA (Iskandar Regional Development Authority). 2014. Iskandar Malaysia. Johor Bahru IRDA.JPBD (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia). 2010. discipline Physical Plan-2. Kuala Lumpur JPBD.Malaysia Law. 2002. Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172). Kuala Lumpur International Law Book Services.Mansbridge, J. 1999. On the idea that participation makes better citizens. In Elkin, S. L. Soltan, K. E., eds. Citizen Competence and participatory Institutions. Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania State University Press, pp. 291-325.Masram, H. 1996. Pencapaian fungsi rancangan tempatan Kes kajian Rancangan Tempatan Tampoi, Kempas dan Larkin. Skudai UTM.Mohamad, J. 2004. Meningkatkan keberkesanan penyertaan awam dalam rancangan tempatan. Kawasan kajian Batu Pahat, Johor. Skudai UTM.Omar, D. Oliver Ling H.L. 2009. Malaysian Development Planning System Kuala Lumpu r Structure Plan and Public Participation. Asian Social Science, 5(3), pp.30-36.Othman, M. S. 2000. Penyediaan Garis Panduan Perlaksanaan Kerajaan Elektronik (E-Goverment) dari Perpektif Meningkatkan Penglibatan Orang Awam (Public Participation) di dalam Proses Rancangan Tempatan. Kawasan Kajian Daerah Sentral, Johor Bahru. Skudai UTM.Rydin, Y. 2011. The settle of Planning Creating sustainable towns and cities. Bristol The Policy Press.Shirky, C. 2011. The Political Power of Social Media Technology, The Public Sphere, And Political Change. . online. Available from http//www.cc.gatech.edu/beki/cs4001/Shirky.pdf Accessed 31 March 2014.Strange, T. Bayley, A. 2008. Sustainable Development Linking economy, society, environment. France OECD Publishing.Tweet. Results for JBtransformation. online. Available from https//twitter.com/search?q=JBtransformationsrc=typdmode=photos Accessed 31 March 2014.WCED (UN World Commission on Environment and Development). 1987. Our Common Future Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Switzerland WCED.