06 November 2014
06.11.2014 - World Town Planning Day on 8 November is an important day for every citizen of the world who desires a more functional city, a more urban neighborhood, an environment that is protected and managed with greater care, and higher civic responsibility. Fulfilling and respecting these desires will help us avoid past practices that influenced the haphazard development of our cities, often poorly thought out and with irreparable consequences.
For the first time, World Town Planning Day was celebrated in 1949, as a need for comprehensive commitment in establishing policies that would impact the improvement of the quality of life in general. This event was initiated by Carlos Maria della Paolera, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, with the aim of advancing public and professional interest in the field of planning. This day reminds us that planners must be trained professionals who, through their commitment in government institutions, consulting firms, private companies, and educational institutions, must influence the improvement of the quality of our settlements. They should help in drafting plans for new development areas and influence the correction of old areas. With their irreplaceable commitment, planners must also assist in drafting policies
Government actions from which everyone should benefit. Currently, this important day for the spatial planning sector is celebrated in many cities all around the world. Regarding the organization, the initiators and organizers are mainly professional institutions, whose main goal is to promote comprehensive planning by bringing together professional planners and the general public. This is the second year that Kosovo, specifically the Institute for Spatial Planning, part of relevant central institutions, is marking this important day of urban planning. This year, unlike last year, when the central event was a photography competition on the theme 'My city, my heritage,' we have decided to address, why not, and also open a debate regarding the theme of urban chaos in our cities.
The definition of urban chaos from English (dictionary.com) is a completely confusing or irregular urban situation; total lack of urban organization.
Currently, among the troubles and challenges that our society is facing, undoubtedly included are the problems of urban development and construction. In this regard, apart from the collective dissatisfaction with the situation, the general opinion is that not enough has been done and not in the proper way. In every conversation or debate about the development of our cities, the expression 'urban chaos' and the attempt to find those responsible are almost inevitable. In most cases, the blame falls on the respective municipal authorities; blame is often carried by the rules and laws in force; not infrequently, professionals and builders are identified as responsible for the situation, without excluding the influence of politics as one of the main culprits. In such a situation, the willingness to change behavior towards this problem is important and very necessary, having a great impact on our lives and their overall quality.
How is urban chaos defined?; What are the situations of urban chaos?; Who are the causes of urban chaos?; Is urban chaos the same for everyone?; These are some of the questions, the answers to which we should seek in the following situations, for which we all share responsibility:
Construction without permits and without a plan - This is one of the frequent situations in our cities, where citizens, for various interests, are encouraged in the style of 'start it and the planning process will begin and the permit will be obtained later.' According to this situation, construction occurs in an area without a plan, where there may not be a plan for a long time, or there may be no plan at all. The consequences are very noticeable and the condition in the respective area is under constant pressure, starting from: continuous confrontation of owners with the law; inadequate infrastructure and the risk that the same situation continues endlessly; disturbances and urban noise contested by everyone, even by the main protagonists themselves; the damaged landscape; the bad image and its serious impact on the overall image of the city.
Construction without a permit with a preliminary plan - Construction begins without the permit in an area with a plan, in which citizens are encouraged in the same manner to start, and the permit is obtained later. This is a process in which the respective owner starts without fulfilling financial obligations to the municipality. In such a situation, the municipality is unable to develop the necessary infrastructure, and as a consequence, in the respective area, the order of developments is disorganized and tends to extend the time frame for final regulation. In these cases, undertaking individual initiatives to secure infrastructure and services is inevitable, which later becomes an obstacle to the implementation of the plan.
Construction with a permit in an area with a plan but without adequate technical infrastructure - In this situation, the problem lies with the municipality itself, specifically the responsible management unit. Even though all the owners have fulfilled their obligations, adequate infrastructure is lacking and as a result, the situation is not calm. There is a lack of services, road infrastructure and access are not easy. In response to long waiting times, individual initiatives to secure services begin, which have a very serious impact on planned and approved urban solutions, which in general will affect the extension of the final arrangement timeframe.
Development according to a non-professional plan - In this situation, those responsible are the drafters and approvers of the inadequate urban plan. Such a plan is usually the result of incompetent professionals, for whom an adequate urban solution is the least concern. These cases become even more problematic when interventions to change the plan begin without procedure. In this situation, such often encouraged interventions only make the chaos clearer.
Implementation of the law - In our circumstances, the impression is gained that following the rules is more a matter of desire than a civic obligation. The situation (but even then) of confronting the law is limited due to non-compliance with it. Unfortunately, a mentality is being built and cultivated, a belief that laws are formal, existing just to be fulfilled as requirements. This phenomenon often stands out in situations related to construction and urban matters. We are all part of it: there are responsible officials, who consciously or unconsciously break the rules; there are professionals who, in the name of profit, turn a blind eye to the law; rule violators are also citizens, who due to economic difficulties, desire to avoid obligations, and often encouraged by some irresponsible officials, decide to start illegal actions.
Taking this into consideration, it is considered that the non-compliance with rules is another factor, with a serious impact on the creation of chaos in urban situations. Neglecting the rules has a direct impact on the creation of unsolvable situations, situations where the actions of the vast majority of actors are in contradiction with the law. In this situation, the cost of improving the condition is high and unaffordable, and as a result, the residents are condemned to live in such an urban chaos area. Political impact - Politics and decision-makers, with their actions and inactions, are directly influencing the complication and creation of space for continuous abusive actions by all responsible parties and other participants. The impact and proper political will, although last on this list, in terms of importance is undoubtedly the main factor, with consequences in all situations.
Therefore, taking into account all the above situations, we consider that it is the last moment to adopt a new approach to urban planning, an approach in which planners should have the appropriate professional influence, citizens their more active participation, and especially municipal leaders should have the courage to make the right and principled decisions for the development of their city.
Luan Nushi, Director,
Institute for Spatial Planning